Council's proposed new tourism strategy 'opening the door' to Ireland's Ancient East

0

Shares

Local Councillors are proposing that Armagh and Down be included in Ireland's Ancient East and what better way to travel through it than the Carlingford Lough Greenway on which work continues to progress. Photograph: Columba O'Hare/ Newry.ie

The approval of a new tourism strategy for Newry Mourne and Down District Council at last week's meeting of the Council's Enterprise, Regeneration and Tourism committee has been hailed by local campaigners as “opening the door” to Ireland’s Ancient East.

Councillors Killian Feehan and Pete Byrne have been campaigning for counties Armagh and Down to be included in Ireland’s Ancient East, a global tourism brand led by the Irish Government.

Councillors Feehan and Byrne refused to accept a previous proposal from the Council, which they said “wasn’t fit for purpose, sold south Armagh short, and locked our District out of Ireland’s Ancient East.”

At April’s ERT meeting, Councillors signed off on an updated strategy for 2024-2029, which positions the District as Mourne Gullion & Strangford – Ireland’s True Nature.

The SDLP will be supporting the adoption of the new strategy at May’s Council meeting, and bringing forward proposals for a “final push” on bringing Ireland’s Ancient East across the border to include counties Armagh and Down.

Slieve Gullion Councillor Pete Byrne said “When the Council produced a tourism strategy in 2022 branding our whole District as the Mournes, we had to push back against it. Working alongside tourism providers in south Armagh and my SDLP colleagues, we set our sights on building a strategy that was inclusive and fit for purpose.

“I am delighted with what has been brought back to us. Ireland’s True Nature captures the spirit of our whole District, leaving nobody behind, and opens the door to Armagh and Down becoming part of Ireland’s Ancient East.

Newry City Councillor Killian Feehan added “Two years ago, Councillor Byrne and I committed to ensuring that Armagh and Down became a part of Ireland’s Ancient East. I am incredibly pleased with the revised tourism strategy brought forward by Council, which puts us within touching distance of that goal.

“Our work with local tourism providers and the Irish Government has brought us 90% of the way there, and at May’s full Council meeting, the SDLP will be requesting the support of all other parties for a final push to get this over the line and see Ireland’s Ancient East brought across the border to include Armagh and Down.”