The Minister for the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure visited Downpatrick, Caral Ní Cuilin last Friday focusing her attention of the local tourism product around St Patrick and early Christian heritage.
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Mike King, right, Curator of Down County Museum, explains the development of the new facility for the Downpatrick High Cross to Cllr Noami Bailie, DCAL MInister Caral Ni Cuilin, Cllr Willie Clarke and Chris Hazzard, South Down MLA.[/caption]
South Down MLA Chris Hazzard has described the St Patrick’s Centre as being key to tourism in east Down.
The Sinn Féin representative was speaking after he was joined by the Minister for Culture Arts and Leisure, Caral Ní Chuilin, on a visit to the Centre this week.
Commenting on the visit, Mr Hazzard said: “The St Patrick’s legacy is a global phenomenon and the St Patrick’s Centre is a key plank of the tourism product being developed for the wider Down area.
“This centre in Downpatrick is the only one dedicated to the memory of St Patrick in the world. It is currently drawing bus tours from across Ireland on a daily basis and is also attracting increasing numbers of international tourists into the district.
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Tim Campbell, Director of the St Patrick Centre, Chris Hazzard, South Down MLA, Caral Ni Cuilin, DCAL Minister, J0hn Carson, St Patrick Centre Centre Board Chairman, and Cllr Naomi Bailie.[/caption]
“I was delighted to be able to bring the Minister for Culture Arts and Leisure to the Centre as part of her visit to the area this week. Tourism has the potential to be one of the key sectors to maintain economic development in Down,” he said.
The MInister also visited Down County Museum and inspected the new building under construction for the Downpatrick High Cross, and looked over the exhibits in the Governor’s Residence. She also visited Down Cathedral and St Patrick’s Grave.
Mr Hazzard later accompanied the Minister to a visit of Páirc na Mara in Annalong. The community based project houses Irish language classes and an Irish language mother and toddler group.
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At St Patrick’s Grave in Down Cathedral are Cllr Naomi Bailie, South Down MLA Chris Hazzard, the Very Rev Henry Hull, Dean of the Cathedral, DCAL Minister Caral Ni Culin, and John Dummigan, Down District Council Chief Executive.[/caption]]]>
