Best Places to Eat in Derry!

Picture this: the sun is shining, you’re with your friend and you’re just about to go into your favourite restaurant which you haven’t been able to go to in months.

Well, that day is soon to be upon us as restrictions across the country are beginning to lift! So, to make sure you’re well prepared, Destination Derry have put together our top 10 list of great eateries you should check out when you’re in Derry but don’t just trust our opinion, we asked Derry locals on social media for their best picks and these were the most popular answers.

In no particular order:

  • Pyke ‘N’ Pommes – Pyke ’N’ Pommes originally started out as an adapted van in a disused car park, before moving to a semi-permanent pitch by the River Foyle in Derry in 2013. Since then, the team have done a range of events including festivals, pop ups, radio and have won a number of awards. In 2015, the team converted a shipping container and a double decker bus into a fully functioning restaurant and it is certainly the most interesting place to dine on this list. With the best local produce and all food being made from scratch, it’s not hard to see why so many people come from across the country to visit this fantastic restaurant.

 

  • Hidden City Café – the Hidden City café is an award-winning, ethical, independent eatery which not only serves delicious food but also champions local producers such as Ann Marie’s’ Vegan Cakery, Broighter Gold, Joe Jacksons ice-cream, Managh Beg Mushrooms, Gavs organic produce, Donegal Prime Fish and Rough Brothers beer to name a few. One of the best things about this café however, is the range of vegan and vegetarian options on offer, so no matter what your dietary requirements are, the Hidden City café will have you covered.

 

  • Martha’s Vineyard – On their website, the tagline for Martha’s Vineyard is “A restaurant where the kids are entertained while you can enjoy a beautiful relaxing meal, what parent would say no?” The perfect place to eat while the kids can enjoy the arcade machines or a game of bowling, Martha’s Vineyard has a great selection of food on offer, however, it’s not just the food that attracts customers here. Martha’s also boasts some of the best cocktails in Derry at great prices, so for just £4.50 you can enjoy a Gin N Juice with the meal of your choice, what’s not to love?

 

  • The Sooty Olive – Located in the heart of Spencer Road in the Waterside area of the city, The Sooty Olive is a much-loved favourite by the locals. Within its first year of opening, The Sooty Olive was awarded the prestigious McKenna Award as well as being the proud winner of the ‘best restaurant’ in 2019 at the Irish Restaurant Association Awards for Co. Derry. Customer reviews include praise of the “excellent service” and “outstanding food with every bite.”

 

  • The Walled City Brewery – A multi award-winning restaurant and brewhouse based in Ebrington Square, Derry-Londonderry, the Walled City Brewery has a fully operating brewery and accompanying restaurant in the same building, making it the first of its kind in the country. The ethos behind the business is to provide locals and tourists with a “Taste of the North West” through crafting local, authentic, premium quality, flavoursome beer and food.

 

  • Browns in Town – Michelin recommended restaurant Browns in Town offers customers a casual, fine dining experience. Situated in the heart of the city, the restaurant is award winning and renowned for providing a casual dining experience in modern and comfortable surroundings. This trendy venue is extremely popular with foodies who enjoy Browns great quality food combined with excellent service and exceptional value.

 

  • Nonnas Woodfired Pizzas – Nonnas was founded by two brothers and their passion for real Italian pizza. After years travelling and exploring the small towns and villages around Italy, they couldn’t find anything that compared to real Italian pizzas at home. So they built their own back yard pizza oven and taught themselves the art of proper pizza making, cooking pizzas for friends, neighbours and family and hence the idea for Nonnas was born. With features such their wood burning ovens which were imported directly from Italy for the perfect base, to the best ingredients and suppliers, Nonnas is not to be missed for pizza lovers.

 

  • Primrose on the Quay – From humble beginnings of selling tea, coffee, lunches and home baking, the Primrose brand has really taken off, especially with the development of the café, the Primrose Secret Garden, Primrose Pantry, Primrose Bakery and Primrose Events. Within 4 years, owners Ciaran and Melanie have achieved so much while priding themselves on maintaining high standards throughout all of their projects. From the charming vintage décor to the good food, Primrose on the Quay is a great dining experience.

