Slieve Gullion named Council’s most popular tourist destination

Slieve Gullion Forest Park has been named as the most popular tourist destination in the Council District, hosting about 400,000 visitors last year.

This dramatic increase in popularity, with numbers of visiting tourists rising every year, is in large part due to substantial Council and external investment in the site to transform facilities available to local residents, families and mountain trekkers.

Sinn Féin Councillor Roisin Mulgrew, current Chairperson of Newry, Mourne & Down District Council, expressed her delight. She also raised the possibilities for the further development sites, which could further unlock the potential of the historic Ring of Gullion area.

“Slieve Gullion Forest Park is now a community hub that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, with something for everyone.

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“Sinn Féin in Newry, Mourne and Down Council have pushed hard for further development, and the Council has secured investment in recent years that has transformed the site as a tourist destination. For the fourth year running the Forest Park has been received the Green Flag award, the only one in the council area.

“Not only does continued development bring tourists in from far and wide to enjoy the natural splendour and new facilities in the area, it has also resurrected the vibrant ancient history of the Ring of Gullion area and boosted tourism across South Armagh.

“New parking and exercise facilities have been a success, while the ‘Fairy Trail’ captures the local myths and legends of the mountain area, bringing to life for children their local heritage.

She added, “As the Killeavy Castle development continues to progress, there is even greater potential for touristic and economic development. Our local community can only benefit as a result.”

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Posted by Newry Times News on Aug 17 2017. Filed under Community. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry