The capital markets infrastructure provider is sponsoring a cast reunion of a beloved television series.
Grygo is the chief content officer for FTF & FTF News.
This blog generally focuses on very serious, financial technology issues that impact the lives of those working in operations, IT management, enforcement and compliance, regulatory matters, and much more.
However, we do occasionally allow ourselves to take a diversion from the hard news, strictly business mandate to focus on related matters that might be fun.
This is why we want to spotlight a special event sponsored by Options Technology, a capital markets IT services provider. The event, “Derry Girls: The Reunion at The MAC Belfast,” will celebrate the “Derry Girls” TV show that was a major hit initially in Northern Ireland, and then across the planet. In the U.S., its three seasons are available via Netflix, and many in the U.S. are just beginning to experience the show for the first time.
The “teen sitcom created and written by Lisa McGee that premiered on January 2018 on Channel 4” became the “most successful comedy since Father Ted,” according to the Wikipedia entry about the show. The irreverent and hilarious series “was inspired by McGee’s own experiences growing up in Derry, Northern Ireland, in the 1990s, during the final years of the Troubles.”
The celebration next month will happen at a venue in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter. The MAC facility caters to exhibitions, theatre performances, experimental works, and other events.
The gathering on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023, will feature Tara Lynne O’Neill (Ma Mary); Kathy Kiera Clarke (Aunt Sarah); Ian McElhinney (Granda); Louisa Harland (Orla McCool); and McGee. They will be interviewed by BBC journalist Marie Louise Muir.
(Photo by K. Mitch Hodge on Unsplash)
FTF News reached out to Danny Moore, the president and CEO of Options Technology, to find out why the London-based provider of managed trading infrastructure and cloud-enabled managed services for more than 550 financial services firms globally would sponsor such an event. (By the way, Options recently announced the launch of its 2023 Graduate and Placement Program, and, in 2021, acquired ACTIV Financial with the backing of private equity firm Abry Partners.)
Moore kindly agreed to answer my questions and we are presenting them in a mini-Q&A format:
Q: Is there something about Lisa McGee’s success with the “Derry Girls” that has inspired you and Options Technology?
A: Lisa McGee’s Derry Girls had universal appeal; its success demonstrated how an off-beat comedy about young people growing up in 1990s Derry can still resonate with a global audience.
In a year when the world faced unprecedented levels of disruption, challenges and uncertainty, Derry Girls provided much-needed laughter and a few home truths. Lisa’s writing reminded us of the spirit, hope, and optimism of a generation that overcame seemingly impossible odds and adversity.
We can all draw inspiration and lessons from any turning point in history, and above all the lasting power of friendship, teamwork, and community which Lisa and the cast of Derry Girls captured so well.
Q: Is there a particular episode or event from the series that struck a chord with you?
A: Too many to mention, but the series three finale, ‘The Agreement,’ has a very important message about the power of courage and the collective desire for change and working together.
Q: Do you think the MAC event will inspire a reunion movie of the Derry Girls?
A: Nothing is impossible and we can’t speak for Lisa or the Derry Girls team, but if there was an Oscar at stake, I’m sure our creative teams could join forces.
Q: Lastly, are there any lessons from the show that Wall Street operations, IT, and compliance people should keep in mind?
A: For us, Derry Girls resonates because it’s about overcoming adversity when the chips are down and the stakes are high. It’s a reminder to be bold, take risks, and to keep in mind the medicinal power of humor.
(Editor’s note: The event is sold out but here is a link to the Belfast MAC mailing list: https://bit.ly/3Cyt76C. We hope the event goes well and here’s the Netflix link for the show: https://bit.ly/3Gbo4Ko )
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