Publication on City Walls launched by Environment Minister

A DETAILED history and description of the Derry City Walls has been published on the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) website today.

Free to download, the Derry City Walls Gazetteer is the third publication to be published on the monument since 2007and brings to conclusion a period of in depth research on Northern Ireland’s largest monument in state care.

Minister Alex Attwood said: “Over the last seven years the Department of the Environment has worked closely with Derry City Council and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, amongst others, to realise the full potential of this structure which is a huge asset to the city.

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“The 2007 Conservation Plan produced an agreed vision and policies to guide subsequent development. The 2009 Management Plan clarified the work carried out by relevant agencies and led to the establishment of a new Management Group. The Gazetteer, published today, ensures that the research behind these developments is easily available to all.”

The Minister also today welcomed the recent award of nearly half a million pounds from the Heritage Lottery Fund to the Holywell Trust to increase community engagement and appreciation of the monument.

He continued: “I acknowledge and thank those who contributed to the development of the monument in recent years, from the private tour guides and public agencies marketing the structure, those involved in providing new signage and new seats, to the DRD Roads Service engineers and those involved in cleaning and maintaining the monument.

“I would also like to thank those involved in events and living history demonstrations, and those seeking to reduce vandalism and the need for security barriers and screens on the monument. All of this work has been vital to the realisation of the full potential of this structure to both its city and region.”

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The project has also received financial support from the International Development Fund (IDF) which is co-ordinated by ILEX, the urban regeneration company for the Derry City Council area.

Derry City Council Mayor, Alderman Maurice Devenney, said: “I am pleased to see the publication of this Gazetteer which will add to a growing range of literature on the city walls and remind us all why it is so important that we value this structure. The walls are a key asset for this city, they are a huge tourism draw, and provide a link to a range of museums and cultural facilities which have developed on or around the monument in recent years. The City Council, through its economic development section, museums and heritage section and city engineer’s department has sought to encourage and develop this trend over many years so that its full benefit can be realised for the city. To that end we have been happy to join NIEA, the Honourable the Irish Society and others on the City Walls Management Group and hope to continue to play a positive role into the future.”

Chief Executive of NITB Alan Clarke said: “The City Walls are the centrepiece of the Walled City Signature Development Project – one of five projects identified across Northern Ireland to create the international stand out required to draw tourists to this region rather than other places. Since 2004 significant funds have been invested in the Walled City to improve its tourist potential and these efforts have paid dividend through increased visitor numbers in recent years. Fundamental to the whole project is the good management and increased awareness of the importance of the City Walls. This book will help in this aim and NITB is pleased to be involved in supporting its production.”