Lee McDaid - Donegal's video: Derry City American Tourists - 1997

Tour operator Ronan McNamara brings history to life in his bespoke guided tours of Derry city. A native of Bannagher, Offaly, with a Chinese mother and an Irish father, Derry tour guide Ronan McNamara boasts a unique cultural mix and an Irish accent. A graduate of Ulster University at Coleraine, Ronan McNamara eventually found work with Derry City Council in the marketing and tourism department. A year later he decided to set up his own tourism business as a tell it all tour guide. Ronan McNamara’s entrepreneurship has been recognised, as he is a recent winner of the Northern Ireland Shell Live Wire Business Start Up Award. Ronan McNamara’s unique selling point is, He provides tailor made tours catering for the needs and desires of each individual group. For school groups Ronan McNamara concentrates on the history of Derry. However the majority of his clients are Americans and Canadians who know very little history, so he has to take a more general approach. Ronan McNamara is aware they are on a holiday so he tries to inject some humour into his tours. I certainly would prefer an entertaining person than one that would just give me the facts and figures; it’s just not my style. Ronan McNamara informs visitors of the history of Derry, from the Siege of Derry to current political events. Alan Garfield director of international studies at Marycrest College in Davenport, Iowa has organised four tours with Ronan McNamara. He values the tour guide’s ability to bring history into contemporary life, Its contextual history and I think that’s so important. This view is echoed by other tour participants, He’s telling us a story and he’s giving it the way it should be done with no prejudice one way or the other and giving the historical facts of what’s taking place. Tourism in Derry depends on peace but with the ceasefire announcement, Ronan McNamara is optimistic for the future and the opportunities to come. Broadcast on 18 August 1997.