After a four-year absence, the award-winning event has returned with exciting live performances, shop tours, water sports, LegenDerry food trails and much more. The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race also made a welcome return to the Maiden City. This year’s theme is What Lies Beneath, focused on the natural beauty of the oceans, rivers and lakes, and how we can protect marine life.
On Friday, July 22, the River Foyle was illuminated by a Parade of Light featuring the Clipper Race Fleet and the Phoenix Tall Ship, a synchronised fireworks display, and an hour of illumination, performances and installations along the quay from early evening through to midnight.
On Sunday, July 24, the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District, Councillor Sandra Duffy, joined the crowds on Derry’s quayside to bid farewell to the Clipper Race fleet as they left the city on the final leg of their global adventure. The eleven Clipper 70 racing yachts have been central to the festivities throughout the Foyle Maritime Festival, and there were emotional scenes as they embarked on a beautiful Parade of Sail up the Foyle before heading for the final race start in Greencastle.
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race fleet departure from Foyle Marina, in the last leg of the global race from Derry to London brought the Foyle Maritime Festival to a colourful conclusion with a massed crew photocall, a parade of sail and a farewell from Derry City and Strabane District Council Mayor, Councillor Sandra Duffy. Picture Martin McKeown. 24.07.22
https://investderrystrabane.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/InvestDerry_Strabane_logo_small-003.jpg00Adam Goodallhttps://investderrystrabane.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/InvestDerry_Strabane_logo_small-003.jpgAdam Goodall2022-07-29 15:32:132022-07-29 15:32:16The Foyle Maritime Festival returned to the banks of the River Foyle
The city’s first street art and urban arts gallery has been launched.
The Spot gallery, created by UV Arts social enterprise alongside the Inner City Trust, is located at the Garden of Reflection on Bishop Street.
The new gallery’s debut exhibition connects the growing local street art movement with a modern and contemporary exhibition space, graffiti store and creative hub for urban artists.
Artists exhibiting are responsible for many of the large-scale murals dotted across the City and District.
The gallery also hosts a series of educational workshops, professional training services and alternative art, prints and products.
https://investderrystrabane.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/InvestDerry_Strabane_logo_small-003.jpg00Adam Goodallhttps://investderrystrabane.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/InvestDerry_Strabane_logo_small-003.jpgAdam Goodall2022-07-14 19:35:032022-07-29 14:33:52Hit ‘The Spot’, Derry’s new street art gallery
Strabane’s Summer Jamm made a welcome return to the streets in June.
The event saw live music, traditional games, amusements, cultural activities, a petting zoo and circus skills performed across a range of venues. Meanwhile, foodies were treated to a range of sweet and savoury delights at the Castle Street Food Quarter.
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Sandra Duffy: “Summer Jamm is always a great draw for visitors, and it’s fantastic to see the event return with all the benefits it brings to the local economy.”
This year, Strabane BID collaborated with businesses on a special Love Strabane event, showcasing the best of Strabane has to offer as well as one-off promotions on local products and services.
Derry has been hailed as the best place to live in Northern Ireland in a survey by The Sunday Times.
The newspaper praised the city as “cool, credible and cheap” in its annual UK-wide list, highlighting the benefits of “years of investment” and the millions of pounds spent regenerating the town centre.
Judges added: “Younger buyers are moving in, attracted by the city’s brisk outward-facing air and its closeness to the border with the Republic.”
The seaside villages of Ballycastle and Helen’s Bay also made the list of Northern Ireland’s top locations.
Meanwhile, Derry was also named as having the best community spirit in the region, in a survey from the retailer Spar.
The Maiden City came out on top of the NI communities, and placed seventh in the whole of the UK.
Around 64% of those surveyed described themselves as happy living in their community, with 53% of those from Northern Ireland – the highest in the UK – adding that their community gave them a sense of belonging.
https://investderrystrabane.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/InvestDerry_Strabane_logo_small-003.jpg00Adam Goodallhttps://investderrystrabane.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/InvestDerry_Strabane_logo_small-003.jpgAdam Goodall2022-07-14 19:14:322022-07-29 14:44:23‘Cool, credible, cheap’ Derry named one of best places to live in UK
A Derry tapas restaurant is celebrating after being named World Food Restaurant of the Year at a nationwide awards ceremony.
