BBC Radio Foyle

25/07/2025

- Brook Hall Special …

24/07/2025

- Farm Safety Week
👓The Mark Patterson Show👓

This is Farm Safety Week. I've been speaking at length with William Irvine who is President of the Ulster Farmers Union. We talked about:

~ Methane
~ Machinery
~ Animals
~ Sustainable agriculture and the way farmers here are directed to use nutrients and fertilizer on their land.

Would less fertiliser and slurry be better? ...

News, views, issues and culture from across the north west of Northern Ireland.

23/07/2025

Chef Emily: 'The Open Golf Winner Was ... Oats!'
👓The Mark Patterson Show👓
[12.45]

You'd think The Open would have been a no-brainer for a BBQ pro like Chef Emily McCorkell and husband Norman. But no, she tells me, oats were the winner at their gaff up at Portrush ...

"Hi Mark!
You’d expect us to lead with meaty breakfasts at The Open, but the surprise hit was our vegan, gluten-free overnight oats — ideal for 6am golfers looking for something light but sustaining.

They’re simple to make: swirl jam around the jar, add oats, oat milk, chia seeds, and let the fridge do the work. Packed with slow-release energy, fibre, and antioxidants, they’re as nourishing as they are easy! A no-fuss winner for busy mornings."

Chef Emily's Berry Overnight Oats - Serves: 1
Prep Time: 5 minutes (plus overnight chill)
Ready: Next morning

Ingredients
• ½ cup rolled oats
• ½ cup oat milk
• 1–2 tsp chia seeds
• 1 tbsp berry jam
• A few fresh or frozen berries (e.g. raspberries, blueberries, strawberries)
• A few chopped nuts (e.g. almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts) optional

Instructions
1. Jam Layer:
Use a spoon to swirl the berry jam around the inner walls of your jar or glass.
2. Oat Base:
Add the oats to the bottom of the jar.
3. Liquid & Seeds:
Pour in the oat milk and sprinkle the chia seeds on top. Stir gently to combine without disturbing the jam layer too much.
4. Chill:
Cover and refrigerate overnight to allow the oats and chia to absorb the liquid.
5. Morning Toppings:
Top with berries and chopped nuts before serving. Optional: a drizzle of maple syrup or a spoon of yoghurt for added indulgence.
Or Mark’s berry compote with cream cheese!

Note If using cows milk, reduce down to 1/3 cup milk.

23/07/2025

The Roof Over Your Head?
👓The Mark Patterson Show👓
[13.10]

Are you a renter? A potential buyer? On the housing list? Unable to either rent or buy? The new housing figures from Derry/Strabane are out - and things are changing rapidly:

~ House prices in Derry and Strabane have gone up almost 15 per cent this past year.
~ Average house price here for clean sale - now £209,945.
~ Property Pal also tell us that in the rental market there are now 57 enquiries per advertised rental property. Nightmare?
~ That's double the long-term average of would-be renters, but down from the peak of over 100 enquiries per property a couple of years ago.

Q; What needs to be done here regarding houses for sale, rental property and social housing?

22/07/2025

BALLYKELLY TRAFFIC UPDATE:

A DfI spokesperson tells North West Today: “Ahead of the Foyle Cup the department had informed the organising committee about planned works in Ballykelly and asked those attending to allow extra time for their journey. We have continued to monitor traffic in the area and have taken on board the concerns raised. The lane closure has now been removed and the road will remain fully open for the rest of the week.”

22/07/2025

Update - Queens Quay Works Postponed
👓The Mark Patterson Show👓
[12.00]

MPs can confirm that the works due to begin today on Derry's Queens Quay northbound have just been postponed. NI Water tell us:

"[We have] postponed planned works on Queens Quay this week to help alleviate traffic congestion in relation to the Foyle Cup. Sewer repair works were planned to commence on Queens Quay, between Harbour Square Roundabout and Strand Road Roundabout, at 11pm on Sunday 20th July but were postponed to facilitate the Foyle Cup parade.

