BBC Northern Ireland celebrates its centenary with visits to Enniskillen and Lisnaskea

BBC Comes to Town will be in Enniskillen from 18-20 June as part of a special initiative to mark 100 years of local broadcasting

A BBC Interactive exhibition at Enniskillen Castle on the 19 and 20 June will provide school and community groups with an opportunity to experience what it’s like to present a weather bulletin, introduce BBC Newsline or provide commentary for a big BBC Sport NI fixture. There’s also an interactive radio drama and lots of information about BBC careers, apprenticeships and how people can get the most from our services.

BBC Rewind will be showcasing archive footage of Enniskillen in an illustrated talk. And there’ll be information and advice on how people can search the BBC’s online archive of over 30,000 recordings about local people, places and events.

Picture Box, a new touring exhibition, will tell the story of BBC and its services in Northern Ireland with photos of well-known personalities and programmes – many of them on display for the first time. This will be available in Lisnaskea Library from the early afternoon on Tuesday 18 June until teatime on Thursday 20 June. No booking is required. Call in and see if you can spot some of your favourite presenters and programmes throughout the decades.

BBC Radio Ulster will have several live outside broadcasts from Enniskillen, all of them featuring local people and stories. Connor Phillips will be broadcasting from the Fermanagh Fun Farm in Lisbellaw from 10.30am - 12pm on 19 June. And Gardeners’ Corner will be recorded later the same day in the Lisgoole Suite at the Killyhevlin Hotel from 7.00pm. Countryside will be recorded in the Barrack Store, Enniskillen Castle from 2pm on 20 June. And BBC Writers will also be in Enniskillen to encourage new writers and give them advice on how to get their work onto the BBC’s airwaves.

Tara Mills will be chatting with some of the Give My Head Peace team at The Ardhowen – hearing about the series and its enduring appeal and their favourite on-screen moments. She will be joined on stage by Tim McGarry, Damon Quinn and Alexandra Ford (better known as Da, Cal and Dympna). And she’ll unpack a treasure trove of Give My Head Peace archive clips, which have been specially selected for this event. This free event will take place at 7.00pm on Wednesday 19 June. Admission is by ticket-only via the Ardhowen Box Office. These will be allocated on a first-come, first-served, basis.

Mark Simpson will be chatting with Linda McCauley about her career in broadcasting, and much more besides in a special event at Enniskillen Castle. Linda is one of BBC Radio Ulster’s most recognised voices and she’s been a champion of consumer interests and listeners’ concerns for almost 30 years. Linda announced her decision to leave On Your Behalf and the BBC earlier this year – bringing to an end this chapter in her remarkable career. She’ll be reflecting on her time with the BBC, the people that she has worked with, and the difference that On Your Behalf has made to listeners’ lives. It’ll also be an opportunity to celebrate Linda’s achievements – and to share some great stories and memorable radio moments. This event will take place at 5.00pm on Thursday 20 June in the Barrack Store in Enniskillen Castle. Free tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis from Enniskillen Castle Box Office.

Tara Mills says: “I’ve watched Give My Head Peace right from the very start. Its characters and storylines are often brilliantly funny. And they’ve given us a common ground of comedy, allowing us to laugh at different aspects of life in this place. I can’t wait to hear what really goes on behind the scenes in Give My Head Peace and to share some of the cast’s favourite television moments.”

Tim McGarry says: “We're delighted to be at The Ardhowen talking about some of our favourite Give My Head Peace moments on the BBC. There’s a lot to choose from and plenty of stories for us to share. It should be a great night. We know that Tara Mills is a fan and have given her permission to ask us plenty of difficult questions. Who knows what we might say…?!”.

Linda McAuley says: “It’s been my pleasure to have presented On Your Behalf for nearly 30 years and to have been with BBC Radio Ulster for 35 years. Time has flown by as I’ve travelled to all parts of Northern Ireland, meeting listeners and getting the experts to help them with everything from travel and parking problems to benefits and legal queries. And I’m delighted to be ending my time On Your Behalf in Enniskillen, a very familiar town to me as we caravanned in Rossnowlagh in my childhood and knew many of the local families. And, of course, broadcast many programmes from our little BBC studio thanks to Pat the Butcher who opened it as required! As they say, ‘the pictures are better on radio’ and I’ve been very fortunate to have had a career in radio and to have had a relationship with our loyal listeners.”