From monastic settlement of AD546 to Seventeenth Century walled city, discover Londonderry's proud history and industrial potential.

This colourful film delves into various aspects of Derry life, from education to industry, culture to politics. It was co-produced by John Hume, a future founder of the SDLP and Nobel Peace Prize recipient. Filmed prior to the civil disturbances that would soon shatter Northern Ireland, it vividly depicts a city looking forward in expectations of future prosperity. It is the knowledge of those soon-to-be thwarted hopes that renders City of Londonderry especially poignant.
 

Terence Mc Donald (1926 – 2001) was a teacher, film historian, film collector and a pioneering amateur filmmaker from Derry. He made 35 films in his lifetime covering a wide range of themes such as mental health, travelling theatre, and portraits of his home town, Derry. His playful fiction films often pay homage to classic cinema moments from Peyton Place to Potemkin, from Chaplin to Jacques Tati. Terence Mc Donald undertook all aspects of production - filming, sound recording and editing and produced a body of remarkably sophisticated work. This film is courtesy of his son, Peter Mc Donald. 

Digitised as part of Unlocking Film Heritage

A Fairview Films Production

Directed by Terence Mc Donald

Produced by Terence Mc Donald and John Hume

Narrated by Scott Marshall

• Irish Film Archive
• Britain on Film
• BFI Player
• John Hume - biography.com