Valentine's Day vox pop

Derry Journal

Is Derry a romantic place, what makes a good first date and what makes a good Valentine's Day present?

Transcript

00:00I'm Mitchell McLoughlin, as far as I can remember.

00:04I'm from the Bogside.

00:10I think for visitors it is. I'm not so sure about the people who live here.

00:19No, I'm 80 years of age. Are you kidding? I was only 10 at the time and I can't remember her name.

00:25Well, I suppose something that you...

00:27If you're able to say at the end of the day that you had a very good night, you enjoyed yourselves,

00:31both of you enjoyed yourselves, then that might qualify.

00:39Oh no, I usually gave presents if I remember back in those days. I didn't get any back.

00:44I discovered that was, you know, the war of the sexes and all that, you know, you've got to remember.

00:49They expected presents, I didn't.

00:55Derek.

00:58The Watershine, just.

01:05I wouldn't really say it's a romantic place, but it does have lots of nice spots for couples and people to go.

01:14What did you say, sorry?

01:17No, not really, no.

01:20What do you think makes a good date?

01:23Well, I'd like to man the planet, and then just surprise you and take you out somewhere nice.

01:30And what do you think makes a good Valentine's present, or if you had a good Valentine's Day present?

01:36Just, like, flowers or something, and a wee teddy bear and chocolate.

01:42First off, could you just introduce yourself please?

01:44I'm Roisin, from Belfast.

01:46Nice to meet you, Roisin. And can you tell me, do you think Derry's a romantic place?

01:51Well, it's very cold. It's very hard to be romantic in this cold.

01:55Yeah, it's a lovely place. I like it down here. I prefer it in the summer.

01:59Can you remember your first date?

02:02That was a long time ago.

02:05It can't be that long ago.

02:07God, no. We've been married for a lot of years, so.

02:11Can you tell me, well, how about your date with your husband then?

02:15Yeah.

02:19Yeah, got Hill Kilmer.

02:23I think it was in the town in Belfast. Yeah.

02:27Or it could have been Banker. I'm really lucky.

02:31What do you think makes a good date?

02:37A sense of humour, being kind, and good manners.

02:45And have you ever got any really good presents on Valentine's Day?

02:49What do you think makes a good Valentine's Day present?

02:52Just something thoughtful. Doesn't really matter what it is.

02:56Perfect. That's it.

02:57First off, could you just introduce yourself please?

03:00My name's Arlene. This comes from Belfast.

03:03And where are you from?

03:04Kilkeen.

03:05Count you down.

03:07And can you tell me, do you think Derry's a romantic place?

03:10Yeah.

03:11Yeah, we do like it. We've been here a few times, so.

03:15Lovely place. Very friendly. Very, very friendly people.

03:20Can you just remember your first dates?

03:25I remember the first time I met him.

03:28Before I was out with my friends, and my friend knew him.

03:32And she introduced me. She says, I think you'll like this fella.

03:36Hello, meet Leslie. Hi Arlene.

03:38He turned around, walked off and talked to his mates. Nice as well.

03:42That didn't go down so well. A few years later we met somewhere else.

03:46I think I remember you from somewhere, so that's it.

03:49And it went from there.

03:51And how long have you been together?

03:54We're married. 31 years in May.

03:57This May we'll be 31 years married.

04:00And what's the secret to keeping a marriage alive, I guess?

04:03Do as you're told.

04:05That sounds good. That sounds good, doesn't it?

04:09Do as you're told.

04:11Yeah, well.

04:13Last question. What do you think makes a good Valentine's Day present?

04:18Each other.

04:21Probably. You know, just be...

04:24There's so many people aren't happy, it's nice to find somebody that you're happy with.

04:28Whether you have money or whether you only have each other, you have what you need.

04:33Valentine's Day should be every day.

04:36Except when he doesn't say yes to me.

04:40First off, could you introduce yourself please?

04:43My name is Alicia O'Kane.

04:45And where are you from, Alicia?

04:47The Waterside.

04:49Lovely. And can you tell me, do you think Derry is a romantic place?

04:52I think it's very romantic, I have to say. I think Derry people are special.

04:56And they show love in many different ways.

05:00It's a very, very special place, absolutely.

05:03Very romantic, myself included.

05:05Can you tell me, do you remember your first date?

05:08My first proper date?

05:10Your first proper date.

05:13Was that long ago? I don't know if I can.

05:19I don't actually remember.

05:21If not, well, what do you think makes a good first date?

05:23A good first date.

05:25Well, I suppose the first thing is that they turn up.

05:28I'm not sure.

05:30I think I've been stood up a few times on the belt.

05:33But the first thing is they turn up, and on time.

05:38That the arrangements are made.

05:41And that there's a bit of crack, I think you need a bit of crack.

05:47You need plenty of conversation.

05:50The rest will follow if you have that spark.

05:53And instead of a laugh, you do need a laugh.

05:56And of course, the man has to pay.

05:58The man has to pay.

06:00That's very important as well.

06:03What do you think makes a good Valentine's Day present?

06:10I suppose maybe the stage I'm at now.

06:13I tell my husband what to buy me, I suppose.

06:16How long are you with your husband?

06:17How long am I with him now?

06:20Cheaper. 17 years?

06:23No, sorry. 2009.

06:2615 years.

06:28Coming up in March.

06:31Go on are the days where I would have let him choose my present for now.

06:36I'll tell him what I want.

06:38But something that is meaningful.

06:40It doesn't have to cost an awful lot.

06:42Something that the other person likes.

06:44Can you tell your name, please?

06:45Ella.

06:47And I heard today that you exchanged some Valentine's presents.

06:50Can you tell me what you got each other?

06:52I got him a wee fluffy and also a wee lollipop and a wee keychain.

06:59I got her a wee sausage dog today.

07:03And I found money aids.

07:08And a wee card for me.

07:10Lovely. And what does Valentine's mean to you?

07:13I don't know.

07:15You don't know?

07:17I don't know.

07:19Well, what inspired you to gift each other some presents?

07:22Well, I think it's just kind.

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