Among the murals that populate Derry – Londonderry, there is one that seems to have more success than the others.
Visitors are almost queuing there to get a selfie of choice.
The work in question represents the five protagonists of the
Derry Girls
series , a symbol of the revival of the small Northern Irish town.
Formerly shunned by tourists, Northern Ireland has become since the peace agreements between Protestants and Catholics (or Good Friday agreements) a destination of the most dynamic.
In 1998, this peace protocol put an end to thirty years of civil war between Republicans, of Catholic persuasion, and Unionists, of Protestant faith.
In addition to the astonishing geological wonder that is the Giant's Causeway, the British province now derives its popularity from the series that are filmed there.
Game of Thrones
of course, but also the comedy
Derry Girls
which transformed the image of Derry-Londonderry.
On the occasion of the release, this Friday, of the third season of the comedy on Netflix,
Le Figaro invites
you to walk in the footsteps of Erin, Orla, Michelle, Clare and James and to put an end to the sad image of the fortified city, long associated with the Bloody Sunday massacre in 1972.
A new kind of wall painting
Derry's 17th century city walls Tourism Ireland
Launched on the English channel Channel 4 in 2018 and broadcast in France on Netflix,
Derry Girls
follows five high school students living in the mid-1990s, in the last years of the “Troubles”.
Funny and scathing, Lisa McGee's series, which is inspired by her youth and has recruited Liam Neeson and Chelsea Clinton for key scenes, interweaves adolescent concerns and evocation of the political context (bomb threats, visit from Bill Clinton).
The series immortalizes the essential places of the city: the four-hundred-year-old medieval ramparts,
The Guildhall
(the neo-Gothic town hall with magnificent stained glass windows),
Long Tower Church
, or the
Bogside
, an IRA quarter-bastion where there are many frescoes depicting the most tragic moments of the Troubles.
But the series has also propelled new areas of the city into the light.
At 18 Orchard Street is therefore the huge fresco of the protagonists of the series.
After a selfie, take the time to have a drink at
Badger's Bar
, the pub that lent its facade to the creation of this work.
The latter says a lot about the appeasement between the Catholic and Protestant communities.
Other ritual stops for fans:
St Columb's Hall, The Yellow Yard, Dennis's Wee Shop, Pump Street.
Afternoon tea and fish and chips
Afternoon tea Derry Girls.
Tourism Ireland
A Derry Girls
pilgrimage
, a series where “Fish and Chips” is king, cannot be complete without being tempted by a snack or a pint.
The Everglades Hotel
offers an “afternoon tea”.
The traditional "finger sandwiches" are served alongside a portion of fries, puff pastries with sausages, including the emblematic "cream horn".
Without forgetting a pink cocktail based on the sweetest vodka.
As a gift and a kitsch but cute little souvenir, a little yellow plastic duck dressed in the heroines' uniform can accompany you on your future adventures.
For beer lovers, the delicious
Walled City
Brewery
“gastropub” , located on the site of a former British army barracks and overlooking the Peace Bridge, offers beers named in honor of the series: Sexy Priest, Punt Purse and Derry Spice.
Practical notebook
OUR RECOMMENDATION
Sign up for a city tour.
Martin McCrossan City Tours offers tours of the historic city center (all year, £6) and the Bogside (on reservation) as well as a special Derry Girls route (every Saturday from April to October then on request, £10 ).
Founded shortly before the peace accords by Martin McCrossan, the first to believe in the tourist potential of his city, City Tours was taken over by his daughter, the bubbly Charlene who never lacks anecdotes.
Count an hour to an hour and a half whether it's sunny, rainy or windy!
HOW TO GET THERE
By car from Dublin, drive north following the N2 and A5 motorways.
It takes about three and a half hours for the journey.
From Belfast following the M2 or A6, 1.5 hours.
There are also direct bus lines between Belfast and Derry-Londonderry, with the company Translink.
GOOD DINING
Walled City Brewery.
70 Ebrington St.
Open Tuesday to Sunday.
In addition to its extensive local beer list and tasting platters, the menu offers vegetarian curries, salmon, lamb stew or roasts.
We acclaim the Affogato frozen dessert.
OR SLEEP
The Everglades Hotel, 4 stars.
Prehen Road, Derry, BT47 2NH +44 (0) 28 7132 1066. As well as its £30 Derry Girls Afternoon tea, the establishment offers a traditional £25 Afternoon Tea.
