From meeting over a pint down at their local pub to sharing frustrations over having to scour social media to see what’s on in Jersey, D’Arcy O’Neill and Sergio Goncalves decided to take matters into their own hands, by creating an app that does it for you.

The idea for ‘Island Life – Jersey’ began after one day in the sun and now provides users with a full guide to everything in Jersey – from features like recent roadworks to Jersey’s best coastal walks.

Express spoke to the founders about their backstory and experiences whilst making their first ever app…

Tell us a bit about yourselves… How did you meet?

Sergio: I’m 43-years-young, first-generation South African, and my parents are from Portugal.

I live by the motto of ‘Ubuntu’, which simply means “I am because you are,” and that encapsulates community.

I’m a lover of the outdoors, which is why I fell in love with Jersey.

D’Arcy: I’m 25, originally from Jersey although I left for a couple years to travel. My background is more on the tech and product side, so I built the app itself while Sergio looks after the relationship with venues.

We met one sunny afternoon at our local, a cold beer, and we have been best mates since.

What inspired you to make the app?

D’Arcy: We kept finding out about things after they had already happened.

Everything was scattered across Facebook groups, posters in windows and half a dozen websites, and nothing pulled it together in one place.

We figured if we were struggling with that, plenty of other people on the island were too.

A live map of Jersey, showing what’s on and where it is on the island. Credit: D’Arcy O’Neill

How long did the app take to make? Have you made an app before?

D’Arcy: Around eight months, and no, neither of us had built an app before. I taught myself as I went.

We’re still building it now, so in a way, it isn’t finished and probably never will be.

What challenges did you come across whilst making the app?

D’Arcy: The biggest one was just getting it from an idea in a pub to something real that people can download.

Neither of us had done it before, so every single part was new. Learning to build it, getting the design right, and working out what to leave out.

There was a lot of evenings where something that seemed simple turned out to take a week.

What types of features will users expect to see on the app?

Sergio: Users can expect a full guide on what’s happening in Jersey, from live music to the bus tracker and hikes. It’s a private tour guide in your pocket.

The app also features weather, tides, where to get drink and food specials, and so much more.

What makes this app different to any on the market already?

D’Arcy: There isn’t really anything else like it. The main difference is that we keep adding to it.

It’s not a static list that goes out of date, it’s live bus times, car park spaces, deals that are on this week, and all the practical things people actually need, like where the nearest defribrillator or public toilet is.

Everything you need for a fun day out in Jersey at your fingertips. Credit: D’Arcy O’Neill

Do you have a favourite part or feature of the app, and why?

Sergio: Quite confidently, the AI tour, which allows you to point, shoot and chat, all whilst learning about historical sites, as well as what one can do around them.

D’Arcy: The walks and trails. That’s the part I use myself at the weekend, and it’s the bit that got me out to corners of the island I’d never been.

What’s your favourite site in Jersey?

Sergio: My favourite would have to be Portelet Bay as well as Portelet Cafe. A walk we do is often from St Brelade’s Bay to Corbière lighthouse where we treat ourselves to an ice cream at the ice cream van or a cold beer at Corbière Phare.

D’Arcy: The cliff path along the north coast, particularly around Devil’s Hole and Grève de Lecq.

It’s the wildest part of the island and you’re walking past German fortifications and old fishing tracks the whole way, so you get the history and views in one.

How can other businesses or people get involved?

Sergio: Businesses can get ahold of us on islandlifejersey4@gmail.com with any enquiries.

D’Arcy: We’d love people to tell us what we’ve missed, just email us and we’ll take a look. Local knowledge is what makes this work, so nothing is too small.

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