Dear Sir,
re: ferry proposal at Greencastle, Couny Down.
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Residents in Greencastle, County Down, are continuing their fight to oppose a ferry terminal.[/caption]
Firstly, we thank the local Councillors who listened to the concerns of local residents and the 800 supporters of the Keep it Green campaign (see Facebook), the campaign that aims to protect, enhance and share Greencastle with its diverse publics. Newry and Mourne District Councillors voted 14 for and 4 against the deferral of approving this project and now the decision will fall to the Super Council’s new structure where they will have more powers to reject or approve this project.
Focusing on tourism, we would like to highlight some of the reasons why Greencastle is a visitor attraction already, without any promotion other than word-of-mouth.
* Scuba-diving – (divers have seen seahorses in the area which are protected * Kayaking/ canoeing – local and visiting enthusiasts enjoy the peaceful tour around the protected island * Wildlife watching – Seals and otters are seen in the waters between the shoreline and the island * Twitching – protected terns breed between April and September on the protected Green Island only , brent geese migrating from Canada come in the winter months, we also have kestrels, buzzards, herons amongst others. * Beach walking – we have an unspoilt shoreline which changes everyday covered with golden sands, fossils (middle to late Arundian age – 343m years ago), pebbles and shells * Cycling – The country road that follows to the end of the small peninsula forms part of the Mourne Cycle Route, it is a cul-de-sac but cyclists enjoy the views of the castle and beach from the road * Heritage – visitors come by foot, car, bus and bicycles to see the Norman castle which can be accessed inside, views at every compass point towards Cooleys and Mournes are enjoyed from the top of the castle. In addition, Greencastle has a motte, an old church and a wooden pier which are all listed buildings * Horse-riding – many horses come to run along the open beach as well as use our roads, some with carts in tow * Sun and sea-bathing – every summer we have visitors from all over Ireland and from abroad coming to our beaches on either side of the wooden pier * Wedding Photography – Greencastle is a very popular place to use as a backdrop with the wooden pier, unspoilt beaches and castle as idyllic settings * Film sets – for two years running, international film crews have used Greencastle as their set for the film “Our Robot Overlords” and last year for “The Fall”, both with Gillian Anderson and of course Jamie Dornan in the latter * Angling – there are boat trips for parties of ten and single anglers enjoy the coastline to fish for salmon, trout, mackerel amongst other fish * Photography – numerous photographers come to Greencastle to catch the wonderous moments of the summer sunsets on the Lough which is sandwiched on either side by the Cooleys and the Mournes
Where else can you find all this diversity within one mile? All this is what happens now in Greencastle and all this will disappear if this ferry project is given the approval. Between the congested access on the single narrow road to/from Greencastle and the effect of the ferry route twice hourly, around the protected island where the seals and otters swim, this project will kill any glimpse of tourism that Greencastle now has.
The small hamlet will become a permanent car park and a traffic lane for people to travel through not to arrive at.
Yours,
Christine Gibson Chair of GARG Greencastle: Keep it Green (Protecting, enhancing and sharing).
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Greenacastle, County Down.[/caption]]]>
