Spotlight interview – Jim Nash, Wild Atlantic Distillery

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Jim Nash is director and co-founder of the Wild Atlantic Distillery, a family-run craft distillery and visitor attraction making award-winning gin, vodka and whiskey. Originally from County Clare, Jim lived around the world before relocating to the North West in 2007. He and his brother-in-law, Brian Ash, opened the distillery in Aghyaran, County Tyrone, in 2020. After taking part in Derry City and Strabane District Council’s successful US trade mission last November, Wild Atlantic Distillery is currently working on plans to break into the US market.

How did you come up with the idea for the distillery?

We started off making gin in a garden shed. Brian is an engineer and my background is in hospitality and working with young people with learning disabilities. When we originally sat down in 2018, we had the eventual goal of making Irish whiskey, but decided to start with gin in a 25 litre still. After a year of making gin every week, tasting it every Friday and tweaking recipes, we had our Wild Atlantic Irish gin. The feedback was so positive that Brian and I started building our distillery and visitor experience on the other side of the house.

How does it feel to be part of the resurgence of Irish whiskey?

Irish whiskey used to be the premium whiskey in the world; at one time, the Watt’s Distillery in Derry was the biggest producer of Irish whiskey in the country. Only a few distilleries survived, and we almost lost our whiskey heritage. But now we’ve got 30 or 40 distilleries across the country, and a lot of them are small craft distilleries like us. There’s history, tradition and passion behind the Irish whiskey story, and we’re very proud to be a small part of that.

The distillery opened in February 2020; how did Covid impact the business?

On February 1 2020 we had 200 local people in for an open day. Everyone was very supportive and delighted to see a new business in the area, but we had to close six weeks later. We decided to start producing alcohol-based hand sanitiser to give to local health centres and hospitals free of charge, and to sell to local businesses. It was the hand sanitiser that kept the lights on and the business going until we got back to what we wanted to do, which was making spirits.

What have been your big wins as a business?

In 2021 our Wild Atlantic Irish gin won gold at the World Gin Awards for Best Northern Irish contemporary gin, and was shortlisted for best in the world. The same year we launched a new product, our Wild Atlantic Amalfi lemon flavoured vodka, which won two bronze at the International Wine and Spirit Competition in San Francisco. We also laid down our first whiskey casks in 2021. Our first release of small batch whiskey will be in the summer of 2024, which we’re very excited about. And after the Council’s US trade mission, I travelled over in April to meet the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, who are interested in taking our vodkas into their market in 155 luxury stores.

Can you tell us a bit more about the US trade mission?

It was an amazing experience which opened up doors for us into the American market. We visited New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Boston, New York, we did five states in five days. It was hectic, with loads of meetings, but it was a great way to introduce our business. What we discovered went down really well was the fact that we’re a family business, we made all our own products, and they are good quality.

If we can get things over the line with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board in the next three to four months, it will be our first entry into the States and a major step for us as a small business. That was all through the support we got from Derry City and Strabane District Council in particular. The Council’s Business Support and Investment teams have been exceptional, I couldn’t say enough about how supportive they’ve been.

What advice would you have for people considering a move to the North West?

I think it would be a very, very smart move. The supports and networking opportunities are here now that maybe weren’t here a long time ago. If you’ve got an idea and the desire to create a business in Ireland, you couldn’t ask for better than the North West. We have a great cross-border network between Donegal, Derry and Strabane.

I love this part of the world and the people here. On our first day opening, we had 200 local people come into our small distillery to have a look and to support us. I have two teenage daughters, who are very happy here too. And Derry is a magnificent city. We’re also a member of the LegenDerry Food group which has been great – I’ve lived in a lot of places, and the quality of produce in this region is first class.

What next for the Wild Atlantic Distillery?

In the next two to three years, we want to take our distillery to the next stage. Last year Crowdcube funding helped us increase our production, launch two new products and develop new markets. There are a couple of things in the pipeline that are very exciting -the goal is to take people on full time over the next 18 months into the distillery for production as we develop the business and create employment in the local area. Our distillery is also part of the NI Spirits Trail, where people can visit for a tour and get their ‘passports’ stamped.

