Harbour Commission lend painting to ABOD Museum

The Siege Museum in Londonderry has taken delivery of a very special painting, celebrating one of the pivotal moments of the 105-day Siege of Derry in 1688.

It is an oil painting of the merchant Ship, The Mountjoy, breaking the boom which had been strung out across the River Foyle in a bid to starve the inhabitants of the Walled City into surrender.

On July 28, 1688, two armed merchant ships, Mountjoy and Phoenix, sailed toward the boom, protected by the frigate HMS Dartmouth under Captain John Leake. Mountjoy rammed and breached the boom at Culmore fort, and the ships moved in, unloading many tons of food to relieve the siege.

The loan of the painting from the Port and Harbour Commission was facilitated by Alderman Maurice Devenney, who also serves as a member of the Commission Board.

Pictured right, with the painting are, Stuart Moore, Siege Museum Tour Manager, Worthington McGrath, Secretary of the Siege Museum Management Committee and Alderman Maurice Devenney, Member of the Harbour Board.

Mr Harry Patton commissioned the painting of the Relief of Londonderry in 1689 from the marine artist Pat Jobson. The painting was completed in 1966 and following the artist’s death in 2012 it passed to his son Prof Michael A Patton, who, with his brother decided it would have been their father’s wish to make it available for public viewing in Londonderry. It has been on long term loan to the board of Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners.

Billy Moore, chairman of the management committee said the committee was delighted to accept Prof Patton’s offer and place the painting in the Museum for display as part of the siege exhibition.

Thanking Mr Devenney for helping to secure the painting, he said: “The painting is another valued attraction to the exhibition and will enhance the visitor experience at the Siege Museum.”

The contact number for the Museum is 028 71261219.