El Tapas Gra, based in Waterloo Place, picked up the gong at the YesChef Ireland awards in Limerick.
A member of the local LegenDerry Food and Drink Network, the bar and restaurant serves Catalan-influenced cuisine infused with locally sourced ingredients.
Meanwhile the hugely popular Quaywest, on Derry’s Boating Club Lane, was named Ulster Seafood Restaurant of the Year.
Visit Derry has joined forces with leading local firms and academics to boost the number of international business events hosted in the city.
The Ambassador Circle is a joint project between Tourism NI, Visit Derry and Visit Belfast, and part-funded through the region’s Tourism Recovery Action Plan.
It seeks to target and promote key conferences and events, and promote the North West, and Northern Ireland, as a leading business destination.
Odhran Dunne, CEO of Visit Derry, said 90% of business events come to the city through the support of a local ambassador.
He added: “The new Ambassador Circle is key to our success in attracting conferences and will act as a catalyst to inspire and motivate our local ambassadors to actively seek opportunities to host business events that will support the district’s tourism economy.”
https://investderrystrabane.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/InvestDerry_Strabane_logo_small-003.jpg00Adam Goodallhttps://investderrystrabane.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/InvestDerry_Strabane_logo_small-003.jpgAdam Goodall2022-07-14 19:00:042022-07-29 15:06:25New initiative puts Derry on the map for international conferences
Passengers can now fly direct from City of Derry Airport to Edinburgh, on a new service launched by Loganair.
The 55-minute direct flight will run three days a week (Tuesday, Friday and Sunday), with additional Thursday and Saturday flights during the peak summer months.
Among the guests on the inaugural flight in May was Aidan O’Kane, president of Londonderry Chamber of Commerce.
He said: “From tourism to trade, this new route will be a huge boost to the North West economy, strengthening our regional links across the Irish Sea.
https://investderrystrabane.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/InvestDerry_Strabane_logo_small-003.jpg00Adam Goodallhttps://investderrystrabane.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/InvestDerry_Strabane_logo_small-003.jpgAdam Goodall2022-07-14 18:30:402022-07-29 15:09:28Lift-off for new Edinburgh flight
The Stormont Executive has announced £15m worth of investment for a new 152-bed hotel in the Ebrington area of Londonderry.
The work will involve the refurbishment of the clocktower and five buildings in the former military base.
The first and deputy first ministers visited the development on Thursday to confirm the plans.
About £7m is coming from the executive office’s investment fund and almost £2m from Invest NI.
First Minister Paul Givan said it was “another step forward” for Ebrington and for the city.
“It continues to grow as a vibrant, modern city which is looking to the future with confidence – and there is a real sense of that optimism here today,” he said.
Mr Givan paid tribute to those involved in the redevelopment of the 29-acre site at Ebrington, which had been a military barracks until 2003.
Ebrington’s development is widely regarded as a key to Derry and the region’s wider economic growth.
“As today’s ideas become tomorrow’s opportunities, I will be watching with interest as potential turns into reality for Londonderry,” he said.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the start of work on the hotel “is a milestone day for Derry”.
“Together with the Grade A office space due to be completed soon, this new hotel will bring a renewed sense of vibrancy and a real boost to the regional economy,” she said.
“I offer my congratulations to the developers and all who have played a part in getting us to this point,” Ms O’Neill added.
Plans for the hotel were unveiled in 2017 and granted planning permission by Derry City and Strabane District Council the following year.
Ebrington is the largest regeneration site in Derry.
A former naval base that opened in 1841, it was known as HMS Sea Eagle during World War Two and was an important part of the North Atlantic Command.
Work is expected to be completed on the four-star hotel in the summer of 2023.
The Stormont Executive has announced £15m worth of investment for a new 152-bed hotel in the Ebrington area of Londonderry.
The work will involve the refurbishment of the clocktower and five buildings in the former military base. The first and deputy first ministers visited the development on Thursday to confirm the plans. About £7m is coming from the executive office’s investment fund and almost £2m from Invest NI. First Minister Paul Givan said it was “another step forward” for Ebrington and for the city.
