Blue Plaque scheme launches this week

By Richard O'Reilly

A five year ‘Blue Plaque’ programme for the city and district will be launched at the Tower Museum on Thursday 27th April by the Ulster History Circle and Derry City and Strabane District Council.

It follows the unanimous approval of the project by Council’s Business and Culture committee members.
 
Chris Spurr, Chairman of the Ulster History Circle speaking ahead of the launch said, “The Ulster History Circle is delighted to enter into a five-year partnership with Derry City and Strabane District Council, which will fund an annual blue plaque to people of achievement associated with the council district. We are extremely grateful to the Council for providing this funding, which represents a significant joint venture for both bodies.

^{Annie Maunder travelled the world to  study solar eclipses}
“The five plaques will honour a renowned WWI poet, the founding mother and a founding father of the Féis Dhoíre Cholmcílle and the Londonderry Feis, a pioneering astronomer and mathematician, and a teacher and composer. The Ulster History Circle has ensured that the spread of the plaques is across the whole council district, and we are particularly pleased that of these five persons of achievement, three are women.”        
 
Councillors agreed at the Council meeting to support a proposed five year programme plan for the erection of Blue Plaques by the Ulster History Circle in the Derry Strabane District Council area.

Among those to be recognised is Annie Russell Maunder (1868 - 1947), an Irish astronomer and mathematician, born in Strabane, who studied black spots on the sun during the nineteenth century.

Her and her husband Edward are still highly regarded in scientific circles, and even have a crater on the Moon named after them.

4/14/1868 — b. Annie Maunder, Irish astronomer. Researched sunspots, led solar eclipse expeditions; 1st wmn Royal Astro Soc (1916) #STEMfem

— STEMfem (@STEMfem) April 15, 2017

A total of six candidates were presented for special recognition including; Francis Ledwidge (1887 - 1917) an Irish poet and soldier, killed in 1917 at Boezibnge in Belgium. Ledwidge was stationed for six months during 1916 in Ebrington Barracks with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers; Annie Russell Maunder (1868 - 1947), an Irish astronomer and mathematician, born in Strabane; Mrs E.H. O'Doherty, founder of the Féis Dhoíre Cholmcílle in the city; Brigadier General Ambrose Ricardo (1866 - 1923), who held a distinguished war record and co-founded the Londonderry Féis; Dorothy Parke (1904 - 1990), a teacher and composer whose pieces are still performed at the Féis, her collection of songs, 'By Winding Roads' remains popular in many primary schools, she was born on Dunfield Road, Londonderry.

^{Poet Francis Lewidge is among those to be honoured}

The Ulster History Circle also gained approval to unveil a plaque at the Tower Museum to Mabel Remington Colhoun (1905 - 1992), Archaeologist, historian and educationalist.
 
Roisin Doherty, Curator at the Tower Museum and Derry City and Strabane District Council said "Everyone is welcome to attend the launch on Thursday 27th April at the Tower Museum. We are delighted with the partnership with the Ulster History Circle and the five year programme to recognise the lifetime contributions that these local individuals have made in their respective fields and also to local history and heritage."