Exploring Northern Ireland with Siobhán McSweeney

The best travel presenters such as Joanna Lumley, Miriam Margolyes and Alan Cumming, not only have strong personalities, and a sense of humour, but they also know when to sit back and let the interviewees take the spotlight. This tour of Northern Ireland, hosted by Siobhan McSweeney, has similarities to Susan Calman's tour of Scotland, however Calman's show can grate when she over-does the ''look at me, I'm funny'' moments. I.e. Calman tends to focus too much on herself, not that it's intentional. McSweeney, best known as the hilariously droll Sister Michael on Derry Girls, has the same bubbly personality as Calman, but I find her more likeable and relatable. Another trait of a good travel presenter is a genuine interest in a huge variety of topics and people, and a willingness to participate in activities and interact with people. McSweeney has these traits in spades. She doesn't look very fit, but she does a lot of walking. She's not overly glamorous, so that means we can imagine ourselves travelling to these places. Northern Ireland is also a star here. Long neglected due to the civil war, it can now be explored. I didn't realise it had so many beautiful parks and beaches. A segment on road bowling was the perfect example of why this series is a good one. It's a very obscure sport in which locals throw cannon balls down roads. It was a charming and moving way to portray a close-knit community.