 

  • The Gate Bistro and Cocktail Bar – On their website, The Gate Bistro state that “we pride ourselves on quality dining and unique experiences in a quirky, cosy environment. Our customers can expect an intimate and relaxed setting, designed to enhance their dining experience.” The Gate Bistro is the creation of local entrepreneurs Ruairi Breslin & Tony O’Connor, who have other successful restaurants throughout the city and as the name suggests, as well as good food they also provide good cocktails.

 

  • El Tapas Gra – The name of this restaurant translates as ‘Love Small Plates’ and it opened in early 2020. The food has a lot of Catalan influence and is combined with the best of homegrown Irish talent and ingredients, so when the hospitality sector is given the go ahead to reopen, this is definitely a place to go with friends.

This is just a fraction of all of the incredible restaurants, cafes and food stops in Derry and you will never be short of places to eat when restrictions lift. Where are you most excited about going when lockdown ends? Let us know!

/by

Hit the Road! – Driving in Derry

If you’re moving from Derry to another country you may be wondering a few things, such as, do I need to exchange my driving licence? What side of the road do they drive on? Will I have to retake my test? Well we’re here to answer them!

Let’s start with the simple one, we drive on the left side of the road i.e. the CORRECT side to drive on 😉 no more needs said on that.

So, let’s have a run through of licence exchanges:

  1. If your EU/EEA driving licence remains valid, you do not need to exchange it and you can continue to drive until your licence expires. An EU/EEA driving licence may be exchanged even if it has expired.
  2. You may continue to drive until you reach the age of 66 years, or for a period of 5 years from the date you became resident in the UK, whichever is the earlier, provided your licence remains valid.
  3. If your exchangeable driving licence remains valid, you are not required to exchange it at this time. You can continue to drive for a period of one year from the date you become a resident in Derry, provided your driving licence remains valid. An exchangeable licence can be exchanged within a period of 5 years from the date you become a resident in Northern Ireland. To get a full list of the countries which offer exchangeable driving licences, please visit NIdirect.gov.uk
  4. Canadian Licence: A Canadian driving licence does not show whether the driving test was taken in a car with manual transmission or automatic transmission. Therefore, a Northern Ireland driving licence issued in exchange for a licence from Canada will restrict the applicant to driving vehicles with automatic transmission only, unless documentation is submitted which proves that the driving test was taken in a manual vehicle
  5. South African Licence: S.A driving licences can only be exchanged if they are in the new style credit card format.

If you want to change your driving licence for an N.I driving licence, you must complete the application form DL1 that is available from the main Post Office branches. You will need to enclose original paperwork confirming your identity, a passport style colour photograph and suitable proof of residency.

Hopefully this info has made things a bit clearer for those of you who are planning to drive when relocating to Derry, whether it be for work or leisure.

There is a more comprehensive list of conditions you must satisfy before you’re able to exchange your licence and this can be found on the NIdirect.gov.uk website. Once you get things sorted, you’ll be well on your way to driving around our beautiful city and county, so get ready to experience some of the most beautiful coastal driving routes around.

Get in touch with any questions and let us know what you’d like to hear about next!

/by

A Day in Derry

There are so many wonderful things to see and do in this historic city, so much in fact that it would be hard to fit everything into one day but we’re here to give you an idea of what you can get up to if you’re out for a day in Derry! As restrictions are beginning to ease, businesses will be ready to reopen soon, so here are a few suggestions of things to do when they reopen.

Why not kick off your day with a stroll around one of the city’s beautiful parks? Located at the end of the Peace Bridge, St. Columb’s Park offers stunning views of the city, a quaint little café, a fun park for the kids and much more. With paths going off in different directions, you can make it a quick 10-minute stroll or stay out all day and with the park being so close to the Peace Bridge, you can even pop over to the town and grab yourself a delicious breakfast in one of the city’s many restaurants and cafés.

