A new series of Keepers of the Lough is coming to UTV. Set in Strangford Lough, the first series took the viewer on a beautiful voyage of discovery about this enchanting part of the Northern Irish countryside, learning about its people and its habitat.
Renowned internationally for its sheer beauty with its marine and nature reserves, it’s also a working lough and its shores are surrounded by people who not only look after and keep it, but also depend on it for a living.
Narrated again by Patrick Kielty, this new six part series tells us more about what life is like in and around the lough.
Along the way, the viewer will see some old faces from the first series and meet some new characters as they go about their business, all the while protecting and preserving this area of outstanding natural beauty.
In the first episode we follow a tour of the mediaeval sights around the lough with participants going from site to site by kayak.
We’re also back in Castle Espie with Katie Spencer, who featured in the first series, learning how she and the team there protect eggs that are about to hatch from predators, and also how they manage the Brent Geese who come to the lough.
New to the series are best friends Mary O’Neill and Isobel Mason, who both live on Ferry Street in Portaferry, where Mary still runs a hairdressing business.
John Scott, from Killyleagh, makes a welcome return to this series. He has been working at Ringhaddy Boatyard since the early 1970s when he helped his father as a teenager.
He’s an expert in the yard, painstakingly maneuvering a yacht for launch for his long-time friend Jim Lindsay, and takes everything in his stride when the unexpected happens.
And at Strangford Primary School we see the children there learn to sail, even if it means doing lessons beforehand in their wetsuits.
This episode closes with a visit to a very unusual Presbyterian church in the area that has several uses benefitting the whole community.
Further in the series, viewers will get to see the work of the National Trust in the area and at Exploris, as well as meet more local people who use the lough for work and play.
UTV Programmes Editor Tony Curry said: “Keepers of the Lough went down so well with viewers in 2021 that we just had to commission another series.
“The area is so rich with natural beauty and characters who live and work there, we simply had to explore further.
“There is something for everyone in these six new episodes and we are delighted to be bringing this one corner of Northern Ireland into people’s homes.”
n The first episode was broadcast on Tuesday but you can catch up on www.itv.com/utvprogrammes
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