Guildhall, Derry

Coordinates: 54°59′53″N 7°19′12″W / 54.998°N 7.320°W / 54.998; -7.320

Guildhall, August 2010

The Guildhall in Derry, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, is a building in which the elected members of Derry City Council meet. It was built in 1890.

The Guildhall houses a large hall where many events of social and political nature have been held. It has been home to the Derry Feis – an event which celebrates Irish culture. It was also home to the Saville Inquiry into the events of Bloody Sunday 30 January 1972 in Derry.

History

Work started on the Guildhall in 1887 and it was opened in July 1890. It was financed by The Honourable The Irish Society and cost £19,000.^[1] It was badly damaged by fire in Easter 1908 with only the clock tower surviving the fire intact. The whole building was re-built and renovated after the fire and re-opened in 1912.

During The Troubles the Guildhall was the focus of many terror attacks. The building was badly damaged by two bombs in 1972, but was restored at a cost of £1.7m and reopened in 1977.^[1]

Guildhall Square

The square in front of the Guildhall, has played host to many events. It was the stage area for the visit of the US President Bill Clinton when he visited the city in November 1995. It is also the home for many city events, such as Halloween events and the Christmas lights switch-on. The Square has been renovated and restructured to bring a more cosmopolitan feel to the area and includes seating areas and fountains.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Guildhall". Derry City Council. http://www2.derrycity.gov.uk/guildhall.htm. Retrieved 22 November 2010.