THE Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Brian Tierney, has visited the Guildhall and Tower Museum to mark their partial reopening to the public.
The venues will open with a reduced capacity and shorter opening hours of 11 am – 4 pm while a number of measures are in place to ensure social distancing and hand sanitising.
Mayor Tierney welcomed the return of visitor services and appealed for the public to be patient and adhere to the safety measures in place.
“I am delighted to see these two key visitor venues reopening to the public and I would like to congratulate the staff for their work to ensure it is a safe and enjoyable experience for the public,” he said.
“Council Officers have developed some excellent online experiences during the lockdown period such as virtual tours and exhibitions but it will be great to offer the public the chance to be inside these stunning buildings again.
“While our international visitor numbers will be severely restricted this year there are already visitors coming to the city from all over Ireland and I am pleased they will get the chance to experience the Guildhall and Tower Museum again.
“I would appeal to anyone visiting to be patient, the venues are operating at reduced capacity so there may be queues at busy times, and please follow the signage and advice of staff to ensure social distancing and a safe and enjoyable user experience for all.”
The Guildhall is one of Derry’s most recognisable landmarks and has been at the heart of city life since 1890.
As well as being home to the Council’s chamber and Mayor’s Parlour, it is a must see visitor destination where the public can see the stunning stained glass windows, take in an exhibition on the Plantation of Ulster, visit the main hall and organ or enjoy refreshments in the cafe.
The Guildhall will also provide a temporary home to the offices of Visit Derry until they move to their new premises in the autumn.
The Tower Museum in Derry
Education and learning is at the heart of the museum’s ethos and a wide range of learning programmes helps to make local heritage available to all, especially younger citizens.
Full details of the Guildhall and Tower Museum’s offering are available at derrystrabane.com/guildhall and derrystrabane.com/towermuseum