After a morning of stretching your legs and enjoying the outdoors, relax in the afternoon with a little retail therapy or enjoy the rich culture and heritage of the city by visiting one of the museums or going on a walking tour. Foyleside shopping centre and the Richmond centre have everything to meet your shopping needs, whether you’re in the market for some new shoes, jewellery, homeware or food, you’ll be sure to find it in Derry. There’s also lots of amazing little independent stores in the city if you’re looking for something really unique. If history is your thing, a visit to the Museum of Free Derry is a must. Immerse yourself in the city’s story of its struggle for civil rights, its descent into conflict and the fights against government oppression and with the museum being situated where these events took place, you’ll get a real feel for the history that affected so many people. If your legs aren’t tired from your morning walk, one of the many city walking tours will be sure to keep you informed and entertained. So whatever you’re into, Derry has you covered.

By this point in the day, you’re sure to be getting hungry and Derry has a wide range of places to eat, whether you prefer fine dining or traditional pub grub, you’ll find something good to fill your belly. Some of our personal favourites include Blackbird, Martha’s Vineyard and The Gate Bistro, who all offer great food and equally great cocktails. My mouth is watering just writing this!

Now it’s the evening and after a jam-packed day, it’s nice to sit down and enjoy some entertainment and there’s no better place to do so than at the Millennium Forum, which is one of Ireland’s largest purpose-built theatres, conference centres and event spaces. From some of the best musicals in the UK, to the biggest names in comedy, a night at the millennium forum will not disappoint.

After a busy day in Derry you’ll be ready to retire to a comfy bed and if you’re staying in the city there are plenty of options, whether you’d prefer a quaint little B&B or if you’d like something a bit fancier, there’s something for all budgets, so check out some options on our website.

From morning to night, Derry has a range of things to keep you busy and our list is just a few suggestions. So whether you’re just visiting or relocating, you’ll never be short of things to do. Get in touch and let us know your suggestions of the best places to eat, stay and shop in the city so we can share them with others!

/by

Destination Derry – A Great Place to Work

So you’ve made the move to Derry – great! Relocating can be a scary but also incredibly exciting time and here at Destination Derry, we want to offer you a comprehensive guide to everything that you might want to know before becoming a Derry resident. Throughout these blog posts, we’ll take you through everything, from big things like acquiring a visa, to the smaller things like where to get a really good burger. If there’s anything you’d like to know about, let us know! We’re here to be your official guides for the city and county.

In this post we’ll talk a bit about working in Derry and all the things you need to know about this, especially because rules have been changing due to Brexit.

Destination Derry – a great place to work

So, depending on where you’re originally from, you may need a work permit or even a visa to work in Derry and the rest of Northern Ireland. It’s important that you understand your employment rights before making any big decisions and there are lots of great resources to check this but the number one thing that your employer must know is if you have permission to legally work here.

There are many great reasons for wanting to come to Derry to live and work but whether you can depends on a few things, such as the type of job you want to apply for, your country of origin and your relevant skills. If you are not a British or Irish citizen, you may need a visa before you’ll be allowed to travel here.

You can learn how to acquire a visa and apply for one on the official Gov.UK website but first, you’ll need to be cleared by officials at a British Overseas Mission in your country of origin. Once cleared, the entry clearance certificate or visa will be put into your passport or travel document.

Another important thing to note is that the UK has introduced a points-based immigration system, similar to that of other countries. The UK’s points-based system treats EU and non-EU citizens equally and aims to attract people who can contribute to the UK’s economy.

If you are an international student, living and studying in Derry, you may need permission to work here. To do this, check the visa stamp in your passport and if it says ‘prohibited,’ then you will be unable to work in the UK. If it grants you leave to enter or stay in the UK as a student, you can work here provided you don’t:

  • work more than 20 hours a week during term time, unless the employment is part of your studies, or is an internship
  • engage in business, are not self-employed and don’t provide services as a professional sportsperson or entertainer
  • take a permanent full-time position.

If you go through all the necessary steps and are cleared to work in Derry, there are lots of brilliant resources to help you find a job, including through personal contacts or Jobs and Benefits offices.

