Newsletter 9, November 12

Countryfile Star Jules Hudson filming at Fort Dunree

Fort Dunree recently had the fortune to host Country File star Jules Hudson who was making a new two part series on the Battle of the Atlantic for BBC Northern Ireland. The series will tell the story of this epic campaign, highlighting the role of Derry, a city at the forefront of the battle. At the end of the war, what was left of Hitler’s Uboat fleet surrendered in Derry, and was then scuttled off the coast of Donegal. Thought to be beyond reach and forgotten, this lost fleet has been rediscovered. Showcasing unique footage of the wrecks this ambitious new series reveals the truth behind the human cost of the Uboat campaign for both sides, a campaign the outcome of which would determine who won the Second World War. Jules is perhaps best known as the leading face on the BBC’s hit property series, Escape to the Country, which he joined in 2007. His passion for the countryside has also been taken up by the BBC’s flagship rural affairs show Countryfile, whilst his lifelong passion for military history came to the fore in BBC1′s recent hit Dig 1940. Commemorating the 70th anniversary of 1940, this three part series provided Jules with his first solo primetime break, and was a ratings winner. The programme was made by 360 productions and will be shown in March.

Fort Dunree Newsletter

Newsletter 9, November 12

Armistice Day at Fort Dunree

November 10th saw the third annual Armistice event at the Fort Dunree Memorial Wall and Peace Garden. The service attracted over 100 visitors who were treated to musical accompaniment by the Buncrana Youth Accordian Band, Piper Billy Doherty and renowned local musician Tom Byrne.

Some of the large crowd who attended the recent Armistice event.

Dolphins at Fort Dunree

This was the scene that greeted visitors to Fort Dunree on 15th November when a pod of bottlenose dolphins came to visit and stayed for a couple of hours around the shore at Fort Dunree and Crummies Bay.

Newsletter 9, November 12 A Night of Storytelling and Song at Fort Dunree As part of Heritage Week Fort Dunree played host to a night of Storytelling and song, this was a wonderful evening in which the large turnout were enthralled by Bertie Bryce, Jimmy McBride, PJ Hallinan, Billy White amongst others. A huge thank you goes to Dermot McLaughlin for bringing such a great performance together.

Billy White entertaining the visitors in the Saldanha Suite. Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence We are delighted to report that Fort Dunree have been awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor for the year 2012.

Newsletter 9, November 12

Return of 17 pounder Anti -Tank Gun

October saw the return to Fort Dunree after a four year absence of the 17 pounder Anti- Tank gun. The gun has been magnificently restored by the ordnance team from Athlone.

The Ordnance Quick-Firing 17 pounder (or just 17 pdr)[1] was a 76.2 mm (3 inch) gun developed by the United Kingdom during World War II. It was used as an anti-tank gun on its own carriage, as well as equipping a number of British tanks. It was the most effective Allied anti-tank gun of the war. Used with the APDS shot it was capable of defeating all but the thickest armour on German tanks. It was used to 'up-gun' some foreign-built vehicles in British service, notably to produce the Sherman Firefly variant of the US M4 Sherman tank, giving British tank units the ability to hold their own against their German counterparts. In the anti-tank role it was replaced by the 120 mm BAT recoilless rifle after the war.

Peninsula Shared History Project

Pictured on a recent trip to Fort Dunree are members of the Peninsula Shared History Project with John McCarter, PJ Hallinan and Terry Tedstone.