Licence number 2013/03/CCMA/ County Council. © Ordnance Survey Ireland. All rights reserved. Key Visitor Information Centre Craft / Heritage Activity 1 2 3 Visitor information point Car Parking

Viewpoints National Cycle Newtork

Hiking Access WC

Horseriding Outdoor Activity

Adventure Park Poets trails Creggan Church and Graveyard Slieve Gullion Bessbrook Creggan (Cairns and walkway) Bessbrook Village Golf Course The Church was probably Slieve Gullion, Bessbrook still has many traces founded with the arrival of Slieve Gullion is the hightest of the ‘model’ village shaped by a Quaker linen manufacturer, Fishing Ring of Gullion Way the O’Neills around 1450. The mountain within the ‘Ring of historic graveyard is the burial Gullion’. For the walker there is John Grubb Richardson around place of 3 eighteenth century a route that leads to the top of the middle of the 19th century. & Historic Building Newry Canal Way Gaelic Irish poets. Adjacent Slieve Gullion Mountain.There Its founder believed that alcohol to the graveyard is the ‘Poet’s are two Cairns on top of the was the main cause of poverty Ancient Monument St Patrick’s Trail Glen’ where visitors can enjoy mountain, on either side of a and crime and decided that South Armagh the 13 acres of grassland, small lake. The southern one Bessbrook had no need for Museums & Cultural Centres Táin Way sculpted garden and river this is a large passage grave the licensed premises, a pawn shop walk is called ‘Poets Trail’. highest surviving passage grave or a police station. Picnic Area Cu Chulainn audio trail T: 018 3031 3170 in Ireland, the north cairn dates T: 018 3031 3170 An area of Mountains, Lakes, Myths & Legends visitmournemountains.co.uk back to the Bronze Age. visitmournemountains.co.uk Theatres/Arts centres Fionn Mac Cumhail audio trail visitmournemountains.co.uk

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Camlough Lake Gap of the North (Kilnassagart Victoria Lock Camlough Lake is a large and Moyry Castle) Omeath Road, Newry reservoir. It is a long narrow Near Jonesborough Victoria Lock is the final junction body of water with an undulating The Castle was built by Lord linking the natural and the bed. It is home to the 2nd Mountjoy in 1601 to secure the manmade waterway complex largest Traithalon in Ireland and vital ‘gap of the north’. It was between Carlingford Lough and is resource for a wide range of built on a natural rocky hillock Lough Neagh outdoor sports including Angling, to secure the ancient route Canoeing, Water skiing and from . It is within sight Newry Ship Canal is currently organised events. of Kilnassagart Stone thought used by leisure craft and as T: 028 3031 3170 to be one of Irelands oldest a means of accessing Newry visitnewryandmourne.gov.uk Christian monuments situated City from the Irish Sea via close to Jonesboro. Carlingford Lough and passing T: 028 3031 3170 through the commercial visitmournemountains.co.uk shipping port of Warrenpoint. T: 028 3031 3170 visitmournemountains.co.uk

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Ballybay Wetlands Centre Concra Wood Golf & GR8 Entertainment Derryvalley, , Country Club GR8 Entertainment, Monaghan Co. Monaghan Concra Wood Golf & Country Road, Castleblayney The Ballybay Wetlands centre Club is a championship 18 hole GR8 is the North East’s number is an impressive multi-purpose golf course which was designed 1 entertainment venue. The venue set in the heart of County by Christy O’Connor Jr & Christy facilities include 8 bowling lanes Monaghan with sweeping views O’Connor Sr. The course overlooks over 5,000sq ft of Mega Play of the surrounding wetlands. It the stunning Lough Muckno. It Frames, a Bar and Restaurant, offers a wide variety of activities has a luxurious clubhouse with a Games, Amusements, Go-Karts, to tourists visiting the area such bar-restaurant and there is a pro Laser Tag and much more! as natural wetlands appreciation, shop with all the latest golfing GR8 specialise in parties for all peaceful walkways, fishing gear, fully functioning changing ages and have established a facilities and bird watching. rooms with showers and a driving reputation for quality and value. T: +353 (0) 4297 48022 range and putting green. T: +353 (0) 4297 49955 E: [email protected] T: +353 (0) 4297 49485 gr8entertainment.ie ballybaywetlands.ie E: [email protected] facebook.comGR8entertainment concrawood.ie facebook.com/concrawood 10 11 12