To read a more comprehensive list of things you’ll need to check if you’re planning on moving to Derry for work, visit the NIDirect or Gov.UK websites for more information.

We look forward to seeing you in Derry soon! This truly is a great place to live, work, study and visit and we know you’ll love it just as much as we do.

/by
, ,

Successful ‘Connecting with Home’ Event St. Patrick’s Eve 2021

Destination Derry ‘Connecting with Home’ Event St. Patrick’s Eve 2021

Destination Derry are a not-for-profit, collaborative social enterprise, aiming to raise the profile of Derry city and county as a great place to live, work, study and visit. Last Tuesday, on the 16th of March, Destination Derry held their virtual ‘Connecting with Home’ St. Patrick’s Day event for Derry locals and diaspora. The event was a great success, causing a real buzz on social media and allowed people all over the world to celebrate the holiday together. There was diaspora from Saudi Arabia, Nairobi, Germany, London, America and further afield that were in attendance on the night, which highlights the importance of the event, as attendees were having to juggle different time zones in order to be there.

The night started with a welcome from the host Evelyn Mc Glynn, who then introduced Michael Taggart, CEO of Taggart Homes and Destination Derry. Michael thanked everyone for being there, saying, “this is something that was born, probably less than a year ago, this is our second event, we’re very proud of it and in particular, we’re very proud of our city and our county.

We want to bring more visitors here and show what a fantastic place Derry is to live and work.” Michael then went on to talk about all of the great things on offer in Derry, saying, “we have so much to do in the county. We have hiking, walks, lots of fabulous hotels, restaurants and great, warm, friendly people.” Michael’s enthusiasm for where he lives was plain to see and it was followed by a video of him taking us on a journey across county Derry.

Rosalind Young from the Derry City & Strabane District Council shared some current news on all the positive things going on in the city, such as the rollout of vaccinations, businesses preparing for reopening and information about the £250m Derry city deal. She commented, “there’s always been enormous pride in this city and many times we’ve talked about the city’s potential and now we have the strategic growth plan and more importantly, the buy-in from all of our stakeholders and we’re starting to see that investment now.” A full reviewing of all things discussed on the night can be found on the video on the Destination Derry website.

Binenvenagh Co Derry

The event was also aiming to shine a light on the Derry Diaspora and those thinking about relocating and one of those diaspora was Robert O’Dowd, Ulster University alumni and Director of Growth Strategy at Notable, a boutique consulting agency in New York. Aside from his professional development, Robert spoke about his years growing up in Derry, saying, “I was fortunate enough to be there when there was a real push for the City of Culture bid, where every other week there was another festival and things happening, so that was a tremendous moment to be a part of and to live through in Derry and it’s just incredibly exciting to see what is now on the forefront of the Derry and Strabane district deal and it only bodes for more promising things to come, especially for people like myself who are maybe developing a view of how and when I may wish to try and relocate back home to Derry, while maintaining a bi-Atlantic presence.”

Other highlights included traditional Irish music from Dearbhla Scallon and Moya Sweeney – students from Ulster University, nostalgic videos of previous St. Patrick’s Day parades, a message from the Derry and Strabane district Mayor, Brian Tierney, guest speakers and the night concluded with an original poem, written and recited by Carla Fulton, an intern at Destination Derry and English Literature graduate from Ulster University.

The breakout rooms nearing the end of the event allowed people to connect and speak to others that were missing contact with people due to the pandemic and the feedback has been heart-warming, with one lady saying that St. Patrick’s Day was always a day to look forward to with her family, so this year she had been dreading its arrival but because of the event, it helped her feel like she wasn’t alone.

All in all the night was a great success, with almost 150 people booked, the team at Destination Derry done an excellent job at showcasing all that the city and county has to offer, while creating a space for people all over the world to come together and celebrate this special holiday.

Destination Derry are excited to work with local community and government bodies in the near future to host more events like this and they are encouraging all businesses to register for free on their website to promote themselves in time for restrictions lifting and the city reopening. Visit www.destinationderry.com to find out more and follow the initiative on social media to stay updated on future events.

