Northern Ireland 2013 & Famous Faces

It's no secret that I love to read and create stories. I also get fed-up with the negative press this little corner of the world gets. There's no denying we've had more than our fair share of bad news but there's just as much, if not more, good about Northern Ireland.

For both of those reasons it always pleases me to see positive stories and the recent surge we seems to be having as a film location is no exception. I've blogged before about some of our beauty spots and the tv/film crew they've attracted; Your Highness, Game of Thrones and Blandings have all been mentioned here.

Last week Liam Neeson returned to Northern Ireland to receive the freedom of his home, Ballymena.

Lian Neeson receives Freedom of Ballymena


This week starts with the news that Sir Ian McKellen has also visited Northern Ireland and, like James Nesbitt and Liam Neeson, it turns out he has roots in Ballymena. He was here to receive an honorary degree from the University of Ulster. It was presented at the Magee Campus, in Derry-Londonderry, the 2013 City of Culture.

UTV: Ian McKellen
City of Culture 2013

Maybe, someone out there might even take a chance on a little story set in Northern Ireland by an unknown Northern Irish writer! One that has some reference to the residue of our past but focuses on family, the Northern Ireland setting and how first impressions can taint how we view people. Fingers crossed The Glass House finds an audience.

North Coast

I've made more than one post, referring to a previous one entitled 'North Coast' and now that I look back through I can find no trace of it. I'll blame gremlins in the system but more likely they're in my head.

So, to rectify my mistake, this is the post I thought I'd made with some older pictures taken around the North Coast.

Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge

The Giant's Gate at the Causeway

Portrush Beach 

Dunluce Castle (which I believe was used in the film Your Highness)

Dunluce Castle

Dunluce Castle is in Co. Antrim on the north coast of Northern Ireland. I included a photo of it in my first North Coast post. Rita Wilson is a photographer from Donegal (we share a love of Irish Setters) and she has captured some stunning scenes from the area but she recently added a photograph of Dunluce which I love. The weather hampered Rita's attempts to get any further photo opportunities during her visit but I think it provides a fantastic foreboding atmosphere in the one picture she did get.

Rita Wilson Photography - Dunluce

Tollymore Forest Park

A series of photos of Tollymore Forest Park in the Mourne Mountains.

On a visit two weeks ago we spotted the crew trucks so looks like Game of Thrones is filming there again. It's also the setting for Your Highness. We had a chuckle when we watched the film and spotted one spot of the river being used that our dogs are partial to for a refreshing drink.