Siege of Derry

Friendship Across The Water

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Walker Clubs – one of the associated clubs of the Apprentice Boys – are named for George Walker, joint Governor of Derry (with Lundy) during the siege, who died at the Boyne, on July 1st/12th, 1690 while going to the aid of the Duke Of Schomberg. In the centre is the crest of Londonderry: “Vita, veritas, victoria“.

This board in Larne’s ‘Factory’ districts shows, (clockwise from bottom left): the apprentice boys shutting the gates, the breaking of the boom to relieve the siege, Walker (who was also an Anglican priest) inciting the apprentice boys to shut the gates with a cry of “No surrender”, and, clasped hands signifying the connection between Larne Walker Club (Fb) and Maybole Walker Club in South Ayrshire, Scotland. A list of all the Walker Clubs can be found at ABOD.

Click and click again to enlarge (to 1200 x 715)
Copyright © 2022 Extramural Activity
Camera Settings: f2.4, 1/120, ISO 20, full size 3972 x 2368

Click and click again to enlarge (to 1200 x 900)
Copyright © 2022 Extramural Activity
Camera Settings: f1.8, 1/676, ISO 20, full size 4032 x 3024
X09334 X09333 herbert avenue

The Relief Of Derry

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The Siege Of Derry began in June 1689 when King James II was rebuffed with cries of “No surrender!” It lasted 105 days, during which about half of the townspeople died. Part of the siege equipment was a boom placed across the River Foyle about halfway between Derry and Culmore. Five ships took part in ending the siege. Shown in this new Tullyally mural (by Glen Molloy) is the Dartmouth, which attacked the shoreline besiegers at Culmore so that three small ships could bring in provisions – the Mountjoy and Phoenix approaching the boom and the Jerusalem hanging back until success was assured. They were accompanied by a longboat from the Swallow, filled with sailors who with “hatchets and cutlasses” were “hewing and hacking away at the boom” (Witherow at Library Ireland) so that it could be broken by Mountjoy.

Click and click again to enlarge (to 1200 x 800)
Copyright © 2020 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
Camera Settings: f10, 1/200, ISO 200, full size 5184 x 3456

Click and click again to enlarge (to 1200 x 800)
Copyright © 2020 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
Camera Settings: f10, 1/160, ISO 200, full size 5184 x 3456
X07159 X07156 [X07157] [X07158] [X07160] [X07161] Stevenson Park vita veritas victoria

Shutting Of The Gates

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
The Apprentice Boys mural in Emerson Street, Londonderry, which was at least fifteen years old, was replaced in 2018 with a version of boards (shown above). The shutting of the city gates in December 1688 began the Siege Of Derry.
Click to enlarge (to 1700 x 1240)
Copyright © 2018 Extramural Activity
Camera Settings: f8, 1/80, ISO 400, full size 3094 x 2257
text: X06329

The Brave Thirteen

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
03796-2016-08-22-mountjoy
The repainting of the Mountjoy ‘Breaking The Boom‘ in the Siege Of Derry is the second of three recent works in the Waterside. (The first of the three to be featured was City Of Temperance.) The work has been retitled ‘The Brave Thirteen’ and extended to include the closing of the gates by 13 Apprentice Boys, whose surnames are given here as Sherrard, Morrison, Steward, Campsie, Cunninghman, Sherrard, Conningham, Cairns, Hunt, Crookshannks, Irwin, Harvy, Spire (for first names and alternate spellings, see Apprentice Boys).
Click and click again to enlarge (to 1760 x 2636)
Copyright © 2016 Extramural Activity
Camera Settings: f11, 1/250, ISO 100, full size 1880 x 2816
03795-2016-08-22-brave-thirteen
Click and click again to enlarge (to full size)
Copyright © 2016 Extramural Activity
Camera Settings: f11, 1/250, ISO 100, full size 2630 x 1880
03794-2016-08-22-bsca
Click and click again to enlarge (to full size)
Copyright © 2016 Extramural Activity
Camera Settings: f55, 1/60, ISO 100, full size 1802 x 1802
text: X03796 X03795 X03794 Roulston Ave BSCA bond street community association

Apprentice Boys

Extramural Activity1 Comment
2015-08-05 Conningham+
On December 7th, 1688, thirteen apprentice boys grabbed the keys to Derry city and locked the gates against the on-coming Jacobite Redshanks. Their names were William Cairnes, Henry Campsie, John Conningham (also given as Coningham), Alexander Cunningham, William Crookshanks, Samuel Harvy, Samuel Hunt, Alexander Irwin, Robert Morison, Robert Sherrard, Daniel Sherrard, James Spike, James Steward and they each have a small plaque in the Fountain area.
Click and click again to enlarge (to full size)
Copyright © 2015 Extramural Activity
Camera Settings: f8, 1/500, ISO 400, full size 2592 x 2592
X02718

Falcons Cheerleading

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The Sandy Row Falcons (cheerleading) (Fb) take the place of King Billy in Linfield Avenue; the Siege Of Derry mural remains.

The Falcons are also included in Each One Teach One.

Click and click again to enlarge (to 1200 x 800)
Copyright © 2013 Extramural Activity
Camera Settings: f7.1, 1/200, ISO 400, full size 3888 x 2592
X05289

The City Is Saved

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Derry city was saved from its siege by the Mountjoy “breaking the boom” that had been laid across the river Foyle. James II’s siege had lasted from April to July, 1689. King William III is in the insert.

Copyright © 2004 Extramural Activity
X00025 X00024