Full Song: Derry sings The Town I Loved So Well with Phil Coulter

After taking to the stage at Ebrington, Phil Coulter addressed the crowds, describing it as an honour and a privilege to sing with others from the city because this was ‘a story about our town, your town, a story about my town’.

"This was a song that was written in some pretty dark hours but we are not the kind of people to lie down, not the kind of people to give up, and when I look around the city now, when I look at Ebrington, and I see this is ‘a bright brand new day’ that I prayed for in the city 50 years ago.”

He said he was thrilled to be honoured with Freedom of the City, and particularly pleased that it was unanimous.

Donal Doherty described the crowds gathered as amazing before messages were relayed via large screens from Roma Downey and Damian McGinty.

The mass choir, many of whom lived through the turbulent years of the Troubles to which the song refers, then joined the world-famous singer, songwriter in song in an event organised with the City of Derry International Choir Festival, which runs from Oct 19-23.

In an encore that will give you goosebumps, Phil Coulter, Codetta choir and his fellow Derry natives rose their voices in tandem as they sang, ‘For what’s done is done, and what’s won is won, and what’s lost is lost and gone forever/ I can only pray for a bright, brand new day in the town I loved so well’.

Born in Derry in 1942, Phil Coulter is one of the most eclectic composers to come from the island of Ireland and he is no stranger to success with five Ivor Novello awards, 23 platinum, 39 gold and 52 silver discs to his credit.

Keep an eye out on www.derrychoirfest.com/ for details of what else is coming up at the festival.