An historic sword has been taken from its display case at the Tower Museum to mark four hundred years since it was presented to the city of Derry.
Four hundred years ago, in 1616, two commissioners from the City of London arrived in Derry to inspect progress on the building of the Derry Walls.
They found the Walls half-built with only two drawbridges and one gate in place.
They brought with them a sword for the city council in Derry, engraved with the name "Londonderre" on its golden pommel.
Some commentators think that the Derre in the 'LondonDerre' spelling reflects an 17th Century English speaker's attempt to pronounce the Gaelic name of the city, Doire.
The sword has remained in Derry ever since, and Tower Museum Curator, Roisin Doherty, agreed to take it out of its glass case last week for inspection by the Dean of Derry, Rev Dr William Morton and Committee Member of the Friends of the Derry Walls, Jean Hegarty.
Mark Lusby, Heritage Campaigner, explained: “These men brought the sword in 1616 to present to the new city council.
“It’s the oldest artefact with the plantation name on it, it’s the first time that was on an object.
“People often ask about the spelling of Derry not Derrie which would’ve been the way they spelt it in the 17th century. But the actually spelt it Derre, a very hard way of spelling it which could be the Gaelic pronunciation.”
He added: “You could imagine someone sitting in London commissioning this and they were asked what you want written on it and they would have to explain to the swordsmith.
“It is plantation history, but embedded in it is a bit of Gaelic history. And each year we try to unpick a different bit of the story about the building of the walls and the sword is this year’s story.”
The Derry Walls will feature in two free events taking place this week as part of National Heritage Week.
This Wednesday evening at 7pm in the Verbal Arts Centre, Liam Mannix, archaeologist and coordinator of the Irish Walled Towns Network, will deliver a talk on the other 29 walled towns in Ireland.
On Sunday afternoon at 1.30pm, Paul Logue, archaeologist with the Department for Communities' Historic Environment Division, will lead a walk and talk about the archaeology and history of the Derry Walls.
These two free events are being organised by the Friends of the Derry Walls.
Co-ordinator Mr Lusbay, said: “We know that the Derry Walls are unique in having the most complete circuit of any walled town in Ireland, but what can we learn about our own walls by comparing and contrasting them with the surviving municipal fortifications of our sister walled towns across the island of Ireland?
“We also are all familiar with the Derry Walls as part of our townscape but the Sunday afternoon walk is a rare chance to look closely at the Derry Walls as an archaeological feature, with an expert."
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