Derry University Group

Happy World Book Day!
We have ten copies of our new quiz book to give away.
Answer this question - via DM with your address* - and share this post, to put your name in the hat.
–– Who asked Mrs Gallagher for a telephone so she could tell her husband she landed safely?

Derry University Group Awards: 2025 There have been hundreds, if not thousands, of people who have contributed to the DUG campaign for an independent, cross-border university in northwest Ireland over the past year. We are grateful for ...

Thank you to all who have helped and supported our campaigns over the past year.
We look forward to continued success in 2026.

www.colmcillepress.com/post/derry-u...

If you’re interested in reading the INDEPENDENT report for yourself it’s available on the RIA website

www.ria.ie/assets/uploa...

Ulster University attempted to tell the British government today that Derry - a city more than twice the size of Dundalk - wasn’t fit to run its own university.
It is time to end UU’s tenure in Derry so we can develop honest and open partnerships with reputable institutions.

Well done Mike Kane MP for raising the two
Royal Irish Academy reports on the need for an independent North West university at the Commons Select Committee this morning.
UU clearly very rattled - but their attempts to rubbish the island's top academics and Derry civic society aren't fooling anyone.

Ceacht 6: Foghlaim Gaeilge le 'Claisceadal cois Baile' When Peadar Ó Doirnín (1684-1769) composed the song, the hill of Cian Mac Cáinte was still intact and was a place of wonder and mystery and a powerful stimulus to the imagination of the poets of south...

Foghlaim Gaeilge trí sheanamhráin/Learning Irish through old songs.
Ceacht 5 le fáil anois ar/Lesson 6 up now on: www.colmcillepress.com/post/ceacht-...

Final book of the year away to the printers this morning.
In the shops December 1.

B'fhéidir gur dhúirt muid cheana é, ach is iontach an rud é dúiseacht i dtír inar féidir leat a bheith bródúil as d’Uachtarán.
May have said it before, but it's great to wake up in a country where you can be proud of your President.
*Clúdach iontach ar imeachtaí an lae inné ar @nuachttg4.bsky.social

A Giant of Democracy, RIP Suaimhneas síoraí ar ár gcara mór, an t-údar Pat Bradley, a fuair bás inné. Our heartfelt condolences to the family of our friend and author Pat Bradley, who died in Derry's Altnagelvin Hospital yeste...

Author and statesman Pat Bradley dies aged 90.

PODCAST: McCall explores love, loss and trauma in 'part-memoir' story collection In the first of a new series of podcasts from Colmcille Press, Felicity McCall talks to Garbhán Downey about her new short story collection What We Did on Our Holidays. FelicityMcCall.mp4Many thanks t...

In the first of a new series of podcasts from Colmcille Press, Felicity McCall talks about her new short story collection What We Did on Our Holidays.

Díospóireacht uachtaránachta á reáchtáil ag Cló Cholmcille Tá Colmcille Press tar éis scríobh chuig na trí pháirtí is mó sa Deisceart agus chuig an neamhspleách Catherine Connolly, ag tabhairt cuireadh dóibh páirt a ghlacadh insan gcéad Toghchán Uachtaránacht...

Díospóireacht uachtaránachta á reáchtáil ag Cló Cholmcille:

Presidential candidates challenged to join Derry hustings As the race for the Áras intensifies Colmcille Press has invited the nominees to a pre-election debate

Colmcille Press to host presidential debate at St Columb’s Hall on October 8.

Mark Steel's in Town - Series 13 - Coleraine - BBC Sounds Mark Steel is back In Town. This week he's in Coleraine in Northern Ireland.

Is Mark Steele the first stand up comedian to mention the Lockwood report?

@derry-group.bsky.social @tcollins.bsky.social

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Alt iontach le @jackmaciomhair.bsky.social san @anpaipear.bsky.social inniu.

Excellent article on Dublin's £40m investment in Magee.

@caoimhearchibald.bsky.social must set up an Oversight Commission to protect this.

We also must ensure bilingual signage is erected across the campus immediately.

Ulster University urged to justify its ‘staggering’ £61k trip to US Ulster University spent more than £61,000 on a trip to Washington, DC for St Patrick’s Day, prompting questions as to whether the institution has a “limitless” marketing budget.

UU’s trip to the US cost more than Stormont’s.
Its spending - all centred on trying to make its white elephant Belfast campus viable - is out of control.
@RIAdawson has twice now demanded a Scrutiny Commission.
It’s time to act, Minister Archibald.

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/educati...

Paul Gosling: You might as well expect Conor McGregor and Paul Murphy to work together as Stormont to function Stormont is broken and the public is paying the price

‘For many close observers, abolition of Stormont is the single most attractive element of Irish unity.’
@paulgosling1.bsky.social writes about his new book in today’s @irishtimes.com.

175 years ago this month Derry voted to found its own university, and Belfast attempted to steal it for itself From day one, Belfast tried to leverage the money from Martha Magee’s bequest as their own, and her executors were forced to intervene on Derry’s behalf.

175 years ago this month Derry voted to found its own university, and Belfast attempted to steal it for itself.

Via @colmcille.bsky.social

This weekend on Highland Radio's Business Matters programme, @paulgosling1.bsky.social will be talking to presenter Chris Ashmore about his just-published book 'A New Ireland'.
The book investigates the economic case for Irish unity and the work needed to prepare for a referendum.

