25 years: Derry Girls star Saoirse-Monica Jackson takes us on a tour of her home city

To celebrate The National Lottery’s 25th Birthday, we explore (with help from #DerryGirls star Saoirse-Monica Jackson) how its investment in heritage has transformed Northern Ireland’s second city.

Over the last 25 years The National Lottery Heritage Fund has invested a huge £26million in heritage projects across Derry~Londonderry. This has undoubtedly helped it to be named as the first UK City of Culture in 2013 and in making that year such a success.

#NationalLottery #Heritage #Derry

[betty]

I honestly just watched this because of Saoirse

[AmandaJ]

She took us to see the walls. Tourists love the walls!

[davidhines]

It astounds me how she can bend her lovely face into such hilarious expressions in Derry Girls.

[alannahmcmahon]

as someone from Derry, I'm impressed with how good she made it look

[gojvrwi]

“Sure if she’s not into walls she’s not into walls Erin love”

[tilez]

So that's how she does the accent so well 😂😂😂

[silviapetcu]

Derry girls is one of the best comedy shows seen in years! Cheers from Bucharest, Romania😊

[trashaccount]

Can't overstate the pull this series had. I'm a 33 year old man from Germany, and for the three days it took me to watch Derry Girls I was entirely invested into what these 5 were up to. What a great series with heart.

And while our mostly catholic city of 300.000 had its sectarian violence end 300 years ago, we too have city walls and gates and they're all the rage with the tourists lol

[charchaz]

Bless her, went from a normal st Cecilia girl to having a mural in the town and getting pics taken, amazin thing to be done for derry

[syj]

i'm a really big fan of Derry girls. love all the narratives, the characters, Derry accents and all about Northern Ireland. great love from Korea. waiting for the season3!!!

[trishadowhan]

Saw this while scrolling on Facebook while watching Derry girls. I've seen the show so many times. You girls are amazing. I hope you guys get along as good in real life as you do on the show. I had a friend growing up who was 100% a Michelle. This wee Canadian loves it. I'd watch the show until you girls are raising your own teens. Love from Canada!

[barbie]

I just got back from Derry, a week ago, visited many places from the video. The video brought back so many wonderful memories. Beautiful city, amazing people and culture. So much history there, I hope I get to visit again in the future! Got a chance to see the Derry Girl mural as well 😭😭

[Mymumsey]

"Derry Girls" fan from Canada.
I wonder if the popularity of the show made for an increase in tourism in Derry. I know if I ever made it over to Ireland, I would HAVE to stop there. Looks like a lovely city.

[johnabbottphotography]

I love to death that she's still coming across as down to earth.

[cynv]

It started with a jean jacket and now pink hair, give the wooden spoon to Ma Mary 😂

[pithie]

those walls were nothing short of spectacular!

[klausrain]

I have ancestors from N Ireland, but don't know anything about them. I watched Derry Girls because it was recommended on a website, and five minutes in I was laughing harder than I have in years, honestly. The best acting, writing etc ever! Somehow it just turned out to be the perfect combination of acting, writing, and directing. And it sure put N Ireland on the map! Love Saoirse and the whole gang!

[WillNGo]

Love the Derry Girls! Loved my visit to Derry a couple of years ago. I was camping just outside of town. I asked the young guy mowing the lawn, "The border's around here somewhere?"
"Oh, just over in the shuck." Less that 15 meters. Though he wasn't around back in the day, he pointed out the British outpost, the dragon's teeth border check point up on the road. The city is great, the Free Derry Museum is a must see to anyone who's ever peacefully protested. Beautiful city, friendly people. (Even the Bogside teenagers trying on their best middle school menacing look were a treat. I'm from Detroit (during the Troubles we had the bigger body count than all of the North) but I tried to act a bit menaced. You can walk everywhere, people are friendly and any nuns you see won't be armed with rulers.

[David-fqio]

This was a great show. Love all the characters in it.

[Danielblixareed]

I’ve met this class girl in Belfast last year and she’s just the best ever ❤️ real great craic too 🍀🍀