Derry or Londonderry?

[removeduser_4536284751384]

I'm sure this thread is immediately going to attract the attention of every one of our users from the British isles (at least, this subject usually does), and might get a bit heated, so lets keep it calm.

In case any of you don't know the history of Derry, it was called Derry until it was destroyed in 1608. In 1613 it was rebuilt with money from various London trade organisations, and the "London" prefix was added in their honour. The county was called Coleraine until it was renamed Londonderry after the town.

Naturally this, and more importantly the long and complex history of the place, caused trouble between unionist and nationalist communities after the partition of Ireland. Its history is way too long to go into here and I encourage anyone who isn't familiar with it to read up on it.

So why are people so touchy about what it's called? What do you call it? What should it be called? Do we have any members from Derry?

I've always called it Derry because that's what it's usually known as down here.

[Niles Crane]

I thought it was still called Londonderry by everyone. In fact, I hadn't even considered Derry had any relation. I figured it was a separate place, but I'm not very familiar with Irish geography.

[Poach]

I don't think I've ever actually referred to the place at all, atleast to my memory. Being British I'm obliged to call it Londonderry from what I read on the wiki page.

[Ciabhán]

Derry. Like Poach said I've an obligation to call it that...

If we Irish had taken London and burned it down then renamed it Dunlondon I'd expect the English to call it London still.

[Caledonian Rhyfelwyr]

Londonderry most of the time, but Derry when I'm singing "Derry's Walls"

Does it matter really?

[Ciabhán]

Does it matter really?

Yes and no.

It's similar to something like Stalingrad. Sometimes a name has power.

[Azog 150]

Both. It generally interchanges. Usually it is Londonderry though.

[johnhughthom]

Depends who I'm talking to, with my nationalist friends it's Londonderry, with my unionist friends it's Derry...

[Ciabhán]

Depends who I'm talking to, with my nationalist friends it's Londonderry, with my unionist friends it's Derry...

Reverse those and you've got it.

[Poach]

Reverse those and you've got it.

Seems to me he calls it by the other side's name to annoy his friends. Rather amusing to be honest.

[Incontinenta Buttox]

Depends who I'm talking to, with my nationalist friends it's Londonderry, with my unionist friends it's Derry...

Shouldn't that be the other way around?

[Red]

Impartial American: Londonderry sounds nicer.

[Darkhorse]

Don't worry, just go out there and call it London and you'll be fine.

(Patrick Kielty anyone?)

[Poach]

That's the joke.

[JP226]

Sounds like icecream flavors

[Colonel Cleg McLeg]

I tend to call it Derry. No real reason. Perhaps its Celtic solidarity, or maybe its just that it requires less effort to say.

[HMS Empire Broadsword]

LondonDerry. Calling it Derry is rather disrespecting the memory of the English merchants who provided money for it to be rebuilt in the 1600s. And yes, LondonDerry sounds better.


As for the argument of the Irish burning and rebuilding London (hypothetically), that is I'm afraid wrong, as DerryLondon or DunLondon sounds ridiculous.

[Plan C]

Remids me of that old lady who I spoke to on the phone in one of my first jobs. She was from Londonderry and took a massive offence when I implied that her nationality was British. "Bloody oirish you brat! OIRISH!"

[Salem1]

I have invented two names which surpass either of them; Londerry & Derrylond. Anything but Londonderry...

[pchalk]

to me Londonderry almost just sounds a little artificial to me, like two names put together (basically is i guess). might work for some but imagine writing out ur full name as 1 word every time. just seems wierd. i say call it Derry or London like someone else said . just pick one already