Why is DERRY sometimes called LONDONDERRY? The name dispute EXPLAINED

The Derry/Londonderry debate is one that has gone on for decades.

County Derry, officially known as County Londonderry, is one of the 32 counties of Ireland, one of the nine counties of Ulster, and one of six counties of Northern Ireland.

The Derry/Londonderry name dispute is one that has been a subject of contention in the north for decades.

So much so that when an event takes place in the region, signs, posters, radios, announcements, and more will share the news of the event taking place in “Derry/Londonderry” to keep the peace.

So, why is Derry sometimes called Londonderry? Let’s look at the origin of the name, the Derry/Londonderry debate, and more.

Derry or Londonderry – which one is correct?

Traces of Derry date back to the sixth century when a monastery was established there. However, uncovered artefacts and archaeology suggest settlement in the area before then.

The name Derry comes from the Old Irish word ‘Daire’, now known as ‘Doire’, meaning ‘oak grove’ or ‘oak wood’.

It was after the partition of Ireland that Derry became one of six counties that formed the new Northern Ireland in 1921. This left the Ulster counties of Cavan, Donegal, and Monaghan to the south.

At the time of partition, Unionists feared that if the region had too many Catholics and Irish Nationalists, the state would be unviable.

As such, Antrim, Armagh, Down, Derry, Tyrone, and Fermanagh comprised the maximum area unionists believed they would be able to dominate. However, it was long before the partition of Ireland that Derry became known as Londonderry.

When Derry became known as Londonderry – 1613

Throughout the second half of the 16^th century, Queen Elizabeth I’s military leaders tried to conquer the province of Ulster on many occasions.

During the Nine Years War against the Gaelic O’Neill and O’Donnell earls, the English managed to hold on to Derry. When the war came to a close, a small trading settlement was established and given the legal status of a city.

However, during the 1608 O’Doherty’s Rebellion, the settlement was effectively wiped out by the Irish chieftain of Inishowen, Sir Cahir O’Doherty.

So, the new King of England, James I, decided on a revolutionary plan to take down and subordinate Ulster once and for all. The Plantation of Ulster required the colonising of the area by loyal English and Scottish migrants of the Protestant religion.

A part of this colonisation was to be organised by the ancient and wealthy livery companies of the City of London. As such, in 1613, the new county and its fortified city built across the River Foyle were renamed Londonderry in recognition of the London investors.

Why is Derry sometimes called Londonderry? – the Derry/Londonderry name debate

Legally, the city and county of this region are called Londonderry. However, some people call it Derry, and others stick to its legal name. But why?

In general, but not strictly speaking, Irish nationalists refer to the region as Derry, while Ulster Unionists generally refer to it as Londonderry.

Official signs and directions will say ‘Londonderry’. If you ever find yourself driving around Northern Ireland in the direction of Derry, you will often find the ‘London’ part of the word blacked out or scribbled over.

Furthermore, the joke, “Londonderry is the only word in the English language with six silent letters”, is one that everyone in Ireland knows well.

Interestingly, though, the region being called Londonderry went by largely without contention for centuries.

It was during the sectarian and dark period of the Troubles that the Derry/Londonderry debate became something divisive, a way of telling the Catholic and Protestant communities apart.

When the Derry/Londonderry debate really began – the division of the Troubles

Before the Troubles, referring to the region as Derry was common with everyone around the country, no matter what religious background, because it was simply a way to shorten the name.

However, referring to the region as either Derry or Londonderry became highly politicised during the Troubles, decades of civil conflict that ravaged the country.

The mention of either name became a defining factor in which ‘side’ or community you belonged to or lived in in Northern Ireland.

So, this is why Derry is sometimes called Londonderry. Today, there is not so much contention. With that being said, one way of saying it is probably still preferred by one religious background, while the other is preferred by another.

Say both, say either. Northern Ireland has grown up in recent years, and this is something to celebrate, even if it is just a little bit.