Derry's year in review: August 2023

In the second week of August, there was widespread outrage following consecutive nights of 'sporadic disorder' in the Galliagh area of Derry.

Police received reports of shots being fired, a number of hijackings and attempted hijackings, assault and criminal damage, following the removal of material from a bonfire site.

The material was removed by contractors, escorted by police, hired by the Department of Communities.

In the same week the zero emission Foyle Metro buses hit the road. This put Derry on its way to its target of becoming one of the first cities in Ireland or the UK to operate a fully zero emission urban bus service.

The Executive Office pledged to 'embrace' further checks and balances in its own process with regards to outdoor events at Derry's Ebrington Square. Following public backlash, discussions between the management of the hotel, TEO and local stakeholders, it was agreed that the planned events for August would go-ahead. Later in the month talks for new guidelines going forward beyond August were held.

A deadly batch of drugs (Pregabalin) was linked to three deaths and five drugs-related cardiac arrests in the city in the second weekend of August alone.

Derry’s own Ironman Danny Quigley completed his biggest challenge to date in late August as the mental health campaigner swam the length of the River Foyle then out to the Atlantic Ocean.

Called the ‘Celebration of Life’, Danny took on the mammoth challenge to remember people who have died by suicide in a positive light by remembering their lives instead of how they died.

Danny’s father Colm took his own life in 2011.

The annual Foyle Pride parade took place on 26 August weekend, marking 30 years since the event began.

City of Derry Airport and airports across the UK experienced hundreds of flight delays over the Bank Holiday weekend when National Air Traffic Services (NATS) had to implement traffic flow restrictions across the UK due to a technical issue.