Wednesday

We started the day in a very somber fashion by visiting the memorial to those who died on January 30, 1972, Bloody Sunday. On this day 13 people were killed by British troops in Derry. The 14th person died later from injuries. Peace murals at the end of buildings depict the Troubles.... Annette McGavigan, a 14 year old girl gunned down in 1971 on her way to the pool (the soldier said it was thought that the towel over her shoulder was a bomb). Several other murals can be seen in the albums depicting Bernadette Devlin and Bobby Sands. Another memorial recognized those who died in hunger strikes in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. We noted some graffitti indicating that some very strong feelings still remain. In one neighborhood and Irish flags were noted on one side of the street, while the flag of England was flown on the other side of the street.

Derry was a very different city from those we have seen on this trip. Driving through the city at 8:00 in the evening saw most store fronts covered with metal barriers or gates. There was very little activity and tourists were not seen. The history of the city has had such an impact on today. We were welcomed in the restaurants and everyone was very nice. However, there was a stark contrast between Derry and the cities we visited in Ireland.

What was seen today will not and should not be forgotten. Many reading this blog probably remember hearing about the Troubles in the 60s and 70s. Although it did not take long, visiting these sites was sobering.

We then traveled to Armaugh and visited the two cathedrals named after St. Patrick, one of the Church of Ireland, and the other the Catholic cathedral. The oldest cathedral, founded by St. Patrick in 445 AD, houses several sculptures from the Celtic and Iron Ages. Brian Boru is said to be buried here. This church fell victim to destruction over the centuries and has been rebuilt. Construction on the Catholic cathedral began in 1840, but the cathedral was not completed until 1904. The stained glass windows and mosaic tiles are beautiful. We also visited St. Patrick's Trian which reviewed some history of Ireland and St. Patrick, and reviewed Jonothan Swift's Gulliver's Travels.