Derry should '˜appreciate our place in history'

Derry City & Strabane District Council has agreed to stage an annual U-Boat Surrender Weekend following the success of this year's event.

The move was endorsed by the Council’s Business & Culture Committee during their June meeting this week.

Derry City and Strabane District Councils Museums Services staff step back in time to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the surrender of the German U-boat fleet back in 2015 (Image courtesy of Gavan Connelly, GC Photographics)

placeholder image — Derry City and Strabane District Councils Museums Services staff step back in time to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the surrender of the German U-boat fleet back in 2015 (Image courtesy of Gavan Connelly, GC Photographics)

A report presented by Director of Business & Culture Stephen Gillespie stated that in relation to the second annual weekend marking the 71st anniversary of the U-Boat surrender, the “high volume of visitors reflects the success of the event.”

A total of 7,067 visitors took part in the activities at Guildhall Square, the Tower Museum and the Guildhall.

One of the u-boats surfacing on the River Foyle during the surrender.

The event cost £10,428, while income received from book sales, Café Atlantic and Spitfire photograph opportunities came to £957.

It was recommended that “members support this as an annual event in response to the high level of public enthusiasm for this particular aspect of the city and region’s heritage”.

SDLP Councillor John Boyle proposed that the council adopt the recommendation, stating that there was “clearly a high level of public interest in this”.

He added: “It is important that as we progress, we appreciate our own history and our own place in history, and the place of Derry in particular in relation to Battle of the North Atlantic.”

His proposal was seconded by SDLP Councillor, Brian Tierney.