The Leaving of Londonderry

Madam, – Alex Staveley (June 18th) notes that the prefix “London” was “granted” by a royal charter

Madam, – Alex Staveley (June 18th) notes that the prefix “London” was “granted” by a royal charter. For “granted”, read “imposed” – the people dispossessed by the London Guilds in the 1600s were unlikely to have been overly consulted on the matter. After nearly 400 years of this divisive double-barrelled colonial contrivance, let’s put it to a vote for the people of Derry, and let them decide. If they like it, then we could extend the idea southwards – Dublincork would be a good one to get the ball rolling, not to mention Londonabate; and Mr Staveley could doubtless petition Boris Johnson to do the right thing by the unfortunately named Derry Street, London W8. – Yours, etc,

SEÁN Mac CANN,

Trillick,

Co Tyrone.