“It continues to grow as a vibrant, modern city which is looking to the future with confidence – and there is a real sense of that optimism here today,” he said.
Mr Givan paid tribute to those involved in the redevelopment of the 29-acre site at Ebrington, which had been a military barracks until 2003.
Ebrington’s development is widely regarded as a key to Derry and the region’s wider economic growth.
“As today’s ideas become tomorrow’s opportunities, I will be watching with interest as potential turns into reality for Londonderry,” he said.
Artist Impression of Ebrington Hotel at Ebrington Square, Derry/Londonderry
‘Renewed sense of vibrancy’
Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the start of work on the hotel “is a milestone day for Derry”.
“Together with the Grade A office space due to be completed soon, this new hotel will bring a renewed sense of vibrancy and a real boost to the regional economy,” she said.
“I offer my congratulations to the developers and all who have played a part in getting us to this point,” Ms O’Neill added.
Plans for the hotel were unveiled in 2017 and granted planning permission by Derry City and Strabane District Council the following year.
Ebrington is the largest regeneration site in Derry.
A former naval base that opened in 1841, it was known as HMS Sea Eagle during World War Two and was an important part of the North Atlantic Command.
Work is expected to be completed on the four-star hotel in the summer of 2023.
A new website listing arts and cultural events in the North West has been launched to provide a one-stop guide to the best family fun experiences in Derry, Strabane and Donegal.
The www.happydaysnw.com website, which covers the entire spectrum of arts and culture events and experiences across the region, is a joint initiative by Donegal County Council and Derry City and Strabane District Council. The initiative, which is primarily aimed at engaging more families with arts and culture, is supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, and is part of the ongoing, cross border, North West Audience Development Project, supported by the North West Strategic Development Fund.
Visitors checking out Derry/Londonderry Tower Museum
The comprehensive ‘What’s On’ guide involves partnerships with hundreds of cultural partners across the North West. These include visitor centres, theatres, arts centres, entertainment venues, festival organisers and experience providers offering great family days out, ranging from unique and exciting instead adventures to more relaxing cultural activities. The initiative also fosters and encourages public engagement and participation with cultural partners through social media channels.
Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Councillor Jack Murray, said: “Our region offers among the best family-orientated arts and culture experiences available anywhere and happydaysnw.com gives everyone the opportunity to quickly find and explore the information needed to plan their perfect family day out.
“The Happy Days initiative is yet another example of the strong partnership approach that exists between our two local authorities and will play an important role in engaging many more families with our rich arts and culture scene.”
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Alderman Graham Warke, said the new initiative is designed to “simplify the planning of great family days out in the North West”.
“I’m delighted to launch this initiative which gives people instant access to the many fantastic arts and cultural events and experiences our region has to offer – all in a single online hub. The North West has a very rich calendar of arts and cultural events, boasts a great many wonderful destinations and offers some of the most fun-filled experiences on these islands.
“Happydaysnw.com brings all of these and more together in an online listing that makes discovering, planning, and enjoying family days out simple and convenient for all.”
Sharon Meenan, Arts and Culture Officer at Derry City and Strabane District Council, said: “Supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s Challenge Fund, this initiative is part of the NW Audience Development Plan and is designed to enable everyone to easily access information about arts and culture in the North West.
“By providing all the practical information on one website, it’s easier for families to find out about cultural activities near them, connect with like-minded people online and plan their special days out across the Derry-Londonderry, Strabane, and Donegal areas.
“Whether it’s dancing, crafts, heritage, festivals, literature, theatre, visual arts, sport or learning activities you’re after; Happy Days offers a one-stop guide to what’s on, where and at what time. It also details all of the amazing spaces on our doorstep and highlights access-friendly spaces so you can plan great days out for everyone.”
https://i0.wp.com/investderrystrabane.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/happydays-1.jpg?fit=397%2C265&ssl=1265397Adam Goodallhttps://investderrystrabane.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/InvestDerry_Strabane_logo_small-003.jpgAdam Goodall2022-01-19 09:16:552022-01-19 09:16:58Explore the best in the North West – ‘Happy Days’ Online Guide to North West’s Best Experiences Goes Live
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