'Year of Food & Drink' TV programme filmed in Derry wins Travel Media Award

RTE's Nationwide reporter, Mary Fanning, scooped the broadcast journalist gong at the Travel Extra 'Travel Writer of the Year' awards on Friday 27 January at a ceremony and dinner in Thomas Prior House, Ballsbridge which was attended by the cream of Irish travel and tourism writers and broadcasters.

The award was dedicated to a report from Derry as part of Nationwide's coverage of the Northern Ireland Year of Food and Drink in 2016 and Mary is no stranger to the podium, having won this category on four other occasions.

The TV programme which aired in August 2016 on was organised in conjunction with Tourism Northern Ireland (ROI Office), Derry City & Strabane District Council and Visit Derry.

Clare McCoy, Tourism NI PR Officer (ROI) said: "It was fantastic to see this dedicated TV programme on the Year of Food & Drink 2016 recognised at such prestigious awards. The prime time airing was filmed during the Foyle Maritime Festival in July and showcased what a vibrant city Derry is as well as highlighting the great food scene and world class producers operating there".

Two reports, part of a full programme on Derry food, included Broighter Gold rapeseed oil and how the Kane family in Limavady have opened up their farm to include tourism and draw people in from all over Ireland.

The family farm is where Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil was unearthed. Richard and Leona are now the sixth generation farmers on the family farm that has been in the Kane family for over 100 years.

This historic piece of land is where the Broighter Hoard of treasure was found in 1896. These days their treasure is the Liquid Gold oil.

The second report looked at the Walled City Brewery, the first commercial resident in Ebrington Square, where former Guinness brewer, James Huey took a leap of faith and is doing very well with a new beginning for tourism at this former British army base.

After leaving the company, James realised he had two passions in life - craft beer and the city of Derry so he set off on an extraordinary journey to build the first craft brewery in the city centre for over 100 years. 496 days after writing down his vision, James and his wife Louise opened the Walled City Brewery on 15th May 2015. The Northern Ireland award, sponsored by Tourism Northern Ireland went to Jasper Winn for his piece on country walking.

Ten other winners, each for different holidaying categories, were announced. The award winners were chosen by a distinguished panel of senior Irish journalists. This year saw a huge increase in the number of submissions from previous years, displaying the creativity and continuing innovation of travel and tourism journalism in Ireland.