Mourne – Cooley - Gullion - Geological Survey of Ireland

ConsulteesPartners – Support and Consultation• Northern Ireland Tourist Board• Dundalk Town Council• Down District Council• Banbridge District Council• Loughs Agency• Newry-Dundalk Joint Chambers ofCommerce• Heritage Council• Armagh Down Tourism• East Border Region• ICLRD

AcknowledgementAs well as those partners already mentioned we wouldlike to thank David Hood and colleagues in the MourneGeology and Archaeology Group who contributed muchof the material for this presentationTrinity CollegeDublin

Cooley-MourneMourne-Gullion– A Shared Heritage• Shared - and very significant – landscape, geology,biodiversity• Ways of life and cultural heritage shaped by landscape• Physical boundary presented by uplands has representeda border between north and south for centuries• While physical barriers have long been overcome….…social, cultural, psychological, economic, borders remainMeanwhile our wonderful landscape and heritage is perhapsunder-appreciated and not exploited as well as it might be

A ‘Rock Solid’ HeritageLANDSAT TM5 IMAGENEWRYGRANITENCo. ArmaghGRANITE MASSESCo. DownNEWRYGRANITENewcastleSLIEVEGULLIONGRANITENewryMOURNE GRANITESSLIEVEGULLIONGRANITECo. DownCARLINGFORDGRANITEMOURNEGRANITESCo. LouthDundalkCARLINGFORDGRANITECarlingfordCo. LouthN.Ireland -Eire Border10kmNERCGSNI

Granites in NE Ireland - NewryNewry – Slieve CroobCrystallised approx 425 million yrs ago in associationwith subduction/closure of an ancient ocean which onceseparated Scotland and the north of Ireland fromEngland, Wales and southern Ireland

Granites in NE Ireland - MournesMournes• Long after the Newry granites, the five granites of the MourneMountains crystallised - a mere 56 million years ago!• Designated as G1 to G5 inclusive• It was for the Mournes that J.E.Richey pioneered this style ofnomenclature, now used internationally to designate the timesequence of granites in a particular region.

Granites in NE Ireland - MournesMournesbefore RicheyMournes after Richey6 weeks field work in summer of 1925!James Ernest Richey1886-1968British Geological SurveyMapping by the Geological Survey ofIreland – Hull and Traill 1876Including work by Emeleus on theWestern Mournes in 1955and Harry & Richey 1963

Granites in NE Ireland - Mournessmoky quartz (19mm)on alkali feldspar green beryl (19mm) pale blue beryl (13mm)Irishminerals.com mindat.org mindat.orgtopaz (5mm)mindat.orgSpecimens from the DiamondRocks mineral locality in theEastern Mournes.

Granites in North East IrelandSlieve GullionCarlingfordROSA LtdMountain Views• Granites finer-grained than those of Mourne and Newry• Of similar age to the Mournes, all being closely associated intime with the opening of the NE Atlantic Ocean andseparation of Greenland and Europe.

Granite uses: Neolithic to recentNewgrange - Co. MeathNendrum tidal mill, Co. Down3200 BCearly 7 thcentury AD833cm126 AD 1876 ADPantheon, RomeAlbert Memorial - London

Potential - Environment and Society• Central location– Between Dublin and Belfast, hinterland of Newry/ Dundalk• Population growth, right along the east coast of Ireland– More & more people want to escape growing citiesTherefore Cooley-Gullion-Mourne (including Carlingford Lough)– is extremely attractive for recreation, short-breaks.– can be shared environmental, recreational, educationalresource for the major urban conurbationsKilnasaggart StoneSlieve Gullion

Potential - Environment and Economy• Also has necessary attributes to re-direct touristsaway from current honeypots• ……..and ideally positioned as a focus for aflagship collaborative tourism project(s) betweenthe respective authorities.• potential to attract visitors from overseas moreeffectively than Cooley, Mourne or Gullion cando separately.

