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Stormont Economy Minister Conor Murphy MLA is to meet with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to engage in its vision of counties Armagh and Down being part of the Ireland's Ancient East all Ireland global tourism package.
The minster’s decision was announced at the Council's June meeting on 3 June.
CEO, Marie Ward said: “We have received correspondence very, very recently from Minister Murphy in relation to the inclusion of counties Armagh and Down in Ireland’s Ancient East.
“He thanks the council for its correspondence to him and accepted an invitation to meet with the council to discuss the inclusion.
“He said he would be delighted to attend subject to any urgent Stormont Assembly business.”
Newly elected NMDDC chairperson Pete Byrne (SDLP) added: “Well that’s good news all round there.”
Ireland’s Ancient East is a term coined by the Irish government to promote the various ancient sites located on the east coast.
NMDDC has been lobbying for some time for the tourism strategy to include counties in the North. At a committee meeting in April, councillors signed off on an updated strategy for 2024-2029, which positions the district with the tourism strap-line of ‘Ireland’s True Nature’.
The move was greeted by elected members as “opening the door” to Ireland’s Ancient East.
