Visiting teachers to learn about city's proud history

The HTAI has 500 members and encourages the better teaching of history by keeping Irish history teachers in contact with new developments in historical research and new approaches to history education.

As Londonderry features prominently on the History Leaving Cert Curriculum, the Derry Visitor and Convention Bureau and Derry City Council have co-ordinated a weekend of site visits followed by a mini-conference focusing on topics like the Sunningdale Agreement, the Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall and the Coleraine University Controversy.

Tourism Development Officer with Derry City Council Mary Blake says that the Council is delighted to have this delegation from the HTAI visiting the city.

"We are very happy to welcome members of the HTAI to our city. Hopefully this visit will lead to a deeper understanding of the city's role in the history of these islands.

"Educational tourism is a growing sector and there is huge potential to increase visitor numbers through developments like this," she said.

Aoife Thomas is the Business and Leisure Tourism Executive with the Derry Visitor and Convention Bureau.

"We are delighted to be involved with the forthcoming HTAI conference. Derry has a wealth of history and culture to be explored and this visit is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase the city to the HTAI members and really bring the curriculum to life," she commented.