E. Mournes – view towards the W. Mournes & Slieve GullionSimon StewartMourne-Cooley-Gullion can be– both a cross-border economic asset– and contribute to peace building andenhancing co-operation on the island.

What project, what designation, what brandmight cover all three areas?…..bearing in mind their location indifferent jurisdictions and withdifferent designations andmanagement regimes?A GEOPARKMarble Arch CavesGeoparkNendrumNewgrangeGranites ofthe NECopper CoastGeopark

Why a Geopark?• A GEOPARK is non-statutory– would not have any effect on planning etc.• Focus on specific geological sites e.g. quarries, hillsides,dolmens• Would help develop a cross-border identity (“branding”)• We could promote the outstanding igneous geology of thearea to students worldwide• We could promote the wider, related qualities to touristsworldwide• Would not affect, and could complement, other designations– E.g. AONB, National Park

Practicalities (1)– public education and consultation meetings– development of a strategy,– site identification, audit and management plan– access infrastructure• access routes, parking, information, signage.– interpretive strategy and materials– market research, marketing strategy andtargeted actions• branding, website, fairs, mailshots etc.Newry Mourne G2 Microgranite (SlieveGullion or Carlingford)

Practicalities (2)• Costs – estimated at upwards of €2 million over 5 yrs– salaries and overheads,– production of website, interpretive and promotional materials– conferences/ workshops– investment in infrastructure– practical site management and conservation• Application to Interreg IV planned• Local Authority involvement essential• UNESCO will look for ongoing commitment• Can build upon, and improve, existing services• E.g. Mourne Heritage Trust access and conservation work

The South East Ulster Uplands– Celebrating an Ancient BorderRing of Gullion

Ulster’s Changing Borders• ‘The Border’ and associatedpolitical situation has led todifficulties for Dundalk, Newry &hinterland (El Paso, Gundalk etc)• Physical and political borders haveleft many traces:– Archaeological, sociological, economic– an important part of our heritage.Cam LoughBallykeel DolmenLet’s face up to and take advantage of thisborder situation and wealth of related heritage

‘Flagship’ Border Gateway CentrePrimary functions:• Accessible stopping off/ services point on Dublin -Belfast road• Focal point and orientation hub for Cooley-Gullion-Mourne• Significant visitor attraction in its own rightPossible Secondary Functions:• Signature, gateway piece of public art• Cross Border Field Education Centre• Sustainable transport hub for wider landscape area• Innovative design showcasing latest environmentaltechnologiesUnifying factor for range of functions is the naturalheritage of the region and all it represents.

Border Gateway Centre - Why?• Prime location– on busiest intercity route on the Island• Currently no significant man-made ‘visitor attractions’– provides indoor focal point for wider area• Gateway in physical and metaphorical sense– celebrate progress & new era as prime cultural highway• Capitalise on fascination with borders & transition• Brand area as a shared ‘outdoor’ resource– Dublin and Belfast conurbations, Newry and Dundalk.• Clear manifestation of North-South co-operation foreconomic, social and educational benefit– particularly for all-Island tourism.

‘The Gateway to Ulster’but now a place of welcome and information• Strategically placed, highly visible showcase• Having attracted people in to avail of services– ‘sell’ wider region to those who otherwise pass through– disperse visitors - information hub for immediate area– Encourage further exploration• Showcase NITB Signature Projects and Failte Ireland themes• Interpret an important and internationally knownaspect of our shared heritage

Making it Happen & Sustainability• Detailed feasibility study– Ongoing income for the centrefrom commercial activities– Jobs created• Secure funding• Acquire land• Secure private sectorinvestment– Shops & restaurants, possiblya hotel and conference centreCarlingford Lough &Cooley MountainsSlieve Gullion South Cairn

Carlingford Lough from FlagstaffBoth projects have a genuine crossborder focus, basing sustainableeconomic development on the sharedand outstanding characteristics of acoherent landscape area thatstraddles the two jurisdictions