Derry Girls creator awarded QUB Graduate of the Year

by Gráinne Connolly

The creator of the hit comedy show 'Derry Girls', has been awarded the First Trust Bank Queen's Graduate of the Year accolade. 

Lisa McGee is the latest graduate of Queen's to be recognised for the significant impact she has made to her chosen field since leaving the University. 

The award was presented at the annual Queen's Graduates' Association Charter Day Dinner in Riddel Hall. 

Lisa, the multi-award winning BA Drama graduate, also created the comedy series 'London Irish' and is currently filming series two of 'Derry Girls'.

Speaking after accepting a perpetual trophy at the dinner, Lisa said: 

"I am beyond thrilled to be receiving this award. It really is such a huge honour. 

"Queen's holds a very special place in my heart and I cherish the time I spent as a student there. 

"It's where I wrote my earliest plays and where I made some lifelong friends; in fact several members of our cast and crew on 'Derry Girls' were old Queen's classmates of mine.

"It was a wonderfully supportive environment to grow as a creative. 

"I found my voice as a writer there and for that I will be eternally grateful." 

President of the Queen's Graduates' Association Fergal McFerran said, "We were delighted that Lisa was able to join us at our annual Charter Day celebration, it was incredibly inspiring to hear first hand about her journey from leaving Queen's to becoming the writer of a show that was such a hit that Channel 4 commissioned a second series after just one episode. 

"Lisa has just been named one of the BBC's Top 100 Inspirational Woman and it was a unanimous decision to name Lisa our winner of the year. 

"She has made a substantial contribution to the arts, yet again putting Northern Ireland on the map both in terms of our sensational filming locations and the creative talent pool we have, which continues to grow at an incredible pace. 

Lisa McGee was recently named as one of three new fellows who will continue the legacy of Seamus Heaney's work at the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen's University in Belfast.