17th March 1863: LETTERKENNY CELEBRATES THE MARRIAGE OF THE PRINCE OF WALES

Today, Charles, the Prince of Wales and his wife Camilla visited Letterkenny as part of their short tour of the Northwest of Ireland. Whilst they were no doubt welcomed with a céad míle fáilte, we doubt the celebrations were as exuberant in the town as they were upon the marriage of his great, great grandfather, the eldest son of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert Edward, (later King Edward VII) when he married Princess Alexandra of Denmark in 1863. Celebrations in Letterkenny at the time were reported in the Londonderry Guardian on 17th March 1863:

“Tuesday last was celebrated in a becoming manner by the inhabitants of this prosperous town, who had made every preparation to testify loyalty to their Sovereign and her illustrious family. The streets and principal buildings were illuminated, and every demonstration of joy was manifested by people of all ranks and creeds. Fire-works, torch lights, and tar barrels blazed in all directions, and in front of Mr. Hegarty’s Hotel, the Band of the Donegal Militia Artillery performed a number of loyal and appropriate airs. A Royal salute was discharged from the barrack square, and the police force paraded the streets, and fired a few de joie in honour of the event. The proceedings passed off with the utmost decorum and regularity.”