Lough Muckno Leisure Park ÍONTAS CENTRE Monaghan Way Walk Lough Muckno, Castleblayney Conabury, Castleblayney, to The scenic Lough Muckno Co. Monaghan The Monaghan Way is a long- Leisure Park is located in the Iontas is a community and distance walking route that centre of Castleblayney and arts resource centre based explores just some of county facilities include walking trails, in Castleblayney. There is a Monaghan’s rich heritage. picnic areas and a wonderful beautiful open gallery space The walk is a stimulating Adventure Playground. Lough with monthly art exhibitions. combination of quiet country Muckno is also an Angling It is an award winning theatre roads, cross-country trekking, Centre of Excellence with which showcases a wide variety riverside walkways and lakeshore unrivalled access for anglers. of dance, drama, comedy and approaches. The Monaghan Way It also boasts a Water-ski and musical acts. The Gallery Café is is a linear route from Clontibret Wakeboarding Centre and open weekdays from 9-2pm. to Inniskeen (or vice versa Summer camps for children. T: +353 (0) 4297 53400 www.irishtrails.ie/trail/ monaghantourism.com E:[email protected] monaghan-way/24 iontascastleblayney.ie E: [email protected] Angling The Great Outdoors Family Fun

of years of fascinating local history at the Enjoy Ballybay There are so many There’s so much for all world-class A haven for the coarse angler, with the ways to enjoy the South Armagh the family to enjoy in challenging Dromore river system nearby, the There’s an abundance of activities to enjoy angling in and around 23-hectare Lough Major is located in the centre beautiful countryside at mystical Slieve Gullion, South Armagh’s Monaghan and South of the charming market town of Ballybay. largest mountain, which is set in an Area of Monaghan Museum in Monaghan town, where Lough Muckno and Also popular with competition anglers, it’s well of Monaghan and Outstanding Natural Beauty. Cycle, walk or ride Armagh. the kids can discover everything from prehistoric stocked with small to medium sized pike. You around a ten kilometre circular route, enjoying spears to local lace and military uniforms. throughout South can also enjoy great pike fishing by boat on South Armagh. breathtaking views across several counties. Monaghan the reeded Dromore River lakes, while Lough Or follow a specially created trail up to its A world of adventure awaits at the wonderful South Armagh and Newry Armagh. Egish, nine kilometres from Ballybay, has a large Lough Muckno Leisure Park summit and travel back to Megalithic times at Lough Muckno Leisure Park. Just minutes from In the foothills of beautiful Slieve Gullion an pike fishery that is also best fished by boat. You Enjoy an idyllic day out exploring Ireland’s most an atmospheric ancient cairn, just yards from the bustling town of Castleblayney, there’s a award-winning new adventure play park offers Castleblayney can find tench, pike and bream at the popular beautiful secret, losing yourself in the rolling fantastic range of activities for all the family kids a host of exciting features to explore from Lake Muckno, Monaghan’s largest lake, is Calliagh Berras Lake, where Finn McCool’s hair White Lake, just four kilometres downstream of green hills, 200 acres of woodland and wide was turned white by a witch. in and around Monaghan’s largest and most zip lines and tower slides to climbing frames and one of Ireland’s finest coarse and angling Ballybay. expanse of Monaghan’s largest lake, Lough beautiful lake. Kids of all ages will go mad for more. From toddlers to teens, there’s stacks of destinations, offering huge stocks of species Muckno. Just a few minutes from Castleblayney, Take the entrancing Hawthorn Hill walk through the fabulous new adventure playpark, called fun to keep them happy all day. like bream, rudd, roach, tench, perch and pike. It you’ll find a variety of wonderful walks through Wilbert’s Enchanted Forest, while there’s also abounds with superb fishing locations, such as South Armagh the wooded slopes of Slieve Gullion Forest Park, The South Armagh area offers fantastic game wooded glades and along lakeside trails. Take blissful rambles through wooded islands, and Take an enthralling journey back in time at the the tranquil Black Island, Concra Wood, Toome where Deirdre of the Sorrows was raised. Let and coarse angling in the most beautiful time out observing the wildlife at Black Island cycling on lakeside trails. It’s the perfect place 16th century fortified house once owned by Shore and the Belfast Steps. Renowned around the cares of the world dissolve as you listen to surroundings. With freshwater rivers teeming and choose from a wide range of activities, for a family picnic too. Nicholas Bagenal, Marshall of Ireland, in Newry. the world, it has been the venue for many the sound of birdsong before relaxing with a with trout, a range of dedicated fisheries and including walking, cycling, wakeboarding and At the atmospheric Bagenal’s Castle you can match winning hauls for the world’s leading cappuccino in the charming Victorian Slieve some wonderful lough angling too, there really angling. Then pump up the energy hurtling down the trace the history of the area from ancient times, anglers. Gullion Courtyard. is something for everyone. lake or flying over jumps at Ireland’s most through the tumultuous wars of the Plantation Camlough (Crooked Lake), the largest lake in Enjoy world-class golf amidst some of Ireland’s exciting waterski facility, the amazing Muckno era to today. Extensive recent enhancements of angling The ancient volcanic landscape of this unique the Ring of Gullion, is now a top-class coarse most beautiful scenery on the