Londonderry

Patrick Weston Joyce
1923

Londonderry. Its most ancient name, according to all our authorities, was Doire-Chalgaich [Derry-Calgagh], the derry or oak wood of Calgach or Galgacus. In the tenth or eleventh century it began to be called Derry-Columcille, in honour of St. Columkille, who founded his monastery there in 546; and this name continued to the time of James I., whose charter, granted to a company of London merchants, imposed the name of Londonderry.