Castle link with CS Lewis film

The Narnia Experience: Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster with LEDCOM Chief Executive Ken Nelson and CS Lewis expert, Sandy Smith launch the new cultural tourism company Heritage Experience, a collaboration involving LEDCOM, the Ulster History Foundation and the Ulster Scots Community Network. The company launched a new video promoting CS Lewis and the land of his birth in a bid to bring more tourists to Northern Ireland.
©Brian Thompson Photography — The Narnia Experience: Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster with LEDCOM Chief Executive Ken Nelson and CS Lewis expert, Sandy Smith launch the new cultural tourism company Heritage Experience, a collaboration involving LEDCOM, the Ulster History Foundation and the Ulster Scots Community Network. The company launched a new video promoting CS Lewis and the land of his birth in a bid to bring more tourists to Northern Ireland. ©Brian Thompson Photography

The four minute film, ‘CS Lewis and the Island of his Birth’ was shown at the launch of Heritage Experience, a new social enterprise company dedicated to promoting Northern Ireland’s rich cultural heritage to the rest of the world.

Narrated by CS Lewis expert Sandy Smith, a director of Heritage Experience, the film features dramatic footage of Dunluce, said to be the inspiration for Cair Paravel, the mythical castle which is home to the Kings and Queens in the Chronicles of Narnia.

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster launching the new social enterprise, said: “Heritage Experience will play a valuable role in developing cultural tourism in Northern Ireland by showcasing the lives of celebrated “exports” such as CS Lewis and reaching out to local people as well as the Diaspora located across the world.

“Tens of thousands of visitors come here every year to explore their family roots and experience our extraordinarily varied history and heritage. With a new social enterprise dedicated to developing this important market I would expect the vast potential for cultural tourism to be further realised.”

At the launch Minister Foster unveiled a new short film about CS Lewis’ Ulster connections. The production was commissioned by Heritage Experience which will use it to help promote cultural heritage tours and other tourism related products.

Ken Nelson, Heritage Experience Chairman and Chief Executive of LEDCOM said the new organisation would explore new cultural heritage markets and tell the story of Northern Ireland, its history and its remarkable individuals that have made a global impact.

“We are excited by the launch of the new CS Lewis film, the first of three short pieces which will be used as part of a campaign to raise awareness of the author’s links to this part of the world .

Heritage Experience Director Sandy Smith, the former Joint Director General of the International Fund for Ireland, has been running CS Lewis tours since 2005 when the film captured the imagination of millions . “There’s huge potential to grow the link between CS Lewis and Northern Ireland and bring many more visitors to our shores,”