Debate contribution: All-Ireland Tourism

Debate contribution by Mr Justin McNulty on 18 June 2024.

MLA

Mr Justin McNulty

Party at the time

Social Democratic and Labour Party

Date

18 June 2024

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Opposition Business

Heading

All-Ireland Tourism

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4497339

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I wholeheartedly welcome the opportunity to speak on this important SDLP motion. It will come as no surprise to Members to hear that I am a proud south Armagh man, and why would I not be? South Armagh has some of the most compelling tourism assets in Ireland. It has historic sites that predate the pyramids and a myriad of heritage sites that beautifully and powerfully illustrate the shared tapestry of our history. If you have never been to the top of Slieve Gullion and crawled into the court cairn there, which is the highest surviving court cairn in Ireland, I encourage you to see and experience it. I have made representations to Ministers here saying that I believe firmly that the corbelling of the court cairn should be repaired. It was opened in the '60s, when an archaeologist who borrowed a tractor from Sean O'Grady of Ballinaleck excavated the court cairn and removed the corbelling at the top. That corbelling should be replaced as it was so that the excitement of the experience for children who crawl into that court cairn can be increased. Over the last number of years, I have worked alongside my local SDLP colleagues to advocate for the inclusion of County Armagh and County Down in the Ireland's Ancient East destination marketing brand. My rationale and determination in that regard are simple. It is about harnessing the potential of the tourism product in our region. It is about putting the spotlight on all that we have to offer and turning a hidden gem into the jewel of our tourism crown. That is where my focus and that of my party lie. The SDLP has been working with local tourism providers, statutory agencies, the Irish Government and all parties in building a strategy to significantly and sustainably boost cross-border tourism in south-east Ulster. Our case has been put forward so successfully that our proposal to include Armagh and Down in Ireland's Ancient East received cross-party and cross-community buy-in at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, even from the DUP. There is a clear synchronicity between Armagh and Down's tourism offering and the four pillars of Ireland's Ancient East: ancient Ireland; Anglo Ireland; medieval Ireland; and early Christian Ireland. Each of the four pillars of Ireland's Ancient East can be found in my area or within a stone's throw of it, from Viking history and Norman castles in Carlingford, historic sites in south Armagh that predate the pyramids in Egypt, St Patrick's resting place in Downpatrick and the tomb of Brian Boru at St Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh, which is the seat of the Anglican Church in Ireland. The tourism offering in Armagh and Down is as rich as it is diverse and presents a unique opportunity for the history and heritage of Ulster to secure a more prominent place in Ireland's Ancient East. The home of Orangeism is at Dan Winter's cottage near Loughgall. Near Armagh city, we have Eamhain Mhacha or Navan Fort, which is the mesmerising historical ancient capital of Ireland and which the Egyptians recorded on a prehistoric map. The Quaker village of Bessbrook manufactured linen and produced granite that was exported across the British Empire, and just around the corner in Derrymore House, the Act of Union was drafted. I would struggle to find a better way to show that we are serious about a genuinely shared future. We should work together to see Fáilte Ireland market our shared history and our intertwined heritage around the world proudly and unapologetically. The motion gives us an opportunity to harness the power of our heritage and demonstrate that a rising tide really can lift all boats. I must also give an honourable mention to the Armagh Rhymers, who have been keeping Ireland's ancient Celtic traditions alive. I will never forget the day that they walked into my primary school and mesmerised every one of us with their rhyming. In his maiden speech to the House of Commons over 40 years ago, Séamus Mallon rightly pointed to the fact that our history belongs to us all, simply by virtue of the fact that there are sites in south Armagh alone that predate Britain in Ireland, the Vikings in Ireland and even the Celts in Ireland.

It is on that basis that I commend the motion to the House in the strongest terms. Counties Armagh and Down are definitely a part of Ireland's Ancient East, and it time that we made that official so that we can reap the clear dividend from that for the communities that we all serve.

764 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 10:38 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

Disagree with this assessment?

Classifications can be challenged. A person reads every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.

Challenge this classification