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Date set for opening of new Derry Girls Experience

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It’s been captivating audiences around the world since the award-winning comedy series Derry Girls first hit our screens, and now it’s coming home, as the Tower Museum prepares to showcase a treasure trove of original items from the show, courtesy of creator Lisa McGee and Hat Trick Productions.

The city that inspired Lisa’s wickedly nostalgic tribute to growing up in N. Ireland, will host the collection, which features an array of the iconic costumes and set pieces that set the scene for 90’s Derry.

A date has now been set for the unveiling of the fantastic new showcase of all things Derry Girls, and the exhibition will officially open its doors on Monday July 3rd with a special 90’s inspired opening event at 6pm.

The collection will remain on display over the coming months, and is expected to be a huge draw for visitors from around the world who have been won over by the show’s heart warming and hilarious take on teenage life during the conflict. The series has been cleaning up on the awards circuit, most recently gaining two BAFTA awards for the show’s creator, and also star Siobhán McSweeney. Since airing on Netflix it has reached global audiences, shining a spotlight on the city’s warmth and humour in stark contrast to the dark days of the Troubles.

Announcing the opening date for the exhibition today, Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Councillor Patricia Logue, said the collection would be a fantastic legacy for the City. “I am so excited to see the Derry Girls collection coming home to Derry where it will be warmly welcomed by everyone. I really want to thank Tourism NI for their support and both Lisa McGee and Hat Trick Productions for working with Council to establish this legacy for the series, bringing it back to its original roots. And also to acknowledge the support of NI Screen/Northern Ireland Screen in recognising the amazing potential of locations like Derry as the backdrop for exciting new film and TV productions and their support with this experience.

“To have iconic memorabilia like Erin’s diary, Aunt Sarah’s famous pyjamas and Ma Mary’s Woolworths sweater, not to mention the infamous Spice Girls costumes in our Museum Collection, will really be a major resource for Derry and help bring the story back to where Lisa McGee found her inspiration in the family, friends and the streets of this city where she grew up.

“There is already an upsurge in visitors who have been drawn here to find out more about the origins of the show, the history that shaped it, and this collection will add further to the Derry Girls experience for visitors. I look forward to the exhibition launch, and also plans to develop that experience throughout the city involving a range of partners dedicated to telling the story of Derry.”

While the launch event is for invited guests, a number of special tickets are available for the public, more information will be issued closer to the event.

Head of Culture with Derry City and Strabane District Council, Aeidin McCarter, said there was already great interest in the exhibition. “We are just delighted to announce the opening of this exhibition which is a fitting tribute to Lisa McGee’s creation and really takes it all back to its origins. It’s an opportunity to tell the story right here in the city and for visitors to see it in the context of the place that Lisa wanted to celebrate.

“Hat Trick Productions have been fantastic in recognising the importance of that legacy and we are considering now the longer-term significance of the collection and how it can be used to showcase the city. We are looking forward to working with Visit Derry, Tourism NI and all our tourism and hospitality partners to develop that wider experience and really give visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the Derry Girls story while they are here. It has huge tourism potential and we will work in partnership to explore new ideas around the Derry Girls theme that will benefit a range of businesses here in the city.”

Plans for a pilot Derry Girls Exhibition were given the go ahead in January, with £71,000 secured through the Tourism NI Market Led Product Development Programme 2022/23, and additional funds from Council’s Museum Services Programme bringing the budget to £80,000. After formalising a loan agreement with Hat Trick Productions, the exhibition will feature a whole host of times from the original set with a variety of set dressings, furniture and original props from the TV show. It will also use AR technology to provide some interactive elements to the exhibition making it a really user friendly experience.

The Derry Girls Experience will go on public display on July 4th, running until July 2024.

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New LHR route from CODA

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City of Derry Airport now serves the Northwest region with first service in history between City of Derry and London Heathrow Airport. The new service operated by Loganair, is now available three times per day. This not only provides frequent air access to one of the world’s leading transport hubs, but also offers a fast and convenient gateway for international outbound travel and inbound tourism opportunities via the Northwest.

Steve Frazer, Managing Director at City of Derry Airport commented, “The take off of Loganair’s new service between City of Derry Airport and London Heathrow Airport is a significant milestone for us. Gaining international hub access is a substantial step in the economic and strategic growth of the region and our vision for the future of the Airport.

