City of Culture 2013 Logo
Around 400,000 people crowded onto the streets of Derry in the closing days of the Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann (Irish Festival of Music). This was a huge indication both of the outstanding success of the Fleadh, and of the great momentum that has been building up in the city since the Year of Culture began on January 1st. As the last quarter of the year approaches, plans are already afoot to look to the legacy of this wonderful Year of Culture, thus ensuring it is not just a ‘one year wonder’ but an integral part of how the people of Derry-Londonderry intend to move together into the future.
Derry-Londonderry, the city to which Sister Mary Ann Doyle came from Tullamore in 1848, and which holds her mortal remains, has been described as ‘an old city with a young heart.’ With 40 percent of the population of 110,000 under 25 years of age, it has one of the youngest populations in Europe. Emerging from a time of conflict lasting almost three decades, Derry’s successful bid to become the first ever UK City of Culture was based on its ability to demonstrate a firm desire to build a community for the future where all could flourish.
The Walls of Derry – UK City of Culture 2013
As the name of the city suggests, Derry has a history which both unites and divides. Its population is united in a common love and regard for St. Colmcille who founded a great monastic settlement in Derry in the 6th century. The ‘Walls of Derry’, however, witness to a different narrative. Built during the period 1613 – 1618, as defences for early seventeenth century settlers from England and Scotland, the defence of the Walls is celebrated each year on August 12th, by the Apprentice Boys of Londonderry. The wonder of the programme for this Year of Culture is that organisers and community alike, have sought to ensure that the traditions of both sides of the community are embraced, respected and celebrated.
The Peace Bridge
The Peace Bridge, opened in June 2011 and linking communities on both sides of the Foyle is, in the words of the First Minister Martin McGuinness, ‘an iconic piece of art symbolising a brighter, better future for all.’ It is playing a pivotal role during this Year of Culture linking the main venues where major events are taking place.
Culture Company 2013, the group spearheading the roll-out of the programmes for City of Culture 2013, selected for its logo the ‘Awen’ – a Celtic symbol representing inspiration, spirituality and creativity. Recognising the powerful impact of the Peace Bridge in helping the city to tell its new story, the Company reworked the Awen to form a bridge, as illustrated above. This year’s programme extends to every part of the city and invites participation from every member of the community so that together, the citizens of Derry-Londonderry will begin to do things differently as they learn about and join in shared celebrations.
While there have been many events since the launch of the City of Culture 2013 on January 1st, the highlight of the first half of the year was without doubt the ‘Return of Colmcille’(June 7th – 8th). Dubbed ‘Greatest Show in 1,500 years’ this was a thirty-hour performance celebrating the return of St. Colmcille to Derry. In Frank Cottrell Boyce’s portrayal, Colmcille would return from Scotland to hear all the stories he had missed while he was away. The city was transformed into Colmville and key landmarks in the city formed a canvas for a tribute to its history, as the various stories unfolded. The River Foyle was alive for the finale of the event as 33,000 people watched Colmcille face down his arch nemesis, the Loch Ness Monster. Vanquished and retreating into its depths, the beast was replaced by three beautiful swans. The event drew to a stunning crescendo as fireworks lit up the sky.
Colmville
The sky was again the background for the start of Music City on June 21st when seven hot air balloons took to the clouds at the crack of dawn. Hundreds of people gathered at Grianan Fort in Donegal as a choir sang as the summer solstice began, and the balloons launched. Each balloon played a different element of a musical score to create a giant surround sound experience across the city. Luke Jerram who created the Sky Orchestra concept, said: ‘Through the use of surround sound, Sky Orchestra aims to deliver a sculptural experience to a just waking public, by lifting them into the creative space on the edge of sleep, and then acoustically seeding their imaginations.’
The Music City programme also included a celebration of 100 years of Danny Boy, a Taste of the Fleadh stage, a massive festival at Ebrington (a former army base during the Troubles) featuring local artists and international talent and even a sewing machine orchestra. Every venue in the City of Culture was alive with music in that special one-day event entitled ‘Music City’.
The Fleadh Cheoil
The Fleadh Cheoil, the Olympics of Irish traditional music, took place for the first time in its history in Northern Ireland from August 11th – 18th, and was a resounding success. From its official opening by President Michael D. Higgins to the spectacular closing ceremony at Ebrington Square, it drew record-breaking crowds into the city to enjoy an action-packed programme of events. Most significantly both communities in the city were represented throughout.
The Walled City Tattoo, scheduled for the end of August and based in the former Ebrington barracks, showcases both international and local talent with a 500 strong cast. Organisers say this UK City of Culture event will combine the pomp, ceremony and grandeur of traditional tattoo events with a special Derry-Londonderry twist. The event is based on the rich tapestry of cultures, representing people and places within the city and beyond.
The two remaining highlights for the latter part of the year are the Turner Prize (October 23rd – January 5th) and Lumiere. Turner is arguably the world’s most prestigious award for contemporary art, and never before has the event been held outside England. Lumiere (November 28th – December 1st) will feature numerous artistic light installations across the city, transforming prominent landmarks into illuminated multi-coloured artworks as part of the closing event for the 2013 UK City of Culture.
Scant justice has been done in this account to many other outstanding events of the year-long programme, whose preparation and unfolding has unleashed a surge of creativity across the city and beyond. Derry-Londonderry is now more than ever a place of hope, optimism, determination, inquiry, history and joy.
‘So hope for a great sea change
On the far side of revenge.
Believe that a farther shore
Is reachable from here.
Believe in miracles
And cures and healing wells.’
(The Cure at Troy – Seamus Heaney R.I.P.)
Chris Hegarty rsm
Northern Province
