Last year was a topsy turvy year for Rory O’Kane. It began with a phone call inviting him to consider being a meeter and greeter for the BBC programme B&B By The Sea, and no better man.
During the year, from April until May, wearing his dad’s distinctive hat, he ferried celebrities down the Coast Road in his white electric car to a 19th century Victorian villa which was the film set for 15 programmes designed to show off all that is best in Northern Ireland.
That was the brief and it worked. The house, which is an actual B&B during the summer, was taken over, remodelled to allow filming, a new kitchen, outdoor areas constructed for brunch – and a greenhouse for herbs and fresh vegetables. The one constant, apart from Ian McElhinney whose commentary guided us through, was the view – each room looked out over the North Atlantic and Downhill beach – which was overlooked by the famous Mussenden Temple in Coleraine. The drone photography is mesmerising, the pattern of the waves and the formation of the foam.
Every Angle Covered
“Even the car was fitted out with cameras so you could see us chatting as we drove to the house. It was so interesting to meet the guests. Larry Lamb was great and entered into the swing of things, Gloria was delighted to be home and Deborah Meaden of Dragon’s Den ended up riding a horse the length of the strand and cooking a vegan meal. I went fishing with Hairy Biker Simon King, and we had a great chat as his roots are in Ireland and my home is Ballycastle – we had a fishing background in common.”
There’s not a lot Rory doesn’t know about the area. His dad, James O’Kane, was the town clerk of Ballycastle in the 60s and he christened the area the Causeway Coast – and it’s claimed that he did more for tourism in that part of the world than anyone else, and his son is carrying on the tradition.
“I love telling the guests stories and folk legends, and pointing out the features of the land – it fascinates me and it fascinates visitors.”
However, it wasn’t all touring and chatting, all 15 visited local businesses from distilleries to working-out on the beach, from sausage making to Shirley Ballas turning her back on Strictly Come Dancing to work on a pig farm.
And then it was into the kitchen to create sumptuous dishes using local produce, all conducted by guest Michelin star chef Alex Greene and under the watchful eye of host Sharon McIlveen.
So, not only did we get to know these visitors through intimate conversations in the kitchen but also the basic recipes and a demonstration of cooking some really delicious looking meals.
But there was sadness to come for Rory. Even as he was working on the programme, he was concerned about his mother’s health and, at the age of 92, she died before the programmes were transmitted.
“She knew all about what I was doing but didn’t live to see the results of filming so I am grateful to the crew who put together a complication for her to enjoy before she passed away. It was a very difficult time, she was very special. Her last words to me were ‘Go and shine'."
Take A Trip With Rory
And shine he does, his smiling face, his wealth of knowledge, his gentle manner bring people from all over the world to join in his walking and coach tours.
An expert on the north coast and equally expert on his walking tours of Belfast – Up the Shankill and Down the Falls – and Ballynafeigh with stories of the Suffragettes, James Young and Henry Cooke. He knows what interests people, thanks to six years on the visitor services desk at Titanic Belfast – but his heart lies along the Causeway Coast and I too enjoy the same feeling.
On this day every year when I was growing, up the family got together and we drove to Torr Head, parked and got out the Primus stove and shivered. You can see from the photo how well we dressed and how we fitted into the wagon is a mystery.
Soft hats, fur coats and binoculars plus sandwiches and cake. That’s me on the roof, with my brother, cousins, aunts and uncles and my granny tucked up safely inside – and not a mobile phone in sight. How times have changed, tackling the coast road on Easter Monday could be a slow progress and finding somewhere to park would be nearly impossible, however, just think of queueing at Dover for up to 24 hours.
How lucky are we to have such an area of natural beauty as the B&B guests discovered on their trip – and most promised to return and explore more.
During this Easter week the coast road beckons, children will enjoy the sandy beach at White Park Bay; older kids will be mesmerised by the Giant’s Causeway and the story of Finn McCool; young lovers can sit on the wishing chair but you must remember to wiggle four times before sitting down and then rub the stone to your left with your left hand; and who dares tackle the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge.
It’s always a pleasure to show off this exceptional island, if he makes it tomorrow I hope President Biden will have a chance to look around, even if it’s only out of The Beast’s window as he drives north to south. For the rest of us, the adventure is literally on our door step, take advantage and don’t forget the Primus.
B&B By The Sea is available on BBC iPlayer and Rory can be contacted at www.rorystoursni.com