“In terms of outbound travel, London Heathrow truly opens a ‘Gateway to the World’, as passengers are now able to book single ticket connections to and from City of

Derry Airport via London Heathrow to 119 destinations across 56 countries.

“Destinations across Europe, Middle East, North and South America, Africa, Asia and Australasia will all soon be available from City of Derry Airport through Loganair’s partner airlines such as British Airways, Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, KLM / Air France, Virgin, Singapore Airlines and Finnair, with several more to follow, all from the convenience of your local Airport.”

Mr. Frazer continued: “We look forward to welcoming the world to the Northwest and connecting our people across the globe, with our own world class welcome and customer service experience.”

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President Clinton: “Harness the spirit of hope and possibility for a prosperous future”

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President Willian Jefferson Clinton has paid tribute to the late John Hume and David Trimble at an event in the Guildhall, Derry/Londonderry, hosted by the John and Pat Hume Foundation.

The Hume and Trimble families were in attendance to receive the awards, in front of an audience of over 400 people, including local school children.

The event, “Making Hope and History Rhyme”, brought together artists including Derry born Neil Hannon, from Divine Comedy, young Derry singer Roe, Phil Coulter and Tim Wheeler, from the band ASH who played at the historic YES gig in 1998.

Other contributions included readings from Nicholas Trimble, son of the late David Trimble, and a poem from Rachel Hume, granddaughter of John Hume.

Speaking at the event, President Clinton said:

“When I visited Derry/Londonderry over 25 years ago I was struck by the spirit of hope and possibility that lay ahead for the people of this beautiful city. And 25 years on, I know that the spirit of co-operation and ambition, epitomized by the great artists that came together to support John Hume and David Trimble back in 1998 remains as strong as ever.

“We should not underestimate how far the people of Northern Ireland have come; just as we shouldn’t underestimate how much further we have to travel.

“Peaceful change comes from commitment and leadership. While political leadership is hugely important, I have had the honour of meeting incredible people across communities, business and civic society who are working for a better future.

“Today, I want the great people of this city to know that I continue to support them in this journey to a better, more prosperous future.”

(Photo – Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)

Mayor of Derry and Strabane District Council, Sandra Duffy said: “It is a hugely proud moment for me as Mayor to welcome President Clinton back to Derry to mark this important milestone in our history and to acknowledge the pivotal role played by everyone involved in to securing peace for our city and across the North.

 I know that Derry has a very special place in President Clinton’s heart and it is a huge accolade for us to have him return to Derry –  to a city that has benefited from a better future –a city that is vibrant, welcoming and inclusive, its people filled with hope and confidence for the future.”

(Photo – Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)

Secretary of the John and Pat Hume Foundation, Tim Attwood said:

” President Bill Clinton’s words remind us of the incredible courage demonstrated by John Hume and David Trimble in delivering on a peace process that ended 3 decades of violence.

“25 years on we need to encourage and inspire young people in promoting new leadership for peaceful change, inject new momentum into our politics and ultimately, ensure that  the future of this region reflects the hopes and aspiration of  the next generation.”The event is supported by EY.

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Spend less, live better in the UK’s most affordable city

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A move back to Derry and Strabane isn’t just great for work-life balance; it could boost your bank balance too.

Our cost of living is much lower than in other major UK cities, with the monthly cost of a one-bed apartment, and full-time childcare, both more than three times cheaper than in London.

A monthly bus pass in Derry-Strabane is just a third of what you’d pay in London, and socialising is also more wallet-friendly: a three-course meal in Dublin costs more than twice what it would in one of our LegenDerry local restaurants!

With an average commute time of 30 minutes – compared to 70 minutes in London, and 60 minutes in Belfast – you and your family will have more time to savour the quality of life here: our beautiful beaches, great outdoor spaces, rich culture and friendly people.

It’s no wonder ‘cool, credible, cheap’ Derry was named one of the best places to live in the UK by the Sunday Times – and ranked first for remote working in Northern Ireland, and fourth in the UK.

Major employers think Derry and Strabane is pretty great too. You’ll find graduate roles, high-level jobs and remote, hybrid and flexible working opportunities in sectors including FinTech, software development, life and health sciences and advanced manufacturing and engineering.

