Visiting a church and Irish dancing (3 November 2024)

Trenta Presbyterian Church

We awoke to another grey overcast day for our drive back to Dublin.  However, before we headed back south I was on a mission to find the church that my great-grandparents were married in.  As we were in Derry/Londonderry it was sensible to have a look at the city centre. 

 

It was surprisingly nice and interesting.  One of its features is an intact medieval city wall that surrounds the town.  The River Foyle bisects the wider urban area and there is a pretty bridge.  I tried to get a good photograph of the footbridge’s striking design as it curves over the water but when viewed from further along the pier it looks like it is just a straight bridge.  The other notable feature was the Guildhall where the city council is housed.  It is  beautiful building that looks like a church and it is not surprising as it was designed by a church architect.  We had a quick look around it and then climbed on the city walls and walked a few metres on them.  On the way out of the city we went past a FREE DERRY sign which I guess has an ambiguous meaning.  The ends of the terraces also had these amazing murals relating to being part of Ireland. 

 



The Guildhall

Not surprising given that Bloody Sunday occurred there in 1972 when peaceful republican protestors were shot by the British Army.  It took another thirty or so years before it was finally resolved after a lengthy enquiry and it was made clear that there were no protestors with guns.  In some ways it seems that was the beginning of the Troubles.  Derry is largely and Roman Catholic population. 



 

Down a few lanes beyond Letterkenny in County Donegal was Trentagh, pronounced I think Trenta.  There was no village just a church.  When we got to the church I was not convinced that it was the place where my great-grandparents married as on the porch of the church there was 1902. I figured that it must be the wrong place.  Then we found a grave with a Roulston who would have been distantly related to my great-grandmother.  The church was in pristine condition and it appeared that services were still be held there.  County Donegal is split between Northern Ireland and Ireland, and Trentagh is in Ireland.

In front of said Church

 

There was a long drive back to Dublin.  In Letterkenny we had a quick lunch and with Dublin Airport in the GPS we were on our way (we were dropping it there because the city depot was closed).  I had planned to get there by 4pm but it became clear that would not happen even when I chose to take the toll road.   

 

Our new accommodation was a hotel and we got a taxi from the bus stop in town to get there so that we would not be late for the night of Irish music and dancing. 

 

It was a dinner and show.  The music was interesting and the dancing very good, with the skills of the dancers, who apparently danced in Riverdance or Lord of the Dance, were amazing.  It was most impressive.  Next to us were an American couple who were very worried about the election outcome.  They were Harris supporters. They will be unhappy as the results are known as I post this.


Outside the city wall

On the city wall

Another view of the wall

Derry street scene


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