Craic On

Last summer saw an amazing spectacle in Derry City with the arrival of the Clipper boats for a week long festival in the city and neighbouring Donegal. This was the Clipper race Homecoming festival and welcomed a ten-strong fleet of 68-foot yachts to the Foyle. Highlights of this week included a marine environment zone with visiting boats, the thrilling and fearless Zapcats micro powerboats display, a heritage zone telling the story of the River Foyle, Northern Ireland’s largest continental market and sizzling musical entertainment and creative family events.

On board the Derry/Londonderry clipper were Niall Boyle, Shauna O’Neill and Pod McConway, three unemployed young people from Derry City, who were given the chance of a lifetime when Derry City Council hosted their participation in the race through a Bursary scheme initiated by race founder Sir Robin Knox Johnston. A TV film crew followed them over three different legs as each joined the 18-strong crew enduring the highs and lows with extreme temperatures, relentless seas and the tedium of the doldrums as they battled for a place on the coveted winners’ podium.

The result of this filming is a fascinating new three-part series ‘Legenderrys’ made for BBC Northern Ireland by Besom Productions.

Over the past two weeks the first shows of this production have been screened on BBC NI. Tonights show will be the highlight of the series as it is the arrival of the Clipper race into the Derry quay. On board the Derry/Londonderry Clipper is Pod McConway, a young man who has strong Muff connections. His father Liam lives in the village and frequents the legenderry local The Squealing Pig!

10.35pm tonight on BBC NI is the final episode in this series of 3 shows and it’s one not to be missed. Do look out for our newly adopted Liam MacConway and more importantly his son Pod!