There are now three daily flights from City of Derry airport to London Heathrow, and the newly opened A6 from Derry to Dungiven has also made the drive to Belfast quicker than ever.

The £250m City Deal will also give the region another valuable boost of investment, innovation, infrastructure and growth.

There’s never been a better time to come home – but don’t just take our word for it! Check out these money-saving stats:

The average monthly cost of a one-bed city centre apartment is £590 in Derry-Strabane, compared with £1860 in London and £1660 in Dublin

Full-day, monthly childcare in Derry Strabane costs £500 compared with £1,590 in London

A monthly buss pass in Derry-Strabane is more than three times cheaper in Derry-Strabane than in London

Hourly parking will cost three times more in Belfast than in Derry – and 15 times more in London

The average monthly salary in Derry-Strabane after tax is £1,950 – just £98 less than in Belfast

Basic monthly heating costs in Derry-Strabane are cheaper than Belfast, Liverpool, Edinburgh, London and Dublin

(Source: Numbeo Cost of Living Sept 2022)

For more information on living and working in the North West, visit investderrystrabane.com

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Europe’s top young innovators visit Magee

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Entrepreneurs and researchers from across Europe have visited Derry as part of the MIT Innovators Under 35 Europe Festival.

For the second year running, the event was held in the Donegal Gaeltacht and brought together 35 young tech innovators from 16 different countries, with fields ranging from biotechnology and medicine, to AI and robotics.

Their trip included a visit to Ulster University’s Magee campus in Derry.

Attendees also took part in a conference at the gteic hub in Gweedore, where they demonstrated how their use of cutting-edge technology can help improve society, and met with local Donegal schoolchildren to discuss entrepreneurial solutions to the energy crisis.

Among those taking part in the conference were Georgios Nounesis, Director of the Greek Centre for Scientific Research in Athens, and Nicklas Bergman, an advisor to the European Commission’s €10bn Innovation Fund. 

The MIT EMTECH IU35 conference provides a unique opportunity to present the city region as an innovation location to potential investors and entrepreneurs, to get access to a specific audience and raise awareness of the cross border city region. The major themes for the conference are in complete alignment with the priority sectors for the NW City Region’s priority sectors and investable opportunities; AI; Healthcare and Life Sciences and Greentech. The hosting of the conference is a major coup for the NW City Region.

Five of the 35 people on this year’s MIT Innovators Under 35 list are based in Ireland. The Irish-based people named on the list this year are Brendan Staunton, CEO and co-founder of Amara Therapeutics; Bárbara Oliveira, CTO and co-founder of Luminate Medical; Dominic Holmes, CEO and co-founder of eXRt Intelligent Healthcare; Dr Fiona Freeman, University College Dublin; and Elle Sander, CEO and co-founder of Lifelet Medical .

Among the event’s sponsors were the Northwest City Region councils of Derry City and Strabane District Council and Donegal County Council, and Ulster University.

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Derry Girls wins big at the BAFTAs

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Derry Girls has gone out on a high with three Bafta wins for its third and final series.

The Channel 4 sitcom, following the lives of five teenagers in 1990s Derry, was named Best Scripted Comedy at the Bafta TV Awards, while actress Siobhan McSweeney – who plays Sister Michael – won the award for Best Female Performance in a Comedy Programme.

Creator Lisa McGee was also named Best Comedy Writer at the Television Craft awards, a Bafta event celebrating the finest talent in the TV industry.

Picking up the Best Scripted Comedy Bafta with cast and crew from the show, McGee paid tribute to “our first home, Derry, with its unbreakable spirit and hilarious characters”.

She added: “What a muse you have been.” Meanwhile, the Bafta for Best Single Documentary was awarded to The Real Mo Farah. The BBC documentary, about the Somali-born British Olympic star, was co-produced by Red Bull Studios under the helm of Derry-born Bernadette McDaid

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Derry’s double Ulster Champions now focus on All Ireland glory

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Derry’s Gaelic Footballers have set their sights on a second ever Sam Maguire after they retained their Ulster title in dramatic fashion last month.

The Oak Leafers were pushed all the way to extra time and a penalty shootout by Armagh in the provincial decider in Clones.

