Joe Mahon talks rubbish in the next episode of UTV’s Lough Foyle

By The Newsroom
Published 30th Sep 2020, 08:51 BST
Joe meets with Dr Frank Ferguson at the Ulster American Folk Park.Joe meets with Dr Frank Ferguson at the Ulster American Folk Park.
Joe meets with Dr Frank Ferguson at the Ulster American Folk Park.
UTV’s Lough Foyle was the most watched programme in Northern Ireland at 8pm last Monday night, and Joe Mahon continues in the next episode with a visit to Strabane Canal, and also the Ulster American Fold Park.

‘LOUGH FOYLE’ is a television travelogue series featuring the history, natural environment and cultural heritage of the Foyle catchment area, with particular emphasis on Ulster-Scots elements of the hinterland.

Joe spent several months, both pre and post lockdown, exploring the unique watery environment of Lough Foyle, and this series is taking the viewer on a fabulous journey on one of the greatest river systems in the island of Ireland.

In Monday night’s episode, Joe joins the “Foyle Ambassadors” for a day on the banks of the main river near the old Strabane canal. This is a group of young volunteers, led by Gillian Simpson and Allan Bogle of the Loughs Agency, who are setting out to rid the riverbank of litter, some of which has been lurking in the reed beds for more than 30 years! Gillian points out that ‘Pollution doesn’t know a border.”

Joe talks to Gillian Simpson from the Loughs Agency.Joe talks to Gillian Simpson from the Loughs Agency.
Joe talks to Gillian Simpson from the Loughs Agency.

We also find out how these young people learn to feel positively about the river, getting involved in tree planting, power boat training and responsible angling.

In the second part of the programme, Joe meets Dr Frank Ferguson at the Ulster American Folk Park to hear the sad story connected to two hills near Newtownstewart called “Bessie Bell and Mary Gray” – and how they are not the only two such named hills in the world.

Throughout the series, Joe will continue to spend time with government bodies, agencies and charity groups whose main aim is to ensure the lough and surrounding areas, and its many natural inhabitants are all looked after. One of the great attractions of this series is the stunning aerial photography which shows off the dramatic land and seascapes of the North West region as they have never been seen before.

LOUGH FOYLE is produced by Westway Film Productions for UTV, supported by Northern Ireland Screen’s Ulster-Scots Broadcast Fund. The series is sponsored by House Proud Furniture.

You can watch this episode on Monday, 5th October at 8pm on UTV and on catch up on www.itv.com/utvprogrammes

Related topics:Northern Ireland

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