Northern Ireland Invites Visitors to Embrace its Giant Spirit

In unveiling its new “Embrace a Giant Spirit” brand slogan last month, Northern Ireland shared some of the special tourism experiences that make it unique, from herding sheep with the help of clever border collies, to tracing back Irish family lineage.

Broadcasting live from the Titanic Belfast, BBC presenters and husband-wife team Holly Hamilton and Connor Phillips hosted the VIP Showcase event that kicked off the Northern Ireland Virtual Expo.

“‘Embrace a Giant Spirit’ is all about experiences visitors can enjoy here in Northern Ireland. It’s a personal invitation to see what makes us tick. You can meet local people in their homes and in their communities,” said Phillips, right before jumping into seven activities that keep the craic going.

1. Tara Lynne O’Neill, a Northern Irish actress who stars in the country’s hit show Derry Girls, visits the Glenshane Country Farm in the Sperrin mountains. Here, visitors can learn how fourth-generation shepherd Jamese McCloy uses whistles and gestures to direct his border collies to corral the sheep.

   

    

2. The “Beyond the Bridge” tour by the National Trust & Dalriada Kingdom Tours takes guests on a walk through the Causeway Coastal Route, home to world-famous Giant’s Causeway and adrenaline-inducing Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge.

   

    

3. Northern Ireland has become a global destination for the film and television industry, with series like Game of Thrones and movies like Dracula Untold all filmed in the country. Phillips and Hamilton speak to actor Adrian Dunbar, who stars in the lead role in the TV show Line of Duty, filmed in Northern Ireland.

   

    

4. The Belfast Traditional Music Trail Tour is a unique way to soak up Irish music and dance in the heart of the capital city. Two local musicians and guides share stories about their instruments, the tunes they play and why they love playing music.

   

5. The Armagh Robinson Library is the oldest library in Northern Ireland, founded in 1771. It houses thousands of genealogical sources and family histories, making it an ideal stop for Canadians with Irish roots looking to trace back their lineage. The library can build an itinerary that allows Canadians to walk in the footsteps of their ancestors.

   

    

6. Derry Londonderry is one of the world's best preserved walled cities. The “Unlocking the Walled City” tour gives travellers a look at the culture, food and bars, and big hearted-people who live in the city.

   

    

7. Groups can get wild in the woods while reconnecting with nature at Finnebrogue Woods. A veritable bushcraft experience awaits, with hands-on activities like fire lighting, shelter-making and foraging safely for wild food and medicinal plants.