A series of eight boundary signs have been erected on the A1/N1 motorway to help visitors discover one of the jewels on Newry and Mourne’s crown – The Ring of Gullion. One of only eight designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (ANOB)in the north the signs mark the last boundary signs to be erected but with the first signal an ANOB on a motorway. With an estimated 19,500 using the A1 near Newry each day these signs have the potential to highlight the area to people visiting the Newry area as well as those passing on the motorway. Using the Ring of Gullion icon the eye catching heritage signs were directed by the Department of Regional Development in conjunction with the NI Environment Agency under its partnership with Newry and Mourne District Council as part of the Ring of Gullion ANOB Management Plan 2011 – 2016. Ring of Gullion officer Darren Rice explained the signs were designed to raise interest of the ANOB for motorists travelling through and since the boundary signs have been erected traffic to the Ring of Gullion website has increased and its is hoped that this will translate into actual traffic taking the slip roads off the motorway/ dual carriage way to find out more about the area. ” The Tourist Board is also very impressed with the new signs,” Darren explained. “The sign for the second northbound traffic will see you across the order. Next month we will take a delegation from the Tourist Board on a tour of the Ring of Gulllion to showcase this amazing area and we hope this will assist in emphasising the area as one of the foremost tourist attractions in the North. Comprising invaluable, mythical, geological highlights the area takes n Camlough Lake, the hills of south Armagh and of course the majestic peak of Slieve Gullion and while it may be taken for granted for those lucky to have lived in its shadow it presents a tourism area of largely untapped potential. Mayor of Newry and Mourne Charlie Casey said it is hoped that the Ring of Gullion would be championed as must-see for tourists to the North. “I am delighted to see signs of this nature going up around the district highlighting areas of special interest to tourists to our district and these indicating the Ring of Gullion an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty one of a number of gems that Newry and Mourne district is so lucky to have however this is often forgotten gem in tourist brochures,” the mayor said. “I hope these signs will help tourists see there is so much for them when they do visit the North especially in Newry and Mourne.”
Newry Reporter
28th March 2012
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