Her itinerary included a tour of the North Antrim coast, with its stunning landscapes, superb views and iconic heritage.  Ros finished the day in Derry-Londonderry; where she visited several HLF-supported projects before taking a tour of the historic walls.

Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, HLF has invested £31million in projects across Derry.  This funding has helped to conserve the City’s historic streetscapes, restore its green spaces and celebrate its unique cultural heritage.  Just a few of the projects to benefit from HLF’s support include:    

Bishop’s Gate Hotel

This listed building was formerly known as the Northern Counties Club and is held in high regard by the local community.  It lay vacant for many years before an HLF award of £787,000 transformed it into a boutique four-star hotel, bringing jobs and prosperity to the city.

Museum of Free Derry

A HLF grant of £808,000 was used to redevelop and extend the museum, providing a dedicated archive space, improved facilities, increased access to the collection in the new galleries and a contemplative area for reflection.

The Nerve Centre

Northern Ireland’s leading creative media arts centre was behind the Creative Centenaries project, which saw more than 100 events and activities held to commemorate the Decade of Anniversaries 1916-2016.  The centre has recently been awarded £950,000 through HLF’s Kick the Dust programme for an ambitious project that will see 4,000 young people use creative media and digital technologies to connect with and enhance museum collections.     

Brooke Park

A £1.5m grant helped to regenerate this Victorian park, including the restoration of its many historic features, and the provision of modern sports and recreation facilities.  A five-year long events calendar is helping to attract new users to the park.