Amelia Earhart was the first woman to complete a solo trans-Atlantic flight when she flew a Lockheed Vega from Canada to Ireland in 1932. This Galliagh bus shelter has been covered with “Artwork and design: [by] Joe Campbell”, who also did another Earhart piece But What Do Dreams Know Of Boundaries? (as well as The Factory Girls). There is also a large mosaic to Earhart by Tom Agnew in Leafair Park – see Flying Solo – and a piece of street art in the city centre – see Gaining Altitude.

The internal verbiage reads: “On May 21st, 1932, 34-year-old American flyer, Amelia Earhart, became the first woman to fly solo, 2000 miles, non-stop, across the Atlantic Ocean, finally landing in a field in Ballyarnett, less than one mile from this bus stop. She had taken off from Newfoundland, Canada, in her bright red Lockheed Vega plane [NR-7952] at 7 pm the previous evening. Four hours out she encountered a bad storm that damaged the place and blew her way off course. She had been aiming for Paris, but after a flight of nearly fifteen hors, she sighted land. She came inland over Donegal looking for a likely landing site since there was now smoke coming from her exhaust. Unable to find an airfield she followed railway lines that eventually brought her over Derry. After circling the city, watched by the citizens below, she sighted a likely emergency landing spot in a field on the outskirts of the city of Ballyarnett, at what is now Ballyarnett Country Park. She managed to land, clipping hedges, stampeding cattle and nearly taking the heads off two farm workers who were mending fences (Dan McCallion and Jim McGeady). After the landing the two men rushed to see if the pilot was okay. Expecting a man, they were amazed to see a tousle-haired, young woman emerge from the top of the aircraft. “Where am I?” she asked, expecting the answer ‘Ireland’. “Why, you’re in Gallagher’s Field!” came the reply. [Here is an audio recording (youtube) of Mrs Gallagher recounting Earhart’s arrival and stay.] And then Hugh McLaughlin, who had joined them, asked the now famous question, “Have ye come far?” To which Miss Earhart replied, “Only from America.” Over the next 24 hours, Derry became the focus of the world. Thousands came to Gallagher’s Field to catch a glimpse of the world famous aviator and to have their photo taken with her ‘Little Red Bus’ (the nickname she gave to her plane.) Amelia’s record-breaking flight is now considered one of the most daring and significant events of the 20th Century.”

There are also quotes from Jim McGeady and the Reverend Francis Coyle on the exterior.

Fern Road, Derry

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Copyright © 2025 Paddy Duffy
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