Council's Blue Plaque programme unveiled

HISTORY CIRCLE PLAQUE LAUNCH. . . .Group pictured at the Tower Museum last week for the launch of the Ulster History Circle Plaque. From left are Chris Spurr, Chair, Ulster History Circle, Pat MacCafferty, Speaker, Roisin Doherty, Curator, Tower Museum and Maud Hamill, Ulster History Circle.

Councillors agreed at the Council meeting to support a proposed five year programme plan for the erection of Blue Plaques by the Ulster History Circle in the Derry Strabane District Council area.

A total of six candidates were presented for special recognition including; Francis Ledwidge (1887 - 1917) an Irish poet and soldier, killed in 1917 at Boezibnge in Belgium. Ledwidge was stationed for six months during 1916 in Ebrington Barracks with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers; Annie Russell Maunder (1868 - 1947), an Irish astronomer and mathematician, born in Strabane; Mrs E.H. O’Doherty, founder of the Féis Dhoíre Cholmcílle in the city; Brigadier General Ambrose Ricardo (1866 - 1923), who held a distinguished war record and cofounded the Londonderry Féis; Dorothy Parke (1904 - 1990), a teacher and composer whose pieces are still performed at the Féis, her collection of songs, ‘By Winding Roads’ remains popular in many primary schools, she was born on Dunfield Road, Londonderry. The Ulster History Circle also gained approval to unveil a plaque at the Tower Museum to Mabel Remington Colhoun (1905 - 1992), Archaeologist, historian and educationalist.

For further details on the Blue Plaque programme within the Derry City and Strabane District Council area visit www.derrystrabane.com.