Projects and Publications

Projects:

Valuing Heritage by Valuing Memories

Derry City Council's Hertage & Museum Service is a partner in this exciting reminiscence project. the aim is to encourage people of all ages to recall and record memories and as way of preserving our heritage. We hope to establish reminiscence groups and networks at local levels.
The Project is funded by Heritage Lottery Fund and managed by the Reminiscence Network NI

Suitable for all age groups and we would encourage younge participants

For further information on the project or to find out how schools can get involved contact: Deirdre Doherty T: 02871 318 328.

Irish Historic Towns Atlas: Derry City Council

The Irish Historic Towns Atlas project was established in 1981. The aim of the project is to record the topographical development of a selection of Irish towns both large and small. Each town is published separately as a fascicle or folder and includes a series of maps complemented by a detailed text section. The Irish Historic Towns Atlas is part of a wider European scheme, with town atlases containing broadly similar information available for a number of countries. Thus Irish towns can be studied in their European context. The Royal Irish Academy, Dublin coordinates the publication and research. The Irish Historic Towns Atlas, Derry/Londonderry was published and launched in the Guildhall in December 2005; alongside W.S Ferguson’s catalogue of maps, plans and elevations of the city.

For further information contact: bernadette.walsh@derrycity.gov.uk
Tel: 028 7137 7331

North West Digital Film Archive

The North West Digital Film Archive Project is a partnership project with Derry City Council Heritage and Museum Service, Donegal County Museum and Archives, Donegal Arts Centre and the Nerve Centre, Derry. The project had two central aims:

· The development of an interactive learning resource and digital archive of life in Derry and Donegal in the twentieth century.

· The provision of an education program of ‘hands-on’ ICT workshops and creative projects for secondary schools and youth groups in the Derry and Donegal area.

The underlying ethos behind the Archive was that it should not be a heritage project alone but also an educational one, concerned with the application and usage of the archive, not just a static resource.

World War II memories – DVD

To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the ending of World War II a range of events and resources were planned as part of the Their Past Your Future programme in 2005. The programme, funded by the Big Lottery in association with the Northern Ireland Museums Council resulted in a range of innovative projects. The Heritage & Museum Service of Derry City Council and the Causeway Museum Service produced a DVD containing a selection of personal testimonies from people who lived through the war. Participants from Coleraine, Limavady, Ballymoney and Derry included members of the Armed Forces, and civilians with stories from the Home Front on rationing, blackouts and the excitement surrounding the time with the arrival of so many different nationalities to these shores. The DVD is available for schools, libraries and local groups, from the Harbour Museum.

World War II Digitisation Project

As part of Their Past Your Future a selection of World War II artefacts and archives have been digitised and are available to view on the Derry City Council web site. http://www.derrycity.gov.uk/ww2

Publications:

Legacy of World War II- ‘Our Lives’

‘Our Lives’ looks at the legacy of the WW II and life after the war. Following on from the success of the DVD this new resource book entitled ‘Our Lives’ was published in 2006. It deals with areas such as housing, education, entertainment, employment and emigration. This new book accompanies the World War II DVD and acts as an additional resource for schools. ‘Our Lives’ was edited by Jane Williams, 2006.

Other Publications:

Atlantic Memorial: The Foyle and The Western Approaches 1939-1945; reprinted May 2005
Derry and the North West, 1846: The paintings of John Noah Gosset;
Fabrics and Fabrications, catalogue to exhibition; 2001
The Irish Heritage Series: Historic Derry and Siege City; 1988

Education Resources:

Education packs are available on the following:
Early Christian Ireland (Key Stage 2)
Plantation & Siege in Derry (Key Stage 3)
Derry Workhouse (Key Stage 2)
Printed activity trails are also available which complement National Curriculum targets in subjects such as History, English, Cultural Heritage and Technology.
Citizenship/Community Relations discussion trails available for An Armada Shipwreck – La Trinidad Valencera.
Community Relations Museum Service CD ROM- Our Present Past