Festival Events

Apprentice Boys Museum & Exhibition

Memorial Hall Museum open until the end of October

Apprentice Boys Association Exhibition for the duration of the Festival, 7th, 9th-13th August. The Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall and Museum is open throughout the summer, 10am-5pm, Monday-Friday, and Saturday by arrangement by contacting 077 1327 3011.

The Memorial Hall provides a unique opportunity for anyone to take a look behind the doors of the Memorial Hall and its various meeting rooms. There is a permanent Museum space within the Memorial Hall, including a video presentation explaining the foundation and significant aspects of the Apprentice Boys history and Association.

For the Festival Week there is FREE ADMISSION to the Hall. At other times there is a small charge of £2 per person. All are welcome.

The Guns of Londonderry

Saturday 7th, Monday 9th to Friday 13th: 11.30am and 2.30pm, and by request. - The Memorial Hall Garden, Society Street

Each day Norman & William will provide a period guide to the cannon and guns of the Siege of Derry. Norman will talk you through the history of the Seventeenth Century armaments used in the Siege of the City 1688-1689, explaining the cannon you will see as you walk around the historic Walls on the Siege Heroes Trail. In the Memorial Garden that lies alongside the Memorial Hall both Norman and William will demonstrate the period muskets and replica cannon that are used as part of the Crimson Players's Pageant* re-enactment of the Siege of Derry. If you want to book a group for this FREE talk/walk on the Guns of Londonderry, contact the Festival Office. See booking form for details.

*This year's Pageant takes place at Carlisle Roundabout (end of Craigavon Bridge): Saturday 14th, 12 noon, prior to the 321st Commemoration of the Relief of Londonderry in 1689.

FREE talk/walk

The Old Fountain Tour

Monday 3rd – Friday 7th 12 noon -
starting at the Thiepval Gallery, George Street.

Presented by: the Bob Harte Memorial Trust – telling the social history of the Fountain. Local historian William Temple talks a walk down memory lanes and streets of the old Fountain, pointing out how it would have been in past times. Long gone, but not forgotten, the locations of places such as the Synagogue and Well are noted along the way. This is a short half hour tour, but a hugely fascinating insight into the Fountain's history.

No charge for this event, but a small minimum donation of £1 to the Bob Harte Memorial Trust would be very much appreciated.

Highland Dance & Skirl of the Pipes

Monday 9th – Friday 13th
11.15am, 12.15pm, 1.15pm, 2.15pm and 3.30pm. - Double Bastion

A performance of highland dancing, piping and drumming presented by the Sollus Centre, Bready.

Good Afternoon at the Mem

Monday 3rd - Thursday 6th – 2.30pm-4.30pm -
Tea Dance at the Memorial Hall, Minor Hall

• Monday 9th – music by Danny Feeney
• Tuesday 10th – music by John Trotter & Friends
• Wednesday 11th – music by John Trotter & Friends
• Thursday 12th – music by Danny Feeney

Twist and shout of the 1960s has moved on to a more relaxed Tea Dance in the Memorial Hall Minor Hall. This is a chance for the 1960s generation to return to the Memorial Hall for an afternoon of dance, chat and a little reminiscence. While over at the Mem, perhaps you'd take some time to attend some of the other events around the Walls and make a wee tour of it. Enjoy.

FREE EVENT

Siege Story...

Saturday 7th, Monday 9th to Friday 13th
12noon, 2pm and 4pm. - St Columb’s Cathedral

The story begins at the door of the Cathedral as an excited young apprentice SPIKE tells of having just shut the gates on the advancing troops... The Siege Story is a series of five monologues that each explore different aspects of the Siege Story 1688-1689. The story is of the young apprentice, of the military man, of the people, of the church, and of life and love in war. We are keeping the story entirely within St Columb’s Cathedral, which played a key role in the Siege and within which the visitor will find many items that date from this period. The performance starts at the main entrance door of the Cathedral, moves through the Cathedral and lasts approximately 45 minutes.

Visit the Maiden City Festival Siege Story Project Website Here

...& Siege Tales

Saturday 7th, Monday 9th to Friday 13th
11am to 4pm - Around the Walls

The Siege Story in the Cathedral tells the story of the historic Siege 1688-1689 from the Shutting of the Gates to the Relief of Londonderry. There are lots more stories to tell, and this year we introduce a series of Siege Tales from more characters, real and imagined, from the Siege period.

They will regularly tell their stories from 11am to 4pm around the Walls, from the Memorial Hall to the Cathedral:

The Grocer’s Wife: at the Memorial Hall
The Gravedigger: at the gate of St Augustine’s Church Graveyard
The Fat Man: at Walker’s Plinth, Grand Parade
The Jacobean Officer: on Double Bastion (were the besieged built a gallows)
Governor Lundy: on the Steps over Bishop’s Gate
The Artillery Man’s Wife: at the Sentinel House (Guard House) on the Walls
Morrison the Defender: by the cannon on Church Bastion.

The Foyle Folk Festival

6th-7th August 2010 - Café Del Mondo

The Foyle Folk Festival’s objective is to present the best of local, national, and international folk and traditional music, song and dance to the city in August every year.

WITH: THE MIGHTY STEF ~ CASHIER No.9 ~ ARD RI ~ LITTLE HOOKS ~ ROY ARBUCKLE ~ JUNIOR JOHNSTON ~ HERE COME THE LANDED GENTRY ~ PADDY NASH & HAPPY ENCHILADAS ~ AND MANY MORE...

While the festival has been running for the last few years in an ad hoc basis this is the second year that it will be presented at the Café Del Mondo Courtyard. The level of new vocal and creative talent unearthed in this city in recent years has been quite remarkable and needs a focus and a platform and the Festival will provide both.

The Festival will also promote a multicultural focus on the programme and as this is a partnership project with the multicultural support group SEEDS this is an added advantage of encouraging members of all communities to be involved in the programme. There is no other outlet for folk and traditional music in the city and we believe that the essence of the programme is to make the Festival a cultural experience for everyone.

This Festival compliments the rest of the excellent programmes designed to make this city a more entertaining place.

Google "Foyle Folk Festival" for latest information.

Walled City Music Festival 2010

3rd-7th August 2010 - University of Ulster, Magee

The Walled City Music Festival takes place in the distinct and historical city of Derry, Northern Ireland.The city, being one of the few walled cities left in the world, will be a truly unique experience for the musicians and visitors attending the music festival.

The Festival features world renowned classical musicians who are willing to contribute to the long-term cultural development both in the city and in Northern Ireland. It is our goal to inspire the youth and communities from all sides; through hearing renowned musicians, providing activities they can participate in and the opportunity to work with these Artists. The Festival will aim to place Derry on the international map for an annual classical music event.

The festival will consist of evening concerts given by high profile International Musicians, free daily masterclasses, group workshops, interviews, and opportunities to meet the Artists. We are delighted to announce that we have 3 Grammy Award winning musicians participating this year!

Festival Artists:

• Augustin Dumay, Violin (France)
• Kathryn Stott, Piano (U.K.)
• Jonathan Lemalu, Bass Baritone (New Zealand)
• Sandra Martinovic, Mezzo-Soprano (Croatia)
• Michael Hampton, Piano (U.K.)
• Svetozar Ivanov, Piano (Bulgaria)
• Cathal Breslin, Piano (N. Ireland)
• Sabrina Hu, Flute (U.S.A.)
• Gerald Peregrine, Cello (Ireland)
• The Laudate Ensemble, 2 trumpets (Switzerland and U.S.A)
• Ed Bennett, Composition (U.K)

Visit the Walled City Music Festival Website Here