Love Your County – Derry

As part of our Love Your County series we turn our attention to Derry.

By Eoghan Doherty

Sporting Moment: All-Ireland Champions 1993

Is there really any other candidate for best sporting moment in the Oak Leaf county’s GAA history? Not really. It has to be winning the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in 1993.

The 1990s were a happy time for Derry football fans and the decade was undoubtedly the county’s most successful, with the senior team winning 3 National Football League titles and 2 Ulster Senior Football Championships.

Victory over Cork in Croke Park was the moment to remember though, as All-Star captain Henry Downey led a team consisting of Derry greats like Joe Brolly, Anthony Tohill and Enda Gormley to a 1-14 to 2-08 victory over the Rebels.

In recent years Derry have been overshadowed in the Ulster Senior Championship by the emergence of Tyrone and Armagh but we (the Derry supporters among us at least) at JOE do have a hopeful theory.

The last time Donegal won the All-Ireland was 1992, Derry followed that up with victory in 1993. So, by the very same flawless logic, with Donegal and Jimmy winning matches last season, it makes absolutely perfect sense to think that Derry will inevitably clear up this year... or not.

Visit the Derry Walls: Once a prime spot for pesky teenagers having a shneaky drink and a snog, the city walls have since been transformed into one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions offering beautiful views of the city. Built back in 1613, Derry remains one of the best examples of an intact walled city anywhere in Europe and is of the few cities in the entire continent that never had its fortifications breached, hence earning it the nickname ‘The Maiden City.’

A night out in Coppers would change that no doubt.

Check out the Bogside: So much history, both good and bad, is associated with the Bogside area of Derry. From Bloody Sunday and the Free Derry corner to the home of the Undertones and the stunning Bogside murals, following a makeover it’s a brilliant sight to see the Bogside swarming with tourists. Well worth a walk around.

Special mention of the fact that Derry is City of Culture for 2013 so, for a listing of all the brilliant events going on this year, check out their website here