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Derry non cambia nome ufficiale

Government rules out Londonderry name change

Derry | © Getty

Londonderry’s name will not be changed to Derry, despite a Sinn Féin campaign and an online petition supporting the action, a government spokesman has said..

Derry and Strabane District Council passed a motion to change the name of the city in July.

The move was proposed by Sinn Féin councillor Eric McGinley, who argued it would help establish a clear brand for the city across the world but the DUP branded the motion a distraction and described it as “unionist baiting”.

Now, government spokesman in the Lords, Lord Dunlop, has said: “The Government, on occasion receives requests to change names of towns and cities.

“At this time the Government does not intend to change the name of the City of Londonderry.”

The public had taken to the internet in their thousands to sign opposing petitions over the renaming.

A Change.org petition in favour of removing ‘London’ said: “The name is a constant reminder to the families of the victims involved in incidents in Derry caused by the British occupation, therefore constantly reminding the families of the incidents.”

Ulster Unionist representative Julia Kee launched a rival petition to retain Londonderry as the official title.

She said: “London is one of the world’s great cities and I believe we should cherish and seek to strengthen the historic ties between Londonderry and London.”

The city was originally called Derry until 1613 when the awarding of the Royal Charter added the prefix “London”.

In 1984, the name of the nationalist-controlled council was changed from Londonderry to Derry City Council, while the city itself continues to be officially known as Londonderry.

In 2007, Justice Weatherup ruled that the city charter could only be changed by Royal prerogative or legislation.

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René Querin

Di professione grafico e web designer, sono appassionato di trekking e innamorato dell'Irlanda e della sua storia. Insieme ad Andrea Varacalli ho creato e gestisco Les Enfants Terribles.

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