Become a Ring of Gullion Ambassador

The last opportunity to join the unique band of Ambassadors for the Ring of Gullion has just opened.

Over the last three years, the Ring of Gullion Landscape Partnership has run its top-rated Ambassadors Programme, which has successfully trained nearly 50 envoys for this beautiful region. The Ring of Gullion Ambassadors are vital to the sharing of the area’s natural, built and cultural heritage with the young and old, local and visitor alike. Some of the Ambassadors have even set up part-time businesses on the strength of their training.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Rosin Mulgrew said, “The Council’s Tourism Strategy is to establish the Newry, Mourne and Down district as one of the premier tourism destinations on the island of Ireland by 2021. The Ring of Gullion Ambassador Programme is a vital component of this overall aim, so I would encourage anyone interested in in sharing your passion for the Ring of Gullion with friends, neighbours or visitors to sign up and take part in this fantastic programme.”

The final ambassador training programme will run from January to March 2018. Once you have completed the course you will have an Open College Network (OCN) Level 2 qualification in tour guiding, an emergency first aid certification and insurance to lead walks for your community; as well as a greater appreciation and understanding of the natural, built and cultural heritage of South Armagh.

The course is open to everyone from young people hoping to improve their CV’s, to retirees with some time on their hands and from tourism providers to people wanting to try something different. No previous qualifications or experience is required. Anne Quigley, a recent ambassador trainee said, “The course was extremely well organised and each one of our lecturers was excellent. Everything about the course was superb.”

Knowing more about our heritage and passing on that knowledge is important to communities and gives locals a sense of place. This course will help you to explore the local culture, build up a collection of stories and share them with your community, as well as visitors. Full details are available on the Ring of Gullion website. The course costs £65 and places will be limited so please register your interest as soon as possible. To book, call into Crossmaglen Community Centre, Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm and speak to a member of the Ring of Gullion team.