About this Event
Tuesday 30th June | 2:00pm–4:00pm
Meeting Point: Guildhall
Join us and David Douglas of Derrie Danders for a special America 250 edition of his popular Scots-Irish & Ulster-Scots Connections Tour. This walk explores the deep historical links between Ulster and North America through stories of migration, identity and heritage, and is especially suitable for those interested in genealogy and tracing Ulster or Irish ancestry.
David’s own Ulster-Scots connection shapes the foundation of this tour. His ancestors were likely Lowland Scots who settled in the area during the late 1600s or early 1700s, with records showing the Douglas family as tenant farmers on the outskirts of the city in the mid-18th century. This personal link to migration and settlement inspired his long-standing interest in the Ulster-Scots story and the creation of this tour, first launched in 2020.
The tour traces the wider Ulster-Scots experience, beginning with the arrival of Scots settlers during the Plantation of Ulster, through the turbulent period of the Siege of 1688–89, and into the generations who remained and helped shape the social, cultural and economic life of the region.
Starting at the Guildhall, the tour follows a circuit of the 400-year-old City Walls, before continuing along part of the riverside from the Peace Bridge area and returning to the Guildhall. Along the way, David brings the past to life through a mix of history, heritage, literature and poetry.
You will hear stories of key figures from the Ulster-Scots tradition, including David Cairnes, Adam Murray, and the controversial Robert Lundy, as well as later civic and industrial figures who shaped the city. The tour then follows the story across the Atlantic, exploring emigration to America and Canada and the impact of the Scotch-Irish diaspora, who played a major role in building communities and leadership in the New World.
This engaging walking tour highlights the enduring connections between Ulster and America as part of the America 250 commemorations.
Cost: 5 Euros per person.
Spaces are limited and advance booking is recommended.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Guildhall Street, Guildhall Street, Londonderry, United Kingdom
EUR 6.34
