15. What You Call Derry Being A Political Statement
L'Derry is Northern Ireland's second city. Famed for its walls and its well turned out and attractive women (think Nadine Coyle of Girls Aloud), L'Derry is a thriving little city, well steeped in the arts and culture, very good for shopping, but it has to be said that its inhabitants have the most peculiar Northern Irish accents in the whole of the province. Sussing out how someone referred to L'Derry was often used by sticky beaks to ascertain people's political and religious beliefs. 'Derry' for nationalists, 'Londonderry' for unionists. The trend is leaning in favour of calling the city 'Derry' amongst both communities, the truncated name 'L'Derry' is neutral and a conciliation to both views, but only in Northern Ireland could there be such a fuss over the name of a city.