Review of the Year - November 2022

Derry City FC made their hometown burst with pride last month after securing a 4-0 win against Shelbourne at the FAI Cup Final. 

Thousands travelled from Derry to Dublin to witness the team lift the cup and bring home the title.

Derry's community spirit came shining through even prior to the event. Thanks to the generosity of the Derry community, amongst those at the Aviva Stadium was Candystripes superfan, Darren McClelland.

The 22-year-old local man has a life-limiting condition and complex needs.

A recent deterioration in his health meant that Darren missed the last few matches and the costly ambulance transfer all but dashed his hopes of travelling to the FAI Cup Final in Dublin.

Following a GoFundMe Appeal launched by MLA Mark H Durkan, funds were raised in just thirty minutes to make Darren’s Derry City dream come true.

Mr Durkan has paid tribute to local football legend James McClean and the wider Derry public for their generosity in raising £1,700 to secure ambulance transport to the Aviva Stadium so that Darren could attend the FAI Cup Final.

Another perfect example of community spirit last month was Derry's Racecourse Drive turning their lights on once again for a Christmas full of cheer and fundraising.

Neighbours came together again as the brightest street in the city to raise charity funds after £15,000 raised last year.

The lights were switched on November 13, exactly six weeks before Christmas Day.

Every house is lit from top to bottom with every garden displaying festive decorations. After the popularity of the last few years, the neighbours have gone even bigger and better this year.

The 24 families living in the street initially put up their stunning festive light display during the pandemic in bid to cheer everyone up during lockdown. 

People, young and old, travelled far and wide, to see the festive feast for the eyes. 

The families are hoping to raise as much money as they can again for local charities in the city after the success of last year's fundraising.

Last year, £15,000 was raised for the Foyle Hospice and HURT. This year, the donations will be donated to Foyle Food Bank and the Neonatal Unit at Altnagelvin Hospital. 

The Derry community also rallied around their local radio station, BBC Radio Foyle.

There was immediate and widespread support for the staff at BBC Radio Foyle in the city, following the announcement, BBC NI is planning to close 36 posts, in an attempt to save £2.3m.

As many as eight of the journalist posts at Radio Foyle are under threat, with the Breakfast Show and news bulletins being scrapped. 

This means there will be no north west based content daily until 1pm, with the Radio Foyle News at 1 programme expected to remain as normal, along with the afternoon programmes presented by Mark Patterson and Sean Coyle also being retained.

The public then joined staff outside the Radio Foyle building in protest and solidarity as the city declared, "We will not let this happen."

Finally, in an incredible fundraising feat, The Maguire family donated £34,326.84 to the Radiotherapy and Sperrin Units at Altnagelvin Hospital.

The funds were raised from a memorial tractor run in memory of Eamon Maguire, from Derrylin, Co Fermanagh and donated in appreciation of the care given to Eamon by Radiotherapy and Sperrin Unit staff.

Eamon sadly passed away aged just 54 on January 26 of this year.

Eamon’s wife Sinead and children, Patrick, Ciarrai and Chloe made the presentation to Rory Porteous, Radiotherapy; Dr Brady, Consultant Oncologist; Roisin Roddy and Annie Crossan, Clinical Nurse Specialists. 

Sinead said that Eamon loved farming and his kids and never complained; he "just got on with it." 

The family held the tractor run in his memory in August of this year, with an incredible 309 tractors taking part.

Sinead added: "He was a farmer all his life. We thought a tractor run in his memory would be a fitting tribute to a man we love and miss so very much."