Local famous faces send their ‘Postcards from Northern Ireland’

In a new Discover Northern Ireland podcast, some of our popular homegrown talent will be reliving nostalgic holiday memories and revealing the local places and experiences they can’t wait to explore.

The six-part ‘Postcards from Northern Ireland’ series, presented by broadcaster Ralph McLean, will be released on YouTube, Spotify and on Discovernorthernireland.com weekly from Thursday, February 19.

Speaking with Ralph, guests will be reminiscing how our giant spirit, people and place have shaped their happiest travel memories and instilled a passion for local adventure.

Taking trips down memory lane, the podcast invites audiences to fall in love all over again with our favourite local destinations but also explore new places that may be off the beaten track.

The first episode opens with a compelling conversation with world-renowned artist, Colin Davidson whose portfolio of work includes portraits of the late Queen Elizabeth II, Ed Sheeran, Bono, Liam Neeson and Jamie Dornan.

During the podcast, Colin, who grew up in Belfast but now lives in Bangor, reflects on how Northern Ireland’s natural beauty and landscapes continue to inspire and shape his artistic vision.

He said: “I'm never tired of visiting Black Mountain, Cave Hill and the Castlereagh Hills. Belfast is quite unique in the sense of where it's placed. To be standing on those viewpoints, enjoying those wonderful walks, and suddenly seeing the city in its entirety - there are not many places you can do that.”

Colin reminisces about glorious family holidays on the Causeway Coast, midnight kayaking trips on Strangford Lough as millions of stars lit up the night sky and explains why the Walled City is firmly on his bucket list for spring.

When chatting about people visiting him in Northern Ireland, he emphasised: “In this part of the world, there is a warmth, humour and welcome that really isn’t to be found in the same way anywhere else.”

He recommends boating on Fermanagh’s Lough Erne, visiting Seamus Heaney HomePlace, walking the North Down Coastal Path and immersing in the beauty of the Ards Peninsula.

The critically acclaimed artist also paints a picture of his ideal short break in Northern Ireland where he reveals a fondness of Ulster Frys, a 16-year-old single malt Bushmills Whiskey and Waterman Restaurant’s ‘fabulous Baked Alaska’.

Carmel Scott, Head of Marketing for Tourism Northern Ireland, said: “As our first podcast, we want to bring to life the giant spirit of Northern Ireland through the lens of our most cherished local travel memories.

“We are so grateful to Colin, and our other exciting guests, who joined us on Postcards from Northern Ireland to share their fondest childhood trips, insider tips and inspiration for their next travels.

“It has been heartwarming to hear their stories and feel connected in a shared love of this place. We hope that it inspires you to rediscover what is on our doorstep, from exhilarating outdoor adventures, breath-taking views, to worldclass museums and experiences, there truly is so much to explore.

“While our podcast guests recall childhood trips, we also want to encourage families and young people to make memories of their own, this spring and all year-round. We live somewhere that is revered around the world as a top global destination and we want to remind people that you’re only a small step away from a giant adventure in Northern Ireland.”

Episode one of ‘Postcards from Northern Ireland’ launches on Thursday, February 19 on Discover Northern Ireland’s YouTube and Spotify. To take a trip down memory lane, or explore what’s new in Northern Ireland, book your next giant adventure at Discovernorthernireland.com