If you've ever walked past the Albert Clock and wondered what it's like inside, then now is your chance to have those questions answered.
A new UTV series will see journalist Sara O'Kane delve into Northern Ireland's hidden gems finding out about places we never knew existed as well as exploring places we don’t normally get to see.
Hidden NI will see Sara unleash her adventurous side as she goes underground in the Salt Mines outside Carrickfergus, scales the dizzying heights of the Albert Clock as well as putting her fitness to the test in a training session with the Northern Ireland women's football team.
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Speaking to Belfast Live, Sara admits that she was either 'brave or mad' taking on the challenge but that she loved the chance to step outside of her usual news reporting role.
"I got the call to see if I wanted to be involved. I just thought it was nice to just step out of the news circle as well and do something different. I’m either brave or mad but I just have a bit more of an adventurous side to me so I thought well, I like the idea of what I’ll be doing, so why not," said Sara.
The six-part series will see Sara visit an abandoned house just south of the border in Co Louth, heading down a massive plug hole in the Silent Valley; exploring a tiny village built by one Coleraine farmer; getting a bird’s eye view from the cockpit of vintage aircraft; getting into a tight spot exploring Fermanagh’s Caves and much more.
But it was the chance to train with the Northern Ireland women's football team that really came out as the highlight of her exploration adventure, despite the weather leaving her 'like a drowned rat'.
Sporty by nature, Sara admits the experience left her wondering if she had of played football from a young age, could she have ended up making the national team.
"I have always played sport from day dot and never got the opportunity in fairness to play football in school, so I love how that has now developed for girls, we have a fantastic national team that everyone is kind of in awe of so it’s great.
"When they said to me you’ll be training with the girls I thought, oh yeah I’m good for this but oh my goodness, I thought I was fit but I have to admit those girls are a different level and it’s fantastic that they’re professional now.
"Even just getting that access to being so close to them getting ready for the Euros I felt very privileged to get to see how their routine starts and getting out on the pitch with them. The only thing was it started to snow, and I had the makeup on and I thought maybe I can kind of look OK with the girls but no, drowned rat at the end of it."
Sara continued: "There were things I really loved doing and there are things I know other people will really love seeing so there will be something to suit everyone in the programme, but for me the sporting side of things, I was just fascinated to see how the girls even warm-up and the professional team they have behind them it’s incredible.
"I was even thinking, I wonder if I could have played football from a young age could I have played for Northern Ireland? It was a total privilege and I know that things like that are once in a lifetime."
The latter part of the first episode sees Sara hop just south of the border to Co. Louth where she steps into history in a house in Williamstown where nothing has been touched in 20 years since the last owner passed away. She finds out what the family has planned for this living museum as she tours around.
"The house was brilliant it was as if time had essentially stood still and there were a few of those we explored and I think people will find that fascinating in the sense that there are loads of abandoned houses around the place, we have so much countryside but just to get inside them and seeing how time really does stand still.
"Even just the love for the people who used to live in those houses was lovely and people still have a real nostalgia about them," added Sara.
The 39-year-old said she hopes the programme might inspire people to get outdoors and explore the hidden beauty right on our doorsteps.
"I found with Covid it was this revelation for everyone that you could go outside! People kind of went, hold on we can go out for a walk on our doorstep and there's lots to see and do. That was one thing that got me through lockdown, I ran the roads, and I hope too with the programme that people will think ‘that looks really nice, I must go there and have a wee look’.
"Northern Ireland has a lot to see if you just put your boots on and away you go and explore. You can’t control the weather here and there are other places that we had planned to go that just we just couldn’t because of the weather, but it’s all about working around it, getting your coat and wellies on and safely exploring even your own neighbourhood."
Although she is the face of the series, Sara says the real stars of the show were in the people they met and the stories they heard along the way.
"There are so many programmes out there and everyone has a choice of what they want to watch but I think it’s just nice to showcase, our place and the people you meet when you do these things are just brilliant, they’re such good craic.
"I know I’m doing all the interviews and you see me in the promos but I’m a tiny part of this from the camera guys, the producers who came up with ideas, and we all enjoyed banging our heads together to find places to explore and see."
UTV Programme Producer Alison Fleming added: “UTV has a long history of highlighting the extraordinary in the ordinary through its news and programmes and we hope the viewers come away from watching this new series feeling not only entertained by Sara’s adventures, but also educated, knowing that little but more about our rich surroundings here.”
You can watch the first episode of Hidden NI on Tuesday 19 th April at 8.30pm on UTV and on catch up online.
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