Handy Wee Guide to Derry - the definitive ebook for visitors to NW Ireland The definitive 64-page digital guide to Derry's Ancient City, Old City and New City and all the beaches, woods, parks, museums and galleries across northwest Ireland.Full of tours, maps and walks of D...

Visiting northwest Ireland or hosting guests here in Summer 2025?

Get your complete 'Handy Wee Guide to Derry' and Inishowen on your phone for just a quid.

Our weekly reading from Paul Laughlin's poetry collection, Dorn San Aer. Today, it's Siubhán Nic Amhlaoibh from
the Derry Cultúrlann. Tá brabúis ón leabhar á bhronnadh ar Chumann Faoisimh Leighis na Palaistíne. Nasc anseo: wix.to/4el7OQ9

Tuition fees increase in Northern Ireland is ruled out Northern Ireland's five universities and university colleges had called for tuition fees to rise by more than £1,000 a year.

Good to hear.
Fees in Derry are still too dear - twice those in Donegal. The goal must be to harmonise fees North and South - and to implement The Royal Irish Academy's plan for an independent cross-border university, centred in Derry, and full oversight for Ulster University.

TV series to explore the history of Ó Catháin / Keane surname in County Derry Limavady is set to feature in a new series of Sloinne in which a person goes in search of the history of their surname. The TG4 series travels all over the country learning about famous and historical figures as well as the clans which shaped the history of Ireland. This series will focus on the sur ---

TV series to explore the history of Ó Catháin / Keane surname in County Derry

Derry Death Notices - Thursday, May 8, 2025 The following deaths have occurred:- • Trevor Bailie, 21 Parkmore Road, Magherafelt • Noreen Burns (née Dooley), 23 Cooleen Park, Culmore • Kenny Campbell, 42 Brookmount Court, Coleraine • Patrick Creane, Eglinton • Andrew (Andy) Faulkner, 45 Bonnanaboigh, Burnfoot • Henry (Harry) Gilmour, Alexander ---

Derry Death Notices - Thursday, May 8, 2025

As damning an indictment of UU, Stormont and the Northern Ireland Civil Service as has ever been published outside Derry.
Thank you Brian Feeney and @irishnews.com.
Enough is enough.

Radio, Romance & Rock'n'Roll | Colmcille Press In the captivating autobiography Colum recounts his extraordinary experiences, starting, as a very young boy, at The White Horse Inn outside Derry, where his father was the last tenant barman in the old coach house.In the early days of rock‘n’roll he learned to play the guitar and soon became a professional musician, touring with the Gay McIntyre band, in the company of his best friend Gerry Anderson, who shared a small bed sit with him in Manchester, when the band was resident there for a year. Colum then went on to play with Ireland’s first Showband, The Clipper Carlton, Derry band The Woodchoppers and then across the Atlantic with the Emeralds who pioneered the Irish showband scene in America.Returning home, he formed the rock band Toejam with Gerry Anderson and Jim Whiteside. With their hard aggressive style accompanying Gerry’s soaring high pitched vocals, they very quickly became a musical force which attracted many fans both North and South of the border. They played live on radio and TV programmes and in Dublin a fledging U2 played support to them, Colum started Derry’s first recording studio which became an instant success with local bands and soloists. When BBC Northern Ireland heard about this, he was invited to present a programme using some of the material he had collected on BBC Radio Foyle, which had just started broadcasting in the Northwest. This was the start of his radio career which has lasted over forty years and continues to this day. He presented many programmes on BBC Radio Foyle and BBC Radio Ulster and when he progressed to the role of producer his long list of achievements includes a two-hour documentary for BBC Radio 2 on the history of Irish Showbands.In the book there are many stories of intimate behind-the-scenes moments of radio broadcasting for BBC Northern Ireland.

Thursday May 1 at the Guildhall, the City of Derry Jazz Festival kicks off with the launch of broadcaster Colum Arbuckle's musical memoir.
MC is @markypblue.bsky.social with Guest Speaker @lilianseenoibarr.bsky.social.
Starts at 5pm - and the former Toejam man is bringing his guitar!

Pat McArt among recipients of first ATU alumni awards Pat McArt, a native of Letterkenny joined the Derry Journal in 1981 and worked for the paper until his retirement in 2014

Heartiest congratulations to ‘War, Peace and the Derry Journal’ author, Pat Mc Art, on this much-deserved award from the new Atlantic Technological University. Comhghairdeas leat from all at Colmcille Press!

The straw that breaks the camel’s back? @wonkhe.bsky.social

Lots of Northern names mentioned here - Jarlath Burns, Michelle O’Neill, Peter Casey, John Finucane and Frances Black.
High time we were allowed to vote for them.

Important intervention from top Derry academic.
Three quick goals:
Stormont to adopt Royal Irish Academy plan for a cross-border university in NW Ireland.
Set up independent scrutiny commission for HE in NI.
Set up new North-South body to align education systems on the island (and with EU models).

Sorry to see this but admire the grace, humility and integrity Mike Amesbury is showing here.
He has always been a supporter of Derry - visiting, raising issues in the House of Commons, and hosting meetings for DUG with Lord Adonis and Angela Rayner at Westminster.
Hope this isn’t the end for him.