Derry Girls captured the hearts of nations far and wide, and with its emotional ending in May 2022, the news of a Derry Girls exhibit and trail couldn’t come soon enough.
Funding has been approved and secured for a new ‘Home of Derry Girls’ exhibition in the Tower Museum within Derry’s historical walls.
Plus, a walking trail will take visitors around key filming locations from the series. The approval was made unanimously by the council’s Business and Culture committee on Tuesday.
The hope of this new and exciting Derry Girls exhibit and walking trail is to bolster tourism for the city and district.
Derry Girls exhibit and walking trail – a welcome addition to the city
The council’s Business and Culture committee was informed that funding of £80,000 has been secured for the proposed exhibition and walking trail.
The show has been an overwhelming success for Channel 4, winning numerous awards across the Irish Film and Television Awards, the Royal Television Society Awards, and being nominated at the BAFTAs.
Created by Derry screenwriter and winner of the Freedom of the City award, Lisa McGee, the series follows the story of four young girls from Derry and the “wee English fella” growing up at the tail end of The Troubles in Northern Ireland.
Derry Girls was adored by fans all over the world. Even one of the most famous directors of all time, Martin Scorsese, admitted to being a fan of the show.
It made us laugh, and it made us cry; Derry Girls was an incredible asset to the TV scene. The show has been sorely missed since the final episode aired on 18 May 2022.
The proposals – how they came about
Aeidin McCarter, the council’s Head of Culture, detailed the proposals to members along with plans to explore further experiences and opportunities to create a long-term Derry Girls experience in Derry.
She said that the worldwide success of the award-winning series presents a huge opportunity to bolster tourism in the city.
The series creator, Derry woman and screenwriter Lisa McGee, was the first woman to receive the Freedom of the City Award last year for the “global positive impact” her work has had on Derry and the district.
The exhibition – memorabilia, props, and sets
The exhibit will allow visitors to explore some of the sets, props, and memorabilia from the show. Meanwhile, the walking trail will allow us to explore filming locations around the city.
This experience will act as a test to gauge public interest in the concept. The hope is to work towards a more ambitious permanent visitor experience in the city.
At the end of this month, a report will be brought before the full council for final ratification. Chair of the committee, Councillor John McGowan, said he was delighted to see Tourism NI investing in this incredible venture.
He said, “The Derry Girls phenomenon has really captured the imagination – not just here, but across the world”. He believes the show “has the potential to draw visitors from far and wide”.
Visitors will be able to “experience for themselves the warmth, humour and uniqueness of this wonderful place”.
A taster promotional display will open in the Tower Museum in March. This will be subject to the successful appointment of a designer and exhibit coordinator. Does this sound like something you would visit?
