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Blue plaque unveiled to memory of Derry Feis founder

Rose O'Doherty founded the Derry Feis in 1922. A blue plaque was unveiled at her home in Derry's Francis Street on Friday.
Rose O'Doherty founded the Derry Feis in 1922. A blue plaque was unveiled at her home in Derry's Francis Street on Friday. Rose O'Doherty founded the Derry Feis in 1922. A blue plaque was unveiled at her home in Derry's Francis Street on Friday.

A BLUE plaque has been unveiled in Derry honouring the founder of one of the north’s foremost cultural festivals, Feis Dhoire Cholmcille.

Retired head of music at RTE Cathal McCabe unveiled the Ulster History Circle plaque at 29 Francis Street in memory of his grandmother, Rose (Mrs Edward Henry) O’Doherty yesterday.

Known as “Mrs EH,” Mrs O’Doherty founded the feis along with Fr John Logue McGettigan in 1922 following partition to ensure that Ireland’s Gaelic culture would not be lost.

The feis, which is staged in Derry every Easter, provides competition in music, dancing, Irish language and singing. The festival has proved to be a launch pad for many of Derry’s biggest musical exports, including singers Dana Rosemary Brown, Fergal Sharkey (Undertones) and composer Phil Coulter among others.

Mrs O’Doherty, who was also an accomplished pianist and music and singing teacher, was born in Derry in 1879. Following her marriage to businessman Edward Henry O’Doherty, and the couple eventually settled at 29 Francis Street.

She remained active in Feis Dhoire Cholmcille until her death in 1969.

Ulster History Circle chairman Chris Spurr said the organisation was delighted to commemorate Mrs O’Doherty.

“Mrs EH O’Doherty made her own unique mark on the musical history of the city when she helped found Feis Dhoire Cholmcille nearly 100 years ago,” Mr Spurr said.