Bloody Sunday doctor's bag featured in new museum exhibition
Doctor Donal McDermott's medical bag is among items in the Curious Collections exhibition at the Tower Museum in Derry. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin Doctor Donal McDermott's medical bag is among items in the Curious Collections exhibition at the Tower Museum in Derry. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
BySeamus McKinney
A traditional doctor’s bag carried by a Derry GP who tended the wounded and dying on Bloody Sunday is among items on display in a new exhibition in the city.
Donal McDermott (79), who died in 2003, was one of the city’s best-known doctors and one of several in the Bogside on Bloody Sunday.
He was also one of two GPs – along with former city mayor Raymond McClean – who were asked to observe the port mortem examinations afterwards by the then leader of the Catholic Church, Cardinal William Conway.
During the Troubles, Dr McDermott also treated people injured in riots and shootings who feared they would be arrested if they attended the city’s Altnagelvin Hospital.
His bag is part of a new 'Curious Collections' exhibition which has gone on display in the city’s Tower Museum.
It features many items stored in the council's museums warehouse which have never been shown before.
Roisin Doherty, curator of Derry’s museum services, said the medical bag would evoke memories for many people in the city.
“There are also teaching aids and somewhat gruesome medical tools from the old Waterside hospital alongside a dentist’s chair and a somewhat jarring jar of human teeth."
Ms Doherty said other items include fertility symbols, ritual weaponry and painted Emu eggs from all over the world.
These had been brought back to the city by former pupils of St Columb’s College who had served as missionary priests.
There is also a model sailing ship made from meat bones by prisoners captured during the Napoleonic Wars as well as children's gas masks from the Second World War.
“Really and truly there is something for everyone in this exhibition,” Ms Doherty said.
Doctor Donal McDermott's medical bag is among items in the Curious Collections exhibition at the Tower Museum in Derry. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin Doctor Donal McDermott's medical bag is among items in the Curious Collections exhibition at the Tower Museum in Derry. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin A dentist's surgery from days gone by features in the Curious Collections exhibition. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin A dentist's surgery from days gone by features in the Curious Collections exhibition. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin Shark repelant powder crystals are among items in the Curious Collections exhibition at the Tower Museum in Derry. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin Shark repelant powder crystals are among items in the Curious Collections exhibition at the Tower Museum in Derry. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin A childs gas mask features among items in the Curious Collections exhibition at the Tower Museum in Derry. Picture Margaret McLaughlin A childs gas mask features among items in the Curious Collections exhibition at the Tower Museum in Derry. Picture Margaret McLaughlin Decorated ostrich eggs are among items in the Curious Collections exhibition at the Tower Museum in Derry. Picture Margaret McLaughlin Decorated ostrich eggs are among items in the Curious Collections exhibition at the Tower Museum in Derry. Picture Margaret McLaughlin Items in the Curious Collections exhibition at the Tower Museum in Derry. Picture Margaret McLaughlin 19-2-18. Items in the Curious Collections exhibition at the Tower Museum in Derry. Picture Margaret McLaughlin 19-2-18. Items in the Curious Collections exhibition at the Tower Museum in Derry. Picture Margaret McLaughlin 19-2-18. Items in the Curious Collections exhibition at the Tower Museum in Derry. Picture Margaret McLaughlin 19-2-18.
