“They are still campaigning for a united Ireland, they are not going to get that either”
The NI Equality Commission was highly critical of Derry City Council’s approach to attempting to officially change the name of the city from Londonderry to Derry and, in September 2009, “strongly advise[d] Derry City Council not to proceed with the policy as it is currently proposed”. That attempt stalled on Monday when the Council failed to agree what its next step should be. Sinn Féin and the SDLP are blaming each other for that failure – an Irish News report provides the detail.
Members voted on two separate proposals – an SDLP plan to form a working group to discuss the name change and a Sinn Féin motion to petition the Privy Council to change the name. The SDLP proposal was voted down by Sinn Féin and the DUP. The Sinn Féin motion to change the name was defeated by the SDLP and the DUP. Both the SDLP and Sinn Féin accused each other of thwarting any name change.SDLP councillor Helen Quigley said the Privy Council would have rejected any petition after considering the Equality Commission and Community Relations Council reports. However, Sinn Féin’s Kevin Campbell accused the SDLP of opposing the name change.
Adds I should have mentioned the bid to become the UK City of Culture…
Compromise needed. Call the place Elderry.
Surely all Sinn fein have to do is threaten the collapse of the Executive and the DUP will huff and puff a bit, then roll over.
This lot could not organise the proverbial in a brewery…
Durkan is shitting himself ahead of the elections and obviously didn’t want to piss-off his rented vote.
Sinn Fein doesn’t want to piss off that vote either, Ulick. Hence the mealy mouthedness from Kevin Campbell.
Make both Derry and Londonderry official names. That is what has happened in practise anyway. This is not, to me, a difficult issue.
Good idea, Sammy. When I send a letter there I address it as Derry, Co.Londonderry. PO don’t seem to have a problem, even before post codes.
Sammy Morse
I agree it is fair, even generous to both sides.
It has the added bonus of making anyone who disagrees look like petty, sectarian rabble.
Damn You Sammy Morse
No need for sensible ideas !. You could ruin everything !
Mind you if the vast majority of the people inhabitating a place cannot decide what to call that place what can they decide ?
Panic, the vast majority call it Derry. What point are you making?
Posted by JohnM
” 10.Panic, the vast majority call it Derry. What point are you making? ”
That point exactly.
I know one oughtn’t to be, because who knows how they were chosen, but I was greatly heartened by vox pops on Radio Foyle this morning. The main response was that there are more important things than the city’s name to be getting on with.
Cad faoi “Martin Mc Guinnessstadt”
Stroke City, as it is known, because of Derry-stroke-Londonderry: le creative grassroots alternative, perfect for city of culture hey.
Sweet Jesus when will they just get on with making the place better to live in, more attractive to investors, instead of arguing over its name? These pathetic Derry inspired arguments are tiresome.
cut all the bullshit put the vote to the people that it matters most to, to the people of derry let them decide what their city is called either the oringinal & ancient name of doire,derry or the forced british plantation name of londonderry take this decision away from the queen the nio,bbc,utv and the bunch of muppets we call councillors and politicians let the people of this city decide on a democratic vote and put this to bed once and for all
Uhm, Darragh, I wonder what way you’ll be voting!
While they’re at it, the Privy Council should come up with a name for itself that doesn’t make people snicker.