Watch the replay video 

Join our email list below to receive up to date news & connections from Destination Derry

/by
, ,

Michael Taggart’s Journey Around Co Derry

As part of our recent #connectingwithhome online event for Destination Derry Michael Taggart enjoyed put together his favourite ‘must visit’ attractions in his home county of Derry.

In this first part of a journey through County Derry he introduces local attractions that are right on our doorstep. Derry is definitely full of hidden treasures!

/by
, ,

Connecting With Home

Destination Derry launching our most exciting project to date

This St. Patrick’s Day Eve, on the 16th of March at 7pm, Destination Derry are launching their most exciting project yet. ‘Connecting with Home’ is a virtual event for locals and the Derry diaspora across the world. Our lives have been affected by the pandemic and it’s meant that we’ve had to do things very differently – birthdays, Christmas, family meals out have all been put on hold and it’s the same for St. Patrick’s Day. While we are unable to have street parties and parades this year, Destination Derry is offering a night of nostalgia, music and Derry craic!

Guests include students from Ulster University performing a modern take on traditional Irish music, as well as a UU student and Destination Derry team member performing an original poem, written specially for the event. Other guests include City of Derry airport, members of the Derry and Strabane District Council, the Millennium Forum and the North West Community Network.

There will be discussions from local businesses and their faith in the future, speaking about how they have been affected by the pandemic and what they believe the world of business and work will look like post-COVID19. We’ll open the floor to some speakers to ask what you miss about home and reminisce together of St. Patrick Days gone by, while watching a photographic exhibition of Derry of the past and present.

The Derry Diaspora are coming home virtually

Tickets are limited and selling out fast and there are Derry diaspora from Germany, Liverpool, London, Scotland and Saudi Arabia that will be in attendance. In a world where we have been living with such uncertainty, there’s one thing that we can be sure about and that is the need for connection, which is why we know this past year has been particularly difficult for our Diaspora.

“Home is where you go to find solace from the ever-changing chaos, to find love within the confines of a heartless world, and to be reminded that no matter how far you wander, there will always be something waiting when you return.”

If we take a look at the stats, we can see that “the latest CSO figures show that over the past decade 380,000 Irish people emigrated while 250,000 returned. In the past, emigration was driven by poor economic performance in Ireland, however, over the period 2013 to 2019 when the economy was growing very rapidly, almost half of the cohort of young people in their mid-20s emigrated and two-thirds of them subsequently returned.” It’s no surprise that this year, migration flows have fallen dramatically due to the pandemic and although we are able to speak to family with the help of technology, nothing compares to a real-life hug.

Join us on 16th March by booking your ticket

Until that day comes, however, why not join us on the 16th of March for a fun, informal event highlighting what’s great about Derry and having a good catch-up. We are delighted to be partnering with local business and government to make this event happen and we look forward to seeing you all soon.

Book Now

/by
, ,

Funding the Future: The Game-Changing Derry City Deal

City Deal and Inclusive Future Fund

Launched on the 24th of February 2021, the Derry City and Strabane District Council have secured funding of £210m as part of the City Deal and Inclusive Future Fund, making it the largest ever single investment package from the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive. Derry City and Strabane District Council and its project delivery partners are contributing additional funding of circa £40m, bringing the total investment to around £250m.

The impact of this funding is predicted to triple the expected rate of employment growth, with an additional 7,000 jobs created by 2032 and GVA is anticipated to have increased by around £230m per year by the end of the decade. Some of the proposed investments for the city include the creation of a centre for industrial digitisation, robotics and automation, the redevelopment of Derry’s riverfront and a medical school at Ulster University’s Magee campus.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill described the deal as a “game-changer for the regional economy, driving growth and creating opportunities for people,” adding, “there is an abundance of potential in the north west and this funding will help to harness it for the good of all.”

