Shadow NI Secretary of State Vernon Coaker has hailed L'Derry for its "beauty and vibrancy" on a tour of the city at the weekend.

SDLP Foyle MP Mark Durkan joined the Shadow Secretary and his wife on a tour of Derry, during which the couple attended their first GAA match and cheered on runners in the Walled City Marathon.

Mr Durkan said: "It was very good that the Shadow Secretary of State and his wife chose to spend the weekend in the city.

"We were able to meet with some of the events-shapers for the City of Culture year and were impressed by their achievements and plans.

"I know that those whom we met were equally impressed by his interest and insight.

"They were really taken with the art exhibition in the Shirt Factory and really struck by the photographic exhibition which he later told me was really moving.

"Vernon and Jackie were also present for the Walled City Marathon and attended their first GAA match at Celtic Park."

Mr Durkan said both had spoken of "the beauty and vibrancy of the city and their sense that there was so much more that they didn’t see."

"They enthused about the warm community spirit that they felt, not least in the atmosphere and organisation that they witnessed around the Walled City Marathon," he said.

(IT)