Continental feel to Garden Party

Early in the day Cathedral staff toiled to erect marquees on the newly-restored car park, at the foot of the ceremonial entrance to the historic church building,

The event has become one of the mainstays of the annual Irish Walled Town Day celebrations in the City, and was preceeded by the ringing of the Cathedral bells between 1pm and 1.30pm. Among the guests to attend the peel and visit the refurbished belltower was the Mayor, Alderman Maurice Devenney, who described the event as “wonderful” for the City.

“There is a lot of good work being done in the City to promote the area and help drive the economy forward, and this is part of that process. All this work augers well for the future, and I must say I am really enjoying the events.

“Events like this are very important because they bring people into the City and that means people are spending money here. We are increasingly depending on tourism in this City, and the work that goes into promoting all aspects of the City are important and must be continued. The value of tourism cannot be underestimated and the numbers of people who are visiting this area is unbelievable,” he said.

The Dean of the Cathedral said the weekend’s events had “gone very well” and he thanked the Cathedral staff and members of the Mothers’ Union who had set up the all-weather marquees, arranged tables and made the high teas.

Among the visitors from outside the City to enjoy afternoon tea outdoors were Rosemary Morton’s sister, Stephanie Weir, and her husband Robert, from Banbridge, and Beth Blackie from North Yorkshire who was visiting her sister Aimie Moore, from Brigade, and who was attending the Garden Party for the first time.

“I think it is a really good day out. It is one of those things that should continue as it gets people out and gets them together. Being here has brought back all my memories of dancing in Londonderry when I was young, and going to the Mem Hall”.

A feature of this year’s event was music from keyboard player Roy Adams, and also from Take Three, with Bobby Sloane and Alan Neely on guitars and Eden Guthrie, 18, singing. Eden was one of the 12 finalists in the Drive Factor competition in February.