TV company pitches show for Larne

IrishTV, based in Mayo in the Republic of Ireland, broadcasts 24 hours day to audiences in Ireland, the UK, Europe and even the US.

The company’s operation in Northern Ireland is managed by the singer and TV presenter Malachi Cush, from Donaghmore in County Tyrone.

Mr Cush gave a presentation to elected members at the latest meeting of the aldermans committee, where he outlined the company’s viewing figures, channels on which they broadcast, the nature of their programmes and what they could potentially offer Larne by working in partnership with the local authority.

He advised that dedicated programmes had been commissioned by two local authorities and he offered to forward these to the council. Mr Cush also claimed that January was a good month in which to film.

Minutes of the presentation indicate that the council discussed with Mr Cush the potential for filming at the Gobbins cliff path as a separate project.

Having thanked the company for its presentation, Mayor Martin Wilson said the council would not be in a position to make a decision on the matter until its marketing strategy had been developed.

The local authority is proposing to reallocate £65,000 to develop a marketing strategy, in response to the negative publicity generated by the controversial BBC programme, ‘True North: I Love Larne’, which aired in October.

The funding is to come from savings identified from all services across the organisation.