Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Shaun Keenan

Five facts about Derry even those who have lived here all their lives probably won't know

Even to this day, you'd be surprised some of the things that people in Derry don't know about the place - even if they've lived here all their lives.

They range from great figures that came from the city to historical events during World War Two.

Here we have put together five fascinating facts about Derry that will hopefully surprise or put a smile on your face.

Read more: Watch brilliant trailer for new series of Derry Girls

And who knows, they may even prove handy in a pub quiz one day.

If you would like to share your own facts about Derry, let us know in the comments below .

It has the most complete walled city in Ireland

Derry Walls (Photo By Justin Kernoghan/Belfast Live)


There are lots of historic walled city's around the world, from Dubrovnik in Croatia to Carcassonne in France.

But did you know that Derry has one of the few last remaining walled city's in Europe? The historic walls were built during the period 1613-1618 as defence barriers

The modern-day walls are one of the city's biggest tourists attractions, bringing in thousands of visitors every year.

Amelia Earhart landed in Derry

Amelia Earhart waving to the crowd greeting her in Derry after flying from Newfoundland, May 20 in 1932 (API/GAMMA-RAPHO via Getty Images)

Did you know that it was in the historic Walled City of Derry that one of the world's famous aviators made their landing.

Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic on May 20, 1932.

The legendary aviator originally set off from Newfoundland and was trying to get the Paris. However, after some stormy weather and mechanical problems, she ended up in Derry.

It took Earhart around 14 hours and 56 minutes to make the transatlantic flight.

There's now a place in the city named after the legendary aviator.

Two noble prize winners came from one Derry school

John Hume pictured in his home city of Derry (Press Eye Ltd)

St Columb's College in Derry is one of Derry more popular schools in itself.

But did you know the school was the educational hub of two of the world's Nobel Prize Winners?

Seamus Heaney (Geray Sweeney/Jeff Robinson PR/PA Wire)

In fact, it's the only secondary level school in the world that holds such a title.

The Nobel Prize for literature is collected by Seamus Heaney and Peace Prize is taken by John Hume.

The Nazi's German U-boats surrender in Derry's Lough Foyle

War and Conflict, World War Two, pic: May 1945, One of the 8 German U boats having arrived in Londonderry after the German surrender (Photo by Popperfoto via Getty Images/Getty Images) (Popperfoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)


This is one a lot of our more mature readers might have heard of, but what about the under 30s?

In the 1940s, the US Army and British Army both had stations here in the city during the Second World War.

And on May 14, 1945, eight Nazi German U-Boats entered Lough Foyle in surrender, bringing an end to what became the Battle of the Atlantic.

Instead of fear, the city descended into one of celebration.

Derry was once was home of the oldest independent department store in the world

Austins Derry (Derry of the Past Facebook Page)

Austins was a department store in the Diamond area of Derry in Northern Ireland.

The store was established in 1830 and remained standing as the world's oldest independent department store until six years ago.

The current building is five stories high and measures whopping 25,000 square feet. It's easily one of the city's biggest buildings.

The department store closed its doors to staff and the public without warning on March 8, 2016.

To this day, it remains dormant.

Read more: Derry author reveals how a "creepy" online trend gave her latest book idea

Read more: Derry road branded a 'death trap' after garden wall collision.

Sign up to our FREE newsletter here for all the latest news in Derry straight to your inbox.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.