I scripted the TV ad for Victoria Square shopping centre’s spring 2014 campaign.

The 400-year-old White House, which welcomed King William III while his fleet anchored in Belfast Lough, has been restored to include a multipurpose exhibition space. I researched and wrote the scripts for two films – a welcome from General Schomberg, who hosted King William here, and a dramatized account of King William’s Irish campaign against the forces of James II, a victory which changed the course of Irish history.

A Tandem Design project for the White House Preservation Trust and Newtownabbey Borough Council.

‘Belfast iTours take you on a journey through the pulsating, buzzing city of today… You will get a feel for the city, its communities and their history and stories.’

I wrote or revised many of the scripts for this exciting multi-media self-guided tour of Belfast, which includes filmed content on every aspect of the city’s tourism offering. I also wrote Patrick Kielty’s introduction.

Based in the former Harland & Wolff Drawing Offices, where Titanic was built, this exhibition about H&W and Belfast shipbuilding was seamlessly integrated into the new Titanic Hotel Belfast.

A Tandem Design project.

Northern Ireland’s most dramatic tourist attraction recently got a revamp! I wrote a series of films that relive Dunluce’s turbulent past and recreate it in its heyday to escort the visitor around this ancient castle high above the rocks.

A Tandem Design project for NIEA.

The world’s most innovative food tour has been one of the most successful Irish tourism initiatives of recent years. I wrote this award-winning tour-de-force, in which recently defrosted Titanic chef Barney takes visitors around the culinary hot spots of Belfast – recounting the city’s history as he goes – for Kabosh Theatre. It’s been performed in New York, Dublin and many other locations, as well each summer around the streets of Belfast, and made into two apps as well.

“A revelation – a wonderful tour that will transform your perception of Belfast” – Sheila Dillon, BBC Radio 4 Good Food Programme.

“One of top ten of things to do in Belfast” – National Geographic magazine.

“Belfast Bred has been a huge success for Kabosh, selling out to tourists and locals alike. Featured on countless tourism blogs, the tour has been operating each summer since 2010. Elements from it have been used at over 50 conferences and events including Tourism Ireland’s “Experience NI” showcase in Grand Central Station, NYC, in 2010. Belfast Bred and Shankill Stories are being developed into iTours for 2015. Belfast Bred has already been made into an app and interactive game.” – Paula McFetridge and Finn Kennedy, Kabosh Theatre.

Belfast’s Samuel Davidson made quality tea available to the world. My play about this unsung hero was part of Kabosh Theatre’s spectacular Inventors production, staged in a pop-up theatre in summer 2013.

“Drama that is alive, genuinely engaging and leaves audiences surprised, inspired and wanting more.” – Gilly Campbell, Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

A millie courts her man; a bereaved mother and her ghostly son talk of the Somme; body snatchers are defied at the Shankill Graveyard and a brother and sister celebrate their father’s love of the area – I wrote four dramas for Kabosh Theatre telling the story of the Shankill. They were performed by Gerard Jordan (Game of Thrones) and Abigail McGibbon in July 2013.

 

In 2018, I adapted the story of the Shankill and the Somme for a special commemoration of East Belfast during the First World War at Willowfield Parish Church.

Did you know that St David’s was once one of Europe’s most important pilgrimages or that you can stay in Dylan Thomas’s childhood bedroom? I researched and wrote very detailed two character scripts for six destinations in Wales for a smart phone tour application for My Tours/Oli (working with Visit Wales). I also wrote tours of Edinburgh and Rome for them.

From the sleeping giant of Cave hill to the Titanic and the city’s unique maritime history to Van the Man and CS Lewis, I wrote the copy for hundreds of stories on the visitor screens at the spectacular new Belfast Welcome Centre in Donegall Square. I also contributed to several short videos of leading Belfast people and institutions and wrote the copy for the Centre’s wall features.

I wrote two film scripts on the Plantation of Ulster for this state-of-the-art exhibition to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the famous walls. Characters included Bishop Montgomery, a planter girl and an Irish farmer.

A Tandem Design project for Derry City Council and Derry Heritage & Museums Service.

St Patrick founded it, the Vikings burnt it, Brian Boru is buried here. I wrote a script for an 18th century Dean of Armagh to welcome visitors to Armagh Cathedral.

A Tandem Design project for St Patrick’s Cathedral.

I scripted this 45-minute DVD for Queen’s University for women with type one and type two diabetes of childbearing age. The DVD is currently being used as a pregnancy counselling resource for women with diabetes by healthcare professionals throughout Northern Ireland, having been adopted by all diabetes consultants and many GP practices throughout Northern Ireland. It has also been converted to a website.

‘1608 was one big year for Bushmills and for whiskey itself. Why the drum roll? Well, on April 20th of that year King James 1 grants Sir Thomas Phillips a license to distil ‘uisce beatha’ within an area called the Rowte.’

I scripted a DVD on the history of Bushmills for the company.

The most successful of its kind in Ireland, the Hamilton Montgomery plantation transformed the north Down and Ards peninsula. For this website, sponsored by the Ulster Scots Agency and the two councils, and produced by Lagan Media, I wrote the many site summaries, as well as the eight themes. I also wrote the two short films on 1798 and the genesis of the plantation – Conn O’Neill’s escape from Bangor.

Why did the beautiful Co Down village of Rostrevor host the Star Spangled Rostrevor Festival in 2014? To celebrate the part played by the villages’s General Ross in the writing of the Star Spangled Banner. On behalf of Newry and Mourne Council I scripted a tourism video for Rostrevor and two videos telling the story of Ross and his connection with the American national anthem. Made by Vacant Square and narrated by international folk artist Tommy Sands.