Derry

Second chance gallery

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This happens to all photographers. You take some shots and they never see the light of day. For me, it’s usually because they don’t quite fit into the theme of a post or they’ve simply been overlooked.

Here is a selection of photographs from recent sessions in various locations which I’ve finally lavished with some care and attention. This is a post without a common thread, apart from giving some life to shots which didn’t quite fit at the time.

Click first image to launch the gallery

Loyalist Londonderry

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No surrenderJust a short walk away from the city centre of Derry in Northern Ireland is a small area of housing which stands out. There is this slogan painted on the wall, while fences, bollards, lamp posts and even the pavement are decorated in red, white and blue.

The Fountain is a Loyalist stronghold. Its people are of the Protestant faith and are strongly in favour of Ulster being part of the United Kingdom and having allegiance to the British Royal family.

The Union Jack flies over the area, while its painted walls commemorate the military and moments from the distant past. They’re different to the murals that adorn the Catholic and nationalist Bogside area, which are more vibrant and mark more recent struggles. The Irish tricolour is the flag of choice there.

The Fountain area was remarkably quiet and there was little sign of life. Another feature is a tall green mesh fence marking its boundaries, which completes the sense that this is practically a separate enclave.

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See also galleries on Derry, City of Culture and Across The Peace Bridge

The chapel

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Chapel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I made a welcome return to the city of Derry in Northern Ireland, which focused on visiting Dermot’s family.

On the face of it, this photograph merely captures a beautiful piece of architecture.

It is the chapel of St Patrick’s in the Pennyburn area of the city. Built in the 1930s, it is relatively small, neat and without much ostentation. There is a wonderful circular stained glass window at the front of the building and a green bell tower. I love its yellow ceiling and clean symmetry.

St Patrick’s echoes the sentiment of our journey, as it has a strong connection to Dermot’s family. His parents were married there in 1981, and his grandmother regularly worships there. It is more than just a building.

See Divine Light on another of Derry’s buildings of worship

City of Culture

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Congratulations to Derry-Londonderry in Northern Ireland on beginning its year-long tenure as the first UK City of Culture.

A series of events will take place during 2013 to mark the honour, including hosting the Turner Prize for contemporary art, which will be held outside England for the very first time. The party started in blistering style with a fireworks display on New Year’s Eve.

To get a flavour of what Derry looks like, I hope you enjoy this collection of shots from my visit there in November.

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Hands Across The Divide statue
The city and Peace Bridge
Free Derry mural
Shipquay Street
Waterside
Ebrington Square
Bogside from the city walls
View from St Eugene’s Cathedral
Bogside
City walls
Dual struts
St Eugene’s Cathedral
Derry civil rights mural
Prince Street
Peace Bridge detail
Park Bar, Francis Street
St Eugene’s Cathedral
Che Guevara mural
City cemetery
Peace Bridge reflection
View across Derry

 

To find out more about Derry, visit these related posts:

Derry’s striking murals    Across the Peace Bridge

Maiden City views

/ mikeosbornphoto / 8 Comments

Derry, Northern Ireland’s second city after Belfast, is also known as Maiden City. To round off a series of photographs from my first visit there, here are views from around the city, including the iconic Hands Across The Divide sculpture and Derry’s solid and ancient city walls.

Click first image to launch the full size gallery

See other photographs from Derry:

Derry’s striking murals

Across the Peace Bridge

Divine light