The Diamond is the central square of the walled city, a few metres up from Ferryquay Gate at the top of Shipquay Street. It has been the commercial and civic heart of the city since the Plantation era. The war memorial at its centre, erected in 1927, commemorates the dead of both World Wars and serves as the focal point for Remembrance Day ceremonies.
The Diamond is worth stopping at to get a sense of the city's scale. The walled city is compact — you can see three of the four gates from the square or its immediate approaches. The surrounding streets have cafes, the Richmond Centre shopping arcade, and the commercial life of the city centre. Shipquay Street, which runs steeply down to the Guildhall and the river, is the main commercial artery.