Derry has come so far

If we take a look back through the years, we can see just how far Derry has come and what makes it so great.
It was the opening of the iconic Peace Bridge in 2011 and becoming the UK City of Culture in 2013 that proved to be real catalysts in creating a new story for the city. At the start of the culture year, artist David Shrigley created the ‘Small City Becomes Huge’ artwork, which depicted the true pride felt by the entire city and in every community, there was a real sense of, ok what next!?

It’s no secret that Derry has a history of being a politically divided city but conflict transformation is an area which its citizens are extremely proud of. Derry is now a more reconciled, shared space with a shared ambition for the future. The Peace Bridge really connected the city for the first time and there has already been significant investment in the city’s riverfront and public realm, as well as the transformation of the former military sites into centres for innovation, technology and creative industries.

Derry has also proven itself to be a standout heritage destination, as up until COVID-19, there was significant growth in the sector, with rising visitor and employee numbers. Derry has also established itself as a standout food destination with the Legenderry Food brand, with local produce being prioritised by hospitality, retail and consumers.

Continued Strategic Growth for Derry & Strabane

It was actually in 2017 that the strategic growth plan for the city and district was launched and this 15-year plan set out a number of ambitious targets for the city. In 2019 Derry was successful in their bid for a city region growth deal and inclusive future fund, with the match funding announced earlier this year. In fact, there have already been significant improvements to the area, such as the beginning of the A6 (Derry-Belfast) and the creation of over 5000 new jobs since 2015 in the City and District.

The current global pandemic and Brexit was something that could never have been factored into things but with Brexit, the city region is in a unique position as the only functioning economic region in UK with a land border with EU, having the potential to act as a bridge to both UK and EU markets.

There is so much to love about Derry

There is already so much to love about Derry and this deal is only going to make the area better. The people are always described as warm, friendly and welcoming and there is a strong sense of community. In relation to the pandemic, what is particularly important in an era of remote working is broadband infrastructure – Derry has broadband which is both reliable and fast. Other perks include: 100km of greenways for walking, running and cycling, a cheaper cost of living compared to other UK cities, with some of the shortest commute times in the UK.

There’s no doubt that this new city deal will bring with it a wealth of opportunities and assets and will make an already thriving city even better, so it will be nice to look back at Derry in a few years and see what has changed.

What do you love most about the city? We’d love to hear!

/by
, ,

Virtual St. Patricks Celebrations With Destination Derry and Friends.

Press Release 18th Feb 2021

Another St. Patricks Day without local or global celebrations and the Irish community coming together to connect and celebrate as only they know how.

This year  Destination Derry and Friends want you to join with us as we celebrate St Patrick’s eve virtually, an evening filled with friends, “Home”, Irish music, culture and a Derry catch up!

The event Destination Derry – Connecting With Home will take place virtually on Zoom on St Patrick’s Eve March 16th from 7.00 pm – 9.00 pm

With an opportunity to network with others worldwide in the Destination Derry – Connecting With Home breakout zoom rooms, this is a great opportunity to celebrate a unique St. Patrick’s eve event.

Destination Derry (a not for profit collaborative community project powered by Taggart Homes) and partners are hosting a free, virtual, celebration to connect Derry people from all over the world with their local Derry community. A chance to make connections, reminisce and celebrate together while being apart. The event will also offer an opportunity to Foyle Search and Rescue to share their story and how all of us can help them in the great work that they do.

Many of our family and friends were unable to make it home for Christmas and future plans are uncertain. Destination Derry have partnered with others across the city and county to create an opportunity to meet online and experience a St. Patrick’s event that will be a nostalgic reminder of home, a destination that they will hopefully be able to return to very soon.

Partnering with Ulster University, Derry City and Strabane District Council, the Millennium Forum, City of Derry Airport, the North West Community Network and Taggart Homes to host a St. Patrick’s Day event that is reflective of the times we are living in.

What can you expect?

