17. Tracy’s Bar

Right at the foot of Waterloo Street stands Michael Tracy’s Bar, formerly known as The Electric Bar.
Dating back to 1874, it took its more Promethean title from the first electricity-operating generating station which was set across the street in the Diamond.

Later it became the property of Michael Tracy and his more prosaic letters replaced the dramatic Electric legend.
This pub has always been the favourite of Merchant Navy men and it is mentioned in the famous best-selling novel The Cruel Sea by Nicholas Montserrat, which was made into a very successful film starring Jack Hawkins, because during the Second World War, it was a popular haunt for seamen of all nationalities.

There are a number of interesting large framed photos of old Derry around the walls of the bar, and an unusual attraction in this friendly city is that the publican is a woman and an attractive one at that!