Keepers of the Lough returns to screens with Katie and John in show

Keepers of the Lough returns to screens with Katie and John in show

10 April 2024

THE popular Keepers of the Lough series returns to UTV next week. 

Set on and around the shores of Strangford Lough, it takes viewers on a beautiful voyage of discovery in one of the most beautiful parts of Northern Ireland, learning about its people and its habitat.

As with the previous two series, Dundrum’s Patrick Kielty narrates and tells us even more about what life is like in and around the lough.

Along the way viewers will see some old faces 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 Katie Bell, from Ulster Wildlife, checks on owl chicks near Castle Ward. She takes them from a box to be ringed and weighed, showing why they are so docile.

Next up, it’s Killyleagh Summer Festival, where event organiser Gawn Rowan-Hamilton prepares for the bucket challenge between two teams as part of the four day festival.  

The series wouldn’t be complete without John Scott, from Killyleagh. Viewers find him once again on his tractor at Ringhaddy Boatyard where he has been working since the early 1970s when as a teenager he helped his late father, Bobby.

He knows every boat and its history. He talks about one in particular which came all the way from South Africa and is being painstakingly restored by a young Dublin boat builder.

Heather Gilmore lives on the shore at Whiterock where she trains pups to become guide dogs. She introduces Jones, her latest pup, who, even at 10 weeks old, is proving to be quite talented.  

In Portaferry, at the Queen’s University Belfast Marine Laboratory open day, members of the public are invited in to take part in experiments and learn about some of the work carried out.  There is also some sea shanty singing to entertain the visitors.

On Gibbs Island, at the southern end of the lough, National Trust ranger Tomasz Ciesielski explains how the Trust run courses in the traditional art of hedge laying for members of the public and emphasises how important this is for the local wildlife.

At East Down Yacht Club, there is RS Feva junior racing and viewers meet some of the young competitors excited to be out on the water.

Further in the series, viewers will get to see the work carried out at the Exploris aquarium in Portaferry and meet local artists, musicians and other artisans set against the beautiful lough and surrounding areas.

UTV Programmes Editor Tony Curry said: “I’m just delighted that Keepers of the Lough is returning. Viewers can delight in the area’s natural beauty which serves as the perfect back to meet old friends from previous episodes, and to meet more new characters that add to the richness of the area.

“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.”

Keepers of the Lough begins on Tuesday at 8pm.