Following recent feedback regarding traffic congestion in the city, NI Water stopped works on Madams Bank Road and has also asked that the work on Queens Quay be postponed until the Foyle Cup tournament concludes on Saturday 26th July. The work on Queens Quay is part of the Culmore Trunk Sewer upgrade which has already seen over 1,100m of the pipeline relined between Foyle Road and Queens Quay to strengthen the sewerage network and help protect against sewer collapses, blockages and out-of-sewer flooding.

NI Water’s contractor is liaising with DfI Roads regarding a new start date for the work on Queens Quay and will strive to complete the essential improvements during the remainder of the summer school break."

22/07/2025

Gridlock!
👓The Mark Patterson Show👓
[13.20]

Well - how was your evening!? Like many platforms I've been inundated with pics and concerns - images of the Foyle Bridge and arterial routes gridlocked. One builder mate and his squad took 2 hours to travel as many miles in BT47 last night. The facts:

~ Over 900 football teams arrived yesterday for the largest ever Foyle Cup Tournament
~ There are ongoing major works at the city side of the Foyle Bridge on Madams Bank Road
~ Additional works are scheduled to start today along the Queens Quay in the city centre. These were meant to start on Sunday, but when I drove past this morning, the sign says the Queens Quay northbound works will start today.

As of today, the Madams Bank works have been paused. There are also calls for the Queens Quay NI Water works to be paused till the Foyle Cup finishes.

So where does all that leave you/your team etc. Were you late for your game(s) yesterday? How long to get home? We're expecting a further decision from NI Water today.

[pic, 4pm yesterday, toward Duke St)

18/07/2025

Liam Boyce's hat-trick helped last year's runners-up Derry City advance to the third round of the FAI Cup as they netted five second-half goals to defeat First Division side Treaty United 5-1 at the Markets Field.

He spoke to Eric White after the game…

18/07/2025

A special live broadcast from the green at the harbour in to celebrate the Open Championship Golf 2025 coming to the Dunluce course at Royal Portrush Golf Club for the third time. Eve Blair has also been behind the scenes at the club and hears a few secrets from historian Gerry McAleese, Ian Kerr, and Lady Captain Naoimh Quigg. And she’s been speaking to Maurice McAleese, who sneaked onto the course in 1951, the first time the championship was held there.
Plus, special guests and live music from members of the North Coast Trad Explore Causeway Coast And Glens

18/07/2025

New Links Golf Course for Bellarena/Magilligan?
👓The Mark Patterson Show👓
[12.00]

The Galgorm hotel group have just revealed plans '... to invest more than £30 million to create a new, landmark links golf course at Bellarena on the region’s stunning north west coast'.

Planning approval is not yet secured. The proposal:

~ A new 18-hole links course at Bellarena, just off the Seacoast Rd.
~ 30 minutes drive from Derry - closer again to the airport.
~ Right on the train line.
~ Development to 'start next year and open in 2029'
~ £30 million expenditure
~ 300 jobs created.

Galgorm already own the Roe Park Resort in Limavady and the Galgorm Castle Estate in Ballymena. The group employs more than 1,400 people.

16/07/2025

Queens Quay Lane Closure - 6 Weeks.
👓The Mark Patterson Show👓
[13.10]

This could be interesting. As of this weekend, the Queens Quay northbound lane (downstream) will close for 6 weeks. MPS can confirm:

~ the works will be for NI Water to 'commence essential sewer improvement' ... these works are linked to the recent Culmore works
~ Work starts on Sunday evening (20th) and will take 'approximately 6 weeks'.
~ There will be night works, but 'excavation and preparation work will [also] take place during normal working hours'.
~ Sunday 20th July 11pm - Monday 21st July 6am: full closure of Queens Quay in both directions. Traffic diverted via Strand Road.
~ Monday 21st July 6am - Sunday 31st August 5pm: One-way continuous closure of Queens Quay (northbound). Northbound traffic diverted via Strand Road.
~ Lower Clarendon Street and Boating Club Lane will also be closed to through traffic from Queen’s Quay during this period. Access to Quayside Medical Practice car park will be via Strand Road.