'It could draw visitors from far and wide'

A new exhibition dedicated to Derry Girls is to open, in a bid to lure more tourists to the city where the Channel 4 comedy was set.

Museum chefs have been in talks with programme-makers Hat Trick to secure sets, props and other memorabilia from the series, while councillors have secured £71,00 funding to set up a pilot project.

It will open in Derry’s Tower Museum in March, ahead of a planned bigger exhibition in the summer. There are also proposals to establish a Derry Girls trail so visitors can take in key filming locations.

Aeidin McCarter,  head of culture at Derry City and Strabane District Council, said the worldwide success of Lisa McGee’s award-winning series  presented a ‘fantastic opportunity’ to enhance the city’s tourism.

She said: ‘We hope to create an exciting high quality, original, immersive visitor experience completely unique to this city.

‘The project will highlight the social impact of the Derry Girls phenomenon, the roots of its setting against the backdrop of 1990s culture, the Troubles and of course the peace process, all captured with great humour and poignancy in the show.

‘We will offer visitors the chance to see a variety of set dressings, furniture and original props from the TV show, in partnership with Hat Trick Productions.

‘We will also use technology to provide some interactive elements to the exhibition and make it a really user friendly experience. I’m really looking forward now to working with Visit Derry on the next stages of this fantastic project.’

Councillors  on the business and culture committee – who gave unanimous backing for the plans – heard that the  2.5million fans who tuned in to the show on Channel 4 has already generated significant  interest in the city.

Committee chair John McGowan said: ‘I am delighted to see Tourism NI investing in this exciting venture for the city, which I am confident will become an important part of our tourism product.

‘The Derry Girls phenomenon has really captured the imagination – not just here, but across the world – and has the potential to draw visitors from far and wide to experience for themselves the warmth, humour and uniqueness of this wonderful place.

‘ I think we have an opportunity now to build on that profile, and to show visitors what inspired Lisa McGee to share her experience of life growing up in Derry with the rest of the world.’

Derry Girls first aired on Channel 4 in 2018 and came to an end in May, after three series.

Published: 19 Jan 2023