Derry finished the game on 1-15 to Armagh’s 0-18 after extra time and Derry goalkeeper Odhran Lynch was the hero in the shootout as he made three saves to allow Ciaran McFaul to stroke home the winning penalty.

They are now contesting a place in the All Ireland semi-finals at Croke Park through the group stages where a draw against Monaghan in Celtic Park was followed up with an impressive win over neighbours Donegal at Ballybofey.

Their place in the semis will be determined by their final group game against Clare in Longford next week where they will start as favourites after comfortably dispatching the Banner county in the quarter final stages last summer.

Derry have won just one All Ireland title in their history, back in 1993, but the high level of their performances this year has raised hopes that they can at least go a step further than their All Ireland semi-final loss to Galway last summer.

It is proving to be a vintage period for local sport following Derry City’s FAI Cup triumph over Shelbourne in the Aviva last November.

Ruaidhri Higgins’ side are currently riding high in the League of Ireland Premier Division and, at the time of writing, lie second behind Shamrock Rovers in the table as the season approaches the half way point.

Their runners up finish in last season’s league has qualified them for this year’s Europa Conference League and fans will be hopeful of a favourable outcome when the draw is made next month.

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Derry hosts latest in series of Ireland-UK masterclasses

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A special masterclass focusing on the growing medical health and life sciences sector, part of a series of events on regional economic development in the UK & Ireland, has taken place in Derry this week, hosted by Derry City and Strabane District Council.

The ‘Joining the Dots’ series is delivered by Connected Places Catapult in partnership with the British Embassy in Dublin, and aims to support civic leadership, trade and cultural exchange between the UK and Ireland, maximising the unique connection in terms of learning.

Running from March 28th-30th, the masterclass event honed in on the area of healthcare and innovation, with wider reflections on how healthcare outcomes impact on engaging communities into economies.

A range of local academic, healthcare and industry partners took part in the three-day event, which featured talks, workshops and panel discussions geared towards strengthening connections and identifying shared opportunities.

Previous Joining the Dots events have already taken place in Belfast, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Liverpool, Manchester, Coventry and Birmingham centring around themes such as Digitisation of Industry, Advanced Manufacturing, Health & Life Sciences, Urban Regeneration, Creative Industries, and Inclusive Innovation.

Speaking ahead of the event, Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Councillor Sandra Duffy, said it offered the opportunity to share best practice and explore common interests. “The masterclass event offers the chance to showcase the North West City Region and the exciting projects currently being developed here,” she said.

“We have a pivotal role to play in the wider economy and a strong record of success in cross-jurisdictional working due to our unique location which is a fantastic example of best practice. The event provides a platform for sharing those experiences and also highlighting the ground-breaking work that is being delivered here in terms of innovation, research and development, personalised medicine and digital technology.”

Among the areas explored were Derry’s unique heritage and culture and how heritage regeneration has helped transform the city. Wednesday featured a conference event focusing on making health relevant and how to engage the community in designing and achieving better healthcare outcomes, to the benefit of the health and wellbeing of everyone.

Discussions also centred on creating a healthy city and the role of AI, data driven healthcare, pharmacogenomics, and ethics. Other key themes included cross-jurisdictional partnership working, civic leadership and how academia can help shape policy. Delegates had the opportunity to take part in a number of site visits to key academic and industry facilities and to engage in follow up meetings with local stakeholders.

Looking ahead to the event, Elin Burns, Deputy Head of Mission with the British Embassy in Dublin, said: “As we approach the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement, it is fantastic to see city representatives from GB, Ireland and Northern Ireland gather in Derry-Londonderry to tackle the challenges of improving healthcare outcomes for all their citizens. I am really looking forward to meeting everyone at this ‘Joining the Dots’ event to build on the excellent work that regional collaboration has already achieved.”

Paul Wilson, Chief Business Officer at Connected Places Catapult, said: “Creating meaningful connections between cities and regions is crucial for addressing society’s greatest challenges. Through the Joining the Dots programme, we aim to support civic leadership, trade, and cultural exchange between the UK and Ireland by sharing best practices and learnings. This collaborative approach will help identify shared opportunities and ultimately drive positive change.”

Find out more about the wider Joining the Dots programme here https://cp.catapult.org.uk/project/joining-the-dots/

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