Museum of Free Derry to be officially opened this week by American civil rights icon Jesse Jackson and Fiachra McGuinness

The Bloody Sunday Trust have announced that the new Museum of Free Derry will be officially opened this week by US civil rights leader the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr and Fiachra McGuinness, son of the late Martin McGuinness.

The launch will take place on Thursday 15 June 2017, seven years to the day since Derry received the findings of the Report of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry, and seven years since the Bloody Sunday families forced an admission from the British government that all those murdered and injured on Bloody Sunday were innocent and that what had happened was ‘unjustified and unjustifiable’.

The new building, completed at a cost of around £2.5m, opened to the public in February this year and, to date, has welcomed over 12,000 visitors to its new premises.

It hosts a full multi-media exhibition on the civil rights and early conflict era in the city, and also much needed and enhanced visitor facilities and education and research facilities.

Bloody Sunday Trust Chairperson Robin Percival said: "We are all thrilled to officially open the new Museum of Free Derry after a hugely successful first few months in our flagship building. While it has been a long and hard road, we are proud to be back in the heart of the Bogside, where so much of our story happened. Indeed, our enhanced exhibition space has been hailed as a powerful, unforgettable experience for thousands of local, national and international visitors.

"We are proud to have it opened by Jesse L. Jackson Sr, one of the most respected civil rights campaigners in our lifetimes, and by Fiachra McGuinness, in place of his late father Martin, who did so much as Deputy First Minister to help us make this museum a reality.

"We would like to take this opportunity to thank all who helped in the creation of the new museum, the design team for all their work, and our funders who made this all possible. We would also like to thank local residents of the Bogside and all the families and supporters who have helped make this museum one of the city’s most important visitor experiences.

"The Museum of Free Derry will have an open day on 15 June, and would like to invite all to come and visit free-of-charge to help us celebrate the official opening.’

The new Museum of Free Derry was designed by a team led by Brennan Associates (Architects) and cost approx. £2.5m.

Funding was provided by the Heritage Lottery Fund, European Regional Development Fund under the European Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland and administered by Tourism Northern Ireland, Tourism Northern Ireland, the Department for Communities, Derry City and Strabane District Council, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Urban Villages and Iona Enterprises.

Terence Brannigan, Tourism NI Chairman commented: ‘The Museum of Free Derry further strengthens the visitor offering in the North West, and is an attraction worthy of domestic, national and international appeal. The ever-increasing visitor numbers are testament to the Museum of Free Derry’s enhanced facilities and focus on the ever popular local heritage special interest groups.’