PICTURE: Yesterday was the first anniversary of the death of Martin McGuinness, and the occasion was marked in the city with a number of events including the launch of a new book on the Derry statesman. Pictured here at the launch of 'Martin: The Man I Knew', a series of 27 interviews about Mr McGuinness by some of the people who knew him best, are the book's author Jude Collins and Fr Michael Canny who spoke at last night's event at Eason's.
Martin McGuinness - a man much missed
There has been much talk over the past few weeks about what Martin McGuinness would have, or could have, done to resolve the current political crisis at Stormont or, indeed, the broader difficulties that Brexit is posing the North.
There is now doubt that he has been this one of the city's, and indeed the island's, most influential figures over the past century.
The lack of a leader of his standing has become apparent in recent months, with the more obdurate elements of the DUP in particular refusing to engage meaningfully with any aspect nationalism or republicanism.
However, in the midst of all the what if's, it is important also to look at the legacy that Mr McGuinness left his city and his country. Thanks to his leadership, and the leadership of John Hume and others before him, has been an almost universal shift to peaceful, progressive politics here with a focus on the future. There has been a long-overdue rebuilding of our economy and our infrastructure - and also a rebuilding of long-fractured relationships.
The love that Mr McGuinness had for Derry - and his commitment and drive in doing the best for us, in all circumstances - is all the more evident now he is no longer with us. Likewise, his commitment and drive for ending conflict, and cementing the new peace in Ireland, will never be forgotten.
He is a man much missed - but he is also a man who left us much.
MEPs very welcome to the North West
Today's visit to Derry by a cross-party group of MEPs, to inspect projects sponsored, by the EU is very welcome.
The massive contribution that Europe has made to this city is evident everywhere from our buildings, to our bridges to our newest digital businesses. It is no co-incidence that Derry is the one of the most pro-European constituencies on these islands.
Our guests will, we hope, get a chance to visit the border for themselves to get a fuller appreciation of the huge social, political and economic issues that Brexit is posing us.
This week's suggestion that Britain will abide by its original commitments to avoid a hard border is better news. But given the current instability at Westminster, it is important that the EU, and our allies within it, do not take their eye of the ball.
Let today's guests take a hard look at the immediate dangers to our society and way of life here, and let them report back on what they have seen.
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