Mitchelburne Day in Londonderry

ABOD members converged on the City for a colourful parade and for the traditional visit to the grave.

Colonel Mitchelburne played a prominent role in the Siege as joint Governor and is credited with flying the Crimson of Victory Flag from the Cathedral in 1689.

In 1692 he organised the first commemoration service, when he deposited the captured French flags in the same Cathedral and in 1714 he formed the very first Apprentice Boys Club. He also spent time in a debtors jail in London when pursuing claims for compensation for the citizens of the city who had suffered during the Siege.

Mitchelburne died in 1721 and for many years after a representative body of citizens met at his tomb to pay tribute to his memory. They referred to themselves as the Mitchelburne Club.

Those very same traditions are proudly upheld by today’s Apprentice Boys in the Mitchelburne Clubs.

Frequently the Londonderry Sentinel is fortunate to receive pictures from readers keen to have their community parades and other events included in our weekly publication.

The Sentinel staff are delighted that the paper can now add video and slideshow picture presentations online to its range of media, and we welcome short videos and picture packages of between 10 and 15 photographs from readers covering every aspect of community life, from the annual parades to nursery school ‘graduations’, or flower festivals to special church services and family celebrations.

To contact us either email Olga Bradshaw.