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.
