| The Story of Derry is a long and tumultuous one. Set on a hill on the banks of the Foyle estuary, strategically clase to the open sea. It's name derives from the Irish gaelic word "doire", which translates as "oak wood"- which was considered to be sacred by Ireland's Celtic ancestors. This site was chosen by St. Colm Cille, or more commonly known as St. Columba, to establish his monastery some 1,400 years ago.
The modern city with its surrounding wall and four main streets radiating from the Diamond dates back to the 17th century when it was rebuilt by craftsman sent from the city of London. Hence, the city was for many years referred to as Londonderry, a controversial name whose usage betrayed an obvious political stance. |
The old city walls of Derry |
| The Gaelic tradition of Derry and the Unionist tradition of Londonderry have made energetic and successful strides in recent years to overcome the issues which have so painfully divided this community. In recent years, Derry has cast off its image as a city of turmoil and strife to emerge as a vibrant center of business and tourism. Here, Brian and Denise Callan have been running their knitwear company for over twenty years now. It has grown by leaps and bounds and they now have customers all over the world for their ranges of handknit and machine knit sweaters. Denise just recently returned from another selling trip in Japan. They are frequently represented at trade shows in Paris, Frankfurt and other European cities as well as in the U.S.
At Irish Design Center, we carry a full range of Callan Knitwear and because we import it directly from Derry to Pittsburgh we can offer these superb garments at attractive prices. Visit our online store for some examples of the range or e-mail us for specific requirements. |
A Panorama of Derry City and the River Foyle at night |