[caption id="attachment_67819" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Councilor Martin Reilly."]
Derry is a city on the verge of greatness, an incredible story is about to reach its most thrilling chapter.
In 2013, the year Derry/Londonderry celebrates the 400th anniversary of its unique walls, it becomes
the inaugural UK City of Culture, heralding a year of events that will boost its global profile and leave an inspiring legacy for generations.
An amazing cultural program will include the All-Ireland Fleadh, WOMAD, The Clipper Round-the-World Yacht Race and the Return of Colmcille to name but a few events.
Spectacular regeneration is transforming our city. The multi-million pound Ebrington Barracks redevelopment, linked to the city center by the magnificent Peace Bridge, will create a vibrant cultural hub and an outdoor performance arena for the world's greatest acts. Never was there a time or place where the rhyming of history and hope had more powerful resonance. It's fitting that our Nobel Laureate, Seamus Heaney, first coined that phrase.
With cutting edge research, successful investment and world-class communications, Derry's economy is set to boom. Europe's most switched on city has the fastest city-to-city international telecoms link with the U.S. Derry is the first city in the UK or Ireland to offer fiber-based broadband to all with free Wi-Fi to boot.
Derry's high tech reputation was recently boosted by £60 million R&D investment by Seagate. "Digital Derry" projects that 100 new digital start ups will be created by 2015.
With nearly 40,000 students region-wide, companies are attracted here by talent and world-class centrer of excellence in nanotechnology, intelligent systems, life sciences and law.
As the city gears up for 2013, world-class tourism infrastructure is being developed. The amazing tourism potential of the city and region is already creating economic dividends and investment opportunity.
The people of this historic city are special. Derry doesn't just have Ireland's oldest walls and youngest people. There is an energy that ripples through the city, a gift for engaging with people that soon turns strangers into friends. People are passionate about the city and their heritage too, and they can't wait to share it with you.
48 hours in Derry? A quick breath as you stand at Derry/Londonderry's imposing gates. Walk our historic walls and conjure up scenes from the famous 105-day siege of 1688. Equally atmospheric, St Columb's Cathedral was the first of its kind built after the Reformation. Check out a cultural scene as diverse as it is exciting at the Oscar-nominated Nerve Centre, The Verbal Arts Centre (Ireland's only arts centre). And check out other aspects of the city's history, from St. Colmcille, the city's wartime role and U.S. links as well as the recent Troubles.
Sail the Foyle, enjoy a buzzing nightlife, atmospheric bars and an independent live music scene, storytelling, stand-up comedy and groundbreaking dance in intimate venues and concert halls alike.
Millions sailed from Derry to
the New World and now they're coming home to discover their roots with the help of Derry's acclaimed genealogical service. And, finally, embrace the festive spirit which
runs wild through the year in a city with more festivals per head than Rio.
On the doorstep of a hauntingly beautiful world, Derry/Londonderry is the heart of Ireland's North West, within minutes of endless beaches, castles, fishing villages, world-class links courses, and the mountains and valleys of Donegal.
One of Europe's most beautiful train journeys takes you along the Antrim coastline past beautiful beaches, temples and terrifying rope bridges, to the Giant's Causeway World Heritage Site, the "eighth wonder of the world."
Digitally connected to the world, Derry is also a transport connector for the North West. Recently extended, the City of Derry Airport has flights to the UK, Ireland and Europe, whilst the city also boasts a seaport and rail links to Belfast and Dublin.
So now's the time to make your own connection to Derry and take part in what is an incredible story.
Martin Reilly is an SDLP member of Derry City Council.
