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County
Derry from Samuel Lewis' Topographical
Directory of Ireland 1837
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County
Derry is bounded by Co Antrim to the east, Lough Neagh to the southeast
Co Tyrone to the south Co Donegal to the west and the sea Lough
Foyle to the north. The name is derived from the Irish Doire which
means an oak grove, the first settlements were set on what had probably
been an island in the river Foyle.
Traces of these early settlers
have been found making Derry one of the earliest sites of human
habitation in Ireland. Oak groves were sacred places for the Celtic
peoples, not only of Ireland but also of Europe, and the early Christian
evangelist's obviously realized this, using it to their advantage,
by locating their churches and monasteries in or near such places. |
In the
sixth century saint Colmcille (Columba) (521-597) is said to have come
from Donegal to escape the plague and founded the monastery of Derry,
on land granted to him by a local king reputed to be his cousin the Prince
of Aileach. Colmcille was responsible for founding many monasteries in
Ireland and Britain, including Durrow
in County Offaly and Iona on an island off the west of Scotland. It is
thought that the first church was located on the site now occupied the
little Church of Ireland Chapel of St Augustine. Sometime during the late
middle ages the old monastery came to be used by an Augustinian congregation.
The church of that monastery was used by the London colonists who came
to build the walled city.
County Derry has an area of 2074 sq km (801 sq
miles) the Sperrin
Mountains are situated on its border with Co Tyrone. Its main rivers
are the Foyle, Roe both of which discharge into Lough Foyle a tidal sea
lough, and the Bann which forms th eastern border with Co Antrim, the
latter reaches the sea at Coleraine.
Tourist Information
Londonderry
Co Down
Tel +44 (0)28 7126 7284
E Mail
Web Site |
The river Roe flows through
the Roe valley, an area renowned for its beautiful scenery, the
Roe Valley Museum is well worth a visit.
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