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Casting A Long Shadow: A People’s History of the Long Tower (Colmcille Press) is the first comprehensive history of the area to be produced in more than a century.

It will be launched at St Columba’s Long Tower chapel on Friday, October 28 at 8.30pm, and all are welcome.

Written by Ivor Doherty, Martin McGeehan and Joe Martin, and edited by Erin Hutcheon and Philly Barwise, the new book features more than 30 contributors including Dr Brian Lacy, Séamas O’Reilly, Patricia Nic Torcail and Professor Declan McGonagle.

St Columba at the foot of the Cross outside St Columba Long Tower Church. (George Sweeney)

The researchers follow the site from Columban times, through the Middle Ages and the era of Penal Law, through the revival in the 1800s and 1900s, right up until the recent 1500th anniversary celebrations.

One of the most beautiful churches in Ireland, St Columba's Church, Long Tower is said to be built on the site of a 6th Century A.D. monastic settlement founded by St ColmCille (St Columba).

The current church in the Bogside / Long Tower area close to the city centre sits in the same area where the massive Temple Mor cathedral stood during the Middle Ages in the ancient city of Derry in north west Ireland.

The authors and contributors revisit revolutionary priests, hostile city authorities, a graveyard landslide, and a pro establishment bishop known as ‘Orange Charlie’.

They unearth the story of how the Long Tower came to have one of the finest collections of church art outside Italy. And, using archives, annals and ancient records, they attempt to pinpoint the location of the 6th century monastic settlement, the route of the medieval Columban pilgrimage, and the exact site of the 12th century Túr Fada (Long Tower), said to be the tallest building in Ireland at the time.

The book contains scores of photographs, illustrations and old records, which will captivate the casual reader and serious historian alike.

Priced at £20, Casting A Long Shadow is now available from local bookshops, Colmcille Press and from the office at Áras Cholmcille at the Long Tower.

Launch of new book on Derry's most historic site