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Below is a short history of our Association in Londonderry
A Unionist Association has been in existence in Londonderry since the 1900s. Our minute books show the first recorded meeting as January 1901 when the meetings were held in rooms in London Street on the city side with Mr John Goligher acting as President of the Association.
The organisation continued to meet in various premises in Londonderry until 1948 when the new Londonderry Unionist Headquarters at Kennedy Place were purchased for £3000.
The new headquarters were opened by Lord and Lady Glentoran and also present was the Stormont MP Rev. J.G. McManaway. The ladies of the Londonderry Women’s Unionist Association were entertained by Miss Cooke at her home, Government House, overlooking the Foyle.
The Londonderry Association continued to work from its headquarters until the premises became in need of major repairs. Many excellent speakers were invited to talk and dinners and dances were very popular events for the unionist community in Londonderry.
During the late 1960s and the ensuing years of communal and sectarian violence when many of its supporters and members were the targets of violence and intimidation, the Unionist Association in Londonderry continued to be a voice for fair and firm Unionism and contested numerous elections often in very testing conditions.
In seeking to further the cause of Unionism and the maintenance of the Union, the party has sought to embrace and promote policies aimed at ensuring economic well-being and adequate health and educational standards and social justice for all.
Whilst on occasions successful in elections Unionist representatives have at times fallen victim to those parties who play on sectarian and communal fear.
The Headquarters at Kennedy Place were sold in 2004 as the cost of repairs and running such a large building became too great. The Party relocated to offices in Bonds Street in the Waterside area of Londonderry in 2004 were it remains as the local headquarters of the Ulster Unionist Party.
The Foyle Association plays a very active role in our community. Our local branches now hold meeting in the rooms in Bonds Street whilst our AGMs are held in a local hotel.
The Association is going from strength to strength and has a growing respect within the community for its interest in issues which affect the daily lives of the people of the city.
Whilst lacking the representative strength of other parties it punches above its weight in promoting constructive answers and strategies on issues which blight and curtail the development of the city and the local area.
A profile of Londonderry
Londonderry lies close to the southern end of Lough Foyle and the border with Donegal to the North-West of Northern Ireland.
City Proper: 83,652
Derry Urban Area: 90,663
District
Derry City
County
County Londonderry
The old walled city of Londonderry, famous for its association with the Honourable the Irish Society whose Guilds funded the plantation of the County of Londonderry, (first referred to as County Coleraine) and the siege of 1688 - 1689 which played such a crucial role in the Williamite wars towards the end of the 17th century, lies on the west bank of the River Foyle. The present city now covers both banks (Cityside to the west and Waterside to the east) The two sides of the river are connected by two bridges, the Craigavon Bridge, called after Northern Ireland’s first Prime Minister and the Foyle Bridge.
The district extends to rural areas to the southeast of the city. The population of the city proper was 83,652 in the 2001 Census. The Derry Urban Area (including Culmore, New Buildings and Strathfoyle) had a population of 90,663, making it the second-largest city in Northern Ireland and Ulster, and the fourth largest on the island of Ireland. The wider Derry City Council area had a population of 107,300 as of June 2006. It is one of the few towns in Europe which has not had its defensive walls breached (though the original fortified gates have been replaced). The district is run by Derry City Council and contains both Londonderry Port and City of Derry Airport.