Destination Derry – Connecting With Home

  • Learn more about Destination Derry an initiative to promote Derry city and county as a great place to Live Learn Work and Visit delivered by Michael Taggart.
  • Message from Brian Tierney Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council
  • Memories from home – nostalgia and local memories to bring you virtually to the heart of Derry.
  • Entertainment by Ulster University students and a chat with a graduate from the Magee campus, now pursuing a career on the global stage.
  • Looking Back Moving Forward a nostalgic photo and video exhibition of St. Patrick’s event from other years.
  • What’s happening in Derry right now – the growth.
  • Our business partners discuss “Their Derry” their memories, the future and what’s ahead. An intimate conversation with those who chose Derry as the location to set up their business, or place of work and how they reflect on their life in this special part of the world.
  • Opportunity to network with others worldwide in the Destination Derry Connecting With Home breakout zoom rooms.

This past year has been extremely tough for many and has brought about a new way of working, living and interacting, so although we can’t be together in person this St. Patrick’s Day, we can use this opportunity to come together online and celebrate all that Derry means to us, at home and abroad.

Book for this free event here. Everyone welcome at home or away.

Destination Derry St Patricks virtual event

_______________________________________________________________________
For further media enquiries contact Evelyn 0035387 2246989

/by
, ,

Ulster University Relocates School of Health Sciences

In Conversation with Ulster University about the School of Health Sciences

On Tuesday the 2nd of February, we interviewed a spokesperson from Ulster University about the relocation of the School of Health Sciences.

DD: How did the relocation of the Ulster University School of Health Sciences to Derry come about?

UU: As the Ulster University School of Health Sciences, we are the regional provider of most of the Allied Health Professions workforce for HSC in Northern Ireland. Workforce planning within Health and Social Care (HSC) highlighted the need for continued growth in this group of employees so when looking at where best to locate these courses, we carried out a full Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) and took into consideration responses to a public consultation that closed in December 2020.

Following that process, Ulster University has decided that it will re-locate undergraduate Health Sciences programmes from its Jordanstown campus to the Magee campus at Derry-Londonderry from September 2022, bringing 800 students to Derry. The relocation decision is a necessity arising from the decision to close Jordanstown. This will see students train in: diagnostic radiography, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry, speech and language therapy, radiotherapy and oncology, as well as healthcare science, in the city.

DD: What will the benefits be?

UU: The decision to relocate to the Magee Campus in Derry – Londonderry reflects the benefits and opportunities presented by the co-location of the School of Medicine, Paramedic Practice and the award-winning School of Nursing, all of which are based at the Magee campus. Bringing these programmes together will open up opportunities for an interdisciplinary student learning environment, as well as building on existing research collaborations in personalised medicine and cognitive analytics based at Magee.

It is an exciting time to further enhance our specialism in Life and Health Sciences in the North West as this cutting-edge research environment is set to grow even further through the creation of centres of excellence for health and industry through the Derry and Strabane City Deal in the years ahead. The School of Medicine as well as this growth in the Life and Health Sciences skills provision, will further boost the reputation of Derry-Londonderry as a hub for Life and Health Sciences. Now more than ever, Derry-Londonderry is a great place to study and plan a dynamic career and what better place to learn and acquire skills than in a designated UNESCO Learning City!

DD: Has this decision been influenced at all by the COVID-19 pandemic?

UU: This process commenced in 2018, however in terms of the current context we all find ourselves in; now, more than ever, with a health service that continues to face sustained challenge in tackling COVID-19, we are acutely aware of the vital contribution of our allied health professionals. Our beautiful Magee campus in the heart of the city will best enable the NHS strategic emphasis on development of multi-disciplinary teams and rich opportunities for interprofessional learning.

DD: Is there anything else you would like to add?
UU: We are delighted that students and graduates will get to pursue such exciting and vital career paths in Derry – Londonderry. We look forward to working with our colleagues, the student body, all the HSC Trusts and our many partners in Derry-Londonderry to welcome students and staff to this progressive school on what is a beautiful campus in a vibrant university city.

Derry-Londonderry is an excellent destination in which to study, work, live, visit and invest. In partnership with Derry City and Strabane District Council, we are proud to be part of the exciting growth that is happening in the city and region at present.

Find out all about living in Derry Londonderry here

/by