Festival to re-enact city siege

Apprentice Boys commemorate historic siege of Derry

A re-enactment of an historic siege in Londonderry city centre will be among highlights of a festival being organised by the Protestant Apprentice Boys in August.

Coinciding with the organisation's main traditional march, the promoters of the Maiden City Festival are hoping for a more festive atmosphere in the city during mid-August.

Apprentice Boys governor Alistair Simpson, who is one of the festival promoters, said he hoped Londonderry would be a "flagship for Northern Ireland's marching season".

"We're going forward - we hope the majority of the people of this city will see that the Apprentice Boys are going out for the good of this city and can do nothing but good," he said.

It is the largest festival the Apprentice Boys have organised since the events began in 1998.

A host of activities has been lined up, including Bluegrass music on the walls with performers from Northern Ireland, the Republic and Amsterdam.

'Fear of riots'

The proposed re-enactment of the Siege of Derry will be staged in Guildhall Square for the first time.

"Every other year we kept it up in the Memorial Hall in Society Street because of the fear there would be trouble and riots," said Mr Simpson.

The event celebrates the defiant stand of the Apprentice Boys who shut the gate on the Catholic King James in 1689. The ensuing siege lasted from August to December of that year.

Mr Simpson said the festival would help the broad efforts to rebuild civic pride.

The launch of the event was attended by the Social Democratic and Labour Party Mayor of Derry, Pat Ramsey.