Having wandered back and forth around many of the bays, harbours, points of land and whatnot that make up Ireland's west coast, we're down to the last couple of days. What to do.....
My ancestors apparently came from Ireland in 1769, sailing from Derry, headed for Pennsylvania. Their ship was wrecked on Sable Island which is how they ended up in Nova Scotia. So it seemed worth the drive north a couple of hours just to see where they left from.
I suppose the morning we visited Derry was typically Irish in character. Cool, cloudy, occasional showers. A breeze blowing in from the Atlantic.
We walked across the Foyle River on the Peace Bridge. This was built in 2010. Hopefully it symbolizes an end to "The Troubles".
We walked around the old city walls. Basically, they've been standing, repelling attackers, since the 1600s. No invader was ever successful, hence one of Derry's nicknames, the "Maiden City"
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Below the old city is Bogside. Also the self-proclaimed "Free Derry". The Sunday Massacre Monument. Many murals relating to revolution, British imperialism and Irish independence.
The present-day docks are further out towards the River's mouth, but at one time, they were just below the old city. Now there is a street and a riverside promenade. In 1769, my ancestors left from there and sailed for a new life in North America.
We walked, took some pictures, considered some of Ireland's troubled past, and headed south. There was nothing marking the border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic other than speed limit signs were back in km/hr.
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