Specialised Immersive History Experiences - Private Tours

Three generations of our family (descended from 1718 emigrants from Derry, Northern Ireland to Boston) thoroughly enjoyed a two-hour personalized walking tour of the Wall of Derry with David Douglas of Derrie Danders. David (raised in and resident of Derry himself) maintained a leisurely place, taking a 74 year old grandmother into consideration while keeping his narration lively and engaging for the adult daughter and 9 year old granddaughter of the group. David's vast knowledge (and love) of Derry history was evident. He personally knew several docents at key sites which provided what seemed like unusual access to specific areas and precious, original books. This walking tour, taken September 12, was the high point of a week spent in Dublin, Belfast, Ballintoy and Omagh. We highly, and without reservation, encourage you to appreciate Derry to the full with Derrie Danders. You're sure to appreciate this historic city on the banks of the beautiful Foyle River walking it and seeing it through David’s eyes! The photo is of Eloise holding The Promise Chalice of 1613. It was sent by The Honourable Irish Society in London to the newly established plantation town of Londonderry. This chalice acted as a formal token of intent-a binding covenant-guaranteeing that the society would fund and build a proper cathedral for the city. The promise was fulfilled twenty years later in 1633, with the completion of St Columb’s Cathedral, where the chalice is kept. Having been transplanted from Yorkshire, England to Ulster-Eloise’s many great, great grandfather and his family would have been living nearby for both of these occasions as well as The 1689 Siege of Londonderry. The cup features the City of London's coat of arms and an inscription that reads: "To the Church of God in the City of Derry, the gift of the Londoners." Remarkably, it has remained in ritual use for Holy Communion services for over four centuries. On a practical note: We felt this walking tour was very reasonably priced considering the length of the tour, the quality of David's presentation, his personal interaction with us and how well its content related to our family's history in Ulster.

I joined Derrie Danders tour of shirt factories 25/4/26..The tour interested me as I worked in a shirt factory 50 years ago..The weather was beautiful which was a great start.David was an excellent tour guide and explained about the history of the local murals before beginning the factories tour..The talk was very informative and we walked from the Waterside to the Cityside looking at the sites of former factories..The tour ended at the wonderful Walled City Brewery where we had soup and wheaten bread before Catherine and Margaret regaled us with tales of the ladies who worked in factories..The whole day was amazing and I would recommend highly..I am interested in other tours , such as the haunted tour so will definitely be booking again..

David is a wonderful guide to Derry and the surrounding area! When I reached out to him I asked for a customised experience and he worked hard to accommodate our special requests. His thoughtful presentation of the history of Derry (Derrie) taught us a great deal about Irish history as well as the experience of living here in recent decades. I highly recommend this tour!

David is the best; truly an ambassador for Derry! We cannot recommend his tour more highly. His company, Derrie Danders, is the quintessential local, authentic Derry experience. We had a full day private walking tour of Derry and it was perfect. Thank you, David.

Derrie Danders is a gem. From the first hello, David’s warmth and easy humour set the tone for a brilliant walk through Derry’s story. The route was perfectly paced, taking in the Walls, the Bogside murals and the churches without ever feeling rushed. What stood out was the balance: rich, well-researched history told with clarity and care, plus those little local details you only get from someone who genuinely loves their city. David kept everyone engaged – answering questions, tailoring the stops to the group and making complex moments in our history accessible and respectful. Communication before and after the tour was spot on, with helpful tips for food, museums and what to explore next. Great value, too. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or you’ve lived here for years, Derrie Danders helps you see the Walled City with fresh eyes. Friendly, insightful and thoroughly professional – highly recommend. Thank you David!

I had the absolute pleasure of taking a walking tour of Derry with Dave from Derrie Danders, and it was hands-down one of the highlights of my trip. Dave isn’t just a guide—he’s a storyteller, historian, and proud Derry local who brings the city’s complex past to life with clarity, compassion, and just the right dose of wit. From the murals to the Free Derry corner, he shared insights I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else. The way he presents the history of the Troubles is especially impactful—grounded in lived experience and shared with care. If you’re visiting Derry and want to understand the heart of the city (with a few laughs along the way), this is the tour for you. I only wish I had more time to explore with Dave—and I’ll definitely be recommending Derrie Danders to all my clients!

+4

We spent two mornings with David, during which he provided us with an insightful overview of the city and its fascinating history. This experience was done as part of a teacher’s sabbatical research. Although our initial focus was primarily on the Troubles, David broadened our perspective, revealing the extensive history of Derry and emphasizing how essential that context is for a comprehensive understanding of the conflict. It was well worth the money; David was an excellent guide with very profound knowledge and information about his hometown. We would not hesitate to take the same tour again and can only highly recommend the experience. Thank you for your time, David, and your patience to answer all our questions!

A very well researched and delivered two hour tour. David's relaxed style meant that the tour never felt rushed and you had time to absorb the information David was sharing with the group, and there was a lot of information. Although the tour was covering Ulster-Scots Heritage in the City of Derry the wider picture was also discussed giving a well rounded,accurate and easily digested story even for those with little prior knowledge of the subject. Great day for it too, didn't rain!!!

Excellent! We were warmly welcomed to the demo tour and introduced to the other guests which set us at ease from the very start. A thoroughly enjoyable AR enhanced tour where the characters on the commemorative blue plaques came to life, read poetry, told stories, sang songs, etc. We even had the opportunity to get our photographs taken with them. A truly memorable experience which we would highly recommend. The demo tour took longer than expected but to be honest we were having so much fun we never noticed the time passing by. We were in very good company along with a very knowledgeable and informative tour guide, David. We were also lucky to have a lovely day for it, being able to see the city in its full glory. Try out this AR enhanced tour and be prepared to walk, learn and have fun. An amazing experience. You won't be disappointed. Anne Marie and Cara

We asked for a guided tour of protestant-unionist-loyalist neighbourhoods in Derry and David created a special one for us, It included a walk in the Waterside and The Fountain areas and included project visits. We had a chance to talk to staff of a cross-community youth project and a cultural center. Thanks so much, David for a unique opportunity to get insight into the history, symbols, tradition, identity, perceptions and contempory culture of the community!