THE CATHEDRAL, LONDONDERRY. -On a commanding elevation, dominating the streets of Londonderry and the waters of the river Foyle, which "roll northward to the main," rises the historic religious edifice illustrated in the sketch. Irish annalists claim that it occupies the site of a monastery founded in A.D. 546 by St. Columb. This was supplanted, in part at least, by a larger edifice in 1164. In later times it was protected by a strong fort -the nucleus of the more modern fortifications. Set on a hill on the banks of the Foyle estuary, strategically close to the open sea, it came under siege and attack for over a thousand years. St Columb came out of Donegal to escape the plague 1,400 years ago and founded his first monastery in the oak grove (Doire in Gaelic), a gift from his cousin, Prince of Aileach.

In Coleraine, it is believed that a small church was built at Errigal around 560 A.D. Errigal old church was originally a Columban foundation which prospered until the 9th Century when it was sacked by Danish invaders. The Church was attacked and rebuilt many times until it was completely destroyed after the 1641 rebellion and a new Church was then built in the village of Garvagh in 1670. In the early days the Church was called "Errigal- Adamnan" (Adamnan's Church) after St. Adamnan, its patron. Another feature bearing the patron's name is Onan's Rock. (Onan means Adamnan) found near the old Church and unusual because of the footprints (said to be Adamnan's) impressed on the rock.

Under old Gaelic Ireland, much of Derry was in the old territory of Tirowen. This was the area of the O'Cahans, or O'kanes. Other families associated with this are incude O'Connor, O'donnell, O'Mullan, McCloskey, O'hegarty, O'Corr, McGurk, Mcrory, O'Diamond, McCrilly, McGilligan, O'Derry, and McColgan. The central square within the walls of Derry is called the Diamond. One of the streets leading off the Diamond is Bishop Street. In the parochial distribution that was in force since the eleventh or twelfth century, Kilrea was a compact little parish lying along the River Bann, and like its neighbour Agivey, held a peculiar position being "appropryated" to the Abbey of SS. Peter and Paul of Armagh. in the four townlands called Kilreagh Iin possession of the herenagh O'Demon and in the two townlands called Monaghgrane, with the tithes thereof in the parish of Kilreagh, aforesaid." From the name of the herenagh or layman who farmed the property and had the upkeep of the Church, the place was nominated "Kilrea O'Demon, or O'Diamond.

During the bloody campaigns of Shane Ó Neill the Proud, in 1568, the English garrison, under Randolph, was compelled to fly, and church and fort were blown up by gunpowder. At the close of the great war conducted by Hugh Ó Neill, an English officer, named Dowers, rebuilt the walls of the fort for the accommodation of a military force; but he paid no attention to the ruins of the church.

In 1633, however, the English "transplanters," aided by the city of London, rebuilt it as a place of Protestant worship. Saint Columb’s Cathedral has stood since 1633. It was in the yeare 1613 that James I formed, by Royal Charter, the new County of Londonderry and that The Honourable The Irish Society was established to build the City. St Columb's is the first Cathedral in the British 'Isles to have been built after the Reformation and an example of 'Planter's Gothic'.

The Battle of the Diamond - Fought between the Peep O'Day Boys and The Defenders September 21, 1795 in the village of Loughgall, County Armagh. The Defenders lost and had many dead at the scene. Led to the formation of the Orange Order.

The famous Earl of Bristol and Bishop of Derry, who so nearly succeeded in separating Ireland from Great Britain in 1782, contributed a spire of hewn stone.The tower on which it was built became dangerous in 1802, so that both had to be taken down and reconsturcted, half the expense being borne by the citizens and half by Bishop Knox, whose elegant monument is one of the chief ornaments of the interior of the cathedral. Here also are placed many relics of the great siege of 1688-9, including standards, flags and bombshells.

CITY OF LONDONDERRY, CO. DERRY. -This famous city which during the Jacobite war, was to the Protestants of Ireland what Limerick was to the Catholics, stands on a rising ground above the western bank of the river Foyle. Its ancient Gaelic name was Daire-Calgaich - the Oak Wood of Calgach. After the Flight of the Earls, in 1607, James I. "granted" the town and surrounding territory, as part of the "confiscated" lands of the native Irish, to certain London corporations, whence the name Londonderry.

The national Irish peak of it as 'Derry." In 1609, the English strongly fortified the town, and most of the gates, and the thick wall, are still well preserved. The chief celebrity of the place is derived from the long and successful defense made in 1688-89, from December to July, by the Williamite garrison and inhabitants against he investing army of King James II, under General Richard Hamilton, Marshal de Rosen and, finally the King himself. At one time, the city was on the pont of surrendering to Hamilton, on favorable terms, when with his usual fatuity, King James interfered, appeared before the town, was fired upon, had an officer killed by his side and was at last, compelled to withdraw, chagrined and discomfited. On July 30, 1689, the relieving expedition, under General Kirke, sailed up the Foyle and the siege was at an end. The defense throughout was most gallant, and the Irish Protestants, from a military standpoint, have good reason to be proud of it. Said the Catholic orator, Meagher, in 1846. "We do homage to Irish valor, whether it conquers on the walls of Derry, or capitulates with honor before the ramparts of Limerick!"

The modern city preserves the 17th-century layout of four main streets radiating from the Diamond to four gateways - Bishop's Gate, Ferryquay Gate, Shipquay Gate and Butcher's Gate.