shores of Lough WaterSki & Wakeboard Club. With top class facilities at Lough Muckno have seen the area can be explored on the compelling angling location. Set amidst the lovely rolling Muckno at Concra Wood Golf and Country facilities and expert instructors it’s ideal for The little ones will adore Rascals2 Softplay introduction of quality hard core tracks along 60-kilometre Ring of Gullion Way, passing countryside of South Armagh, just a few miles Club. Then relax at the luxurious 19th hole at beginners and experts alike. Why not try some Centre, just off the A1 outside Newry. This the lake shore at Black Island, White Island and through tranquil country lanes and sublime from Newry, this one-time reservoir is well this Christy O’Connor designed championship wakeboarding while you’re there, a thrilling popular venue boasts the only Laser Quest Concra Wood, allowing easy access for cars to forest tracks, while absorbing a fascinating stocked with pike, bream, roach and perch. standard course. heritage. mixture of surfing, snowboarding and water- facility in as well as interactive the 220 permanent angling pegs located at the skiing. play areas for toddlers upwards and a soft play most popular sites. Not far from the little village of Silverbridge are The Ballybay Wetlands Centre isn’t just known Follow the Poets Trail from the historic Creggan space for babies. the beautiful Cashel Loughs, which are stocked for outstanding angling, its tranquil setting There’s so much to see and do in Castleblayney Following the latest developments, Lough Parish Church, burial place of three of Ireland’s two to three times a year. Why not combine is ideal for nature walks and birdwatching itself, like the multi-faceted entertainment Trek on ponies around the forests and paths of Muckno has become the most talked about most famous Gaelic poets, with its roots going them with a visit to another outstanding trout too. It hosts a programme of exciting events centre GR8 with its eight state-of-the-art the spectacular Ring of Gullion, one of Ireland’s wild coarse fishery in Europe and the finest back to the great O’Neill chieftains of the 15th fishery nearby, Carrigans Lough. Another fine throughout the year. bowling lanes, go karting, laser tagging and one most beautiful and historic sites, with the coarse fishing fishery in Ireland. In 2014, the century. Then set off to absorb the beautiful South Armagh trout fishery can be found at of Ireland’s biggest softplay areas. While in Greenvale Equestrian Centre or enjoy pedal go internationally renowned venue will host five of scenery that inspired them. Why not take a Glassdrummond Lake, near Creggan. Take the Monaghan Way along country roads, town, check out the fantastic Íontas Centre for kart racing at Carrickasticken at nearby Forkhill. Ireland’s most prestigious angling festivals. picnic to the tranquil Poet’s Glen nearby. From March to November you can fish for forest trails and riverside paths from historic Tee off at one of the welcoming golf courses great drama, dance, comedy and music. Also in the Ring of Gullion is the atmospheric rainbow and brown trout at Kiltybane Lake, near Clontibret to the pretty village of Inniskeen, Whatever your age or ability you can enjoy cottage, Teach Mahon, where families can enjoy Holiday and pleasure anglers fare just as well, of the area, such as Ashfield Golf Club, whose Crossmaglen, while at beautiful Ross Lough, on birthplace of poet , via the finest riding school facilities with expert traditional music and song and scintillating turning up weights rarely seen in Ireland. 18-hole parkland course is in the heart of South the border with Monaghan, you’ll find trout, charming Castleblayney. instructors at the fabulous Shenandoah Stables, storytelling. There’s also a great choice of accommodation Armagh. At nearby Cullyanna, a fascinating perch, pike and eel. exhibition traces the life of the influential set amidst beautiful rolling hills just outside for those who wish to prolong their stay on site, And don’t miss Ireland’s largest private Castleblayney. Just outside Newry, all the family can try from angler friendly hotels to angler equipped Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich in the village of his Keen anglers also gather along Newry’s River collection of flora and fauna at the fascinating the ultimate paintballing and body zorbing B&B’s and excellent self-catering facilities. childhood. You can also experience the famous Clanrye from March to October to fish for brown Wildlife and Heritage Centre at Clontibret. songs and poems of the area here too. Learn the basics of family cooking at Mary experience at Watchtower Adventures. If you’re trout, sea trout, pike and small minnow. Newry McIroy’s popular cookery classes at Whitehill not sure what body zorbing is, just try playing Canal is renowned for excellent coarse fishing, House, near Castleblayney, or explore thousands five a side football inside a giant inflatable ball,

For further Visitor map and Welcome to the information information guide Muckno Gullion area Famed for its spectacular beauty, it’s no Slieve Gullion Tourist Office Monaghan Tourist Office wonder that the magical Lough Muckno and Ring of Gullion area is fast becoming such a Slieve Gullion Courtyard (Seasonal – June – September) magnet for visitors. An Area of Outstanding Dromintee The Market House Natural Beauty, the Ring of Gullion in South Newry Co Down Monaghan Armagh is famous as the source of many Co Monaghan T; 028 3084 8190 powerful Irish myths. Known as the ‘Killarney of T: +353 47 81122 www.visitmournemountains.co.uk the North’, Muckno is based around the largest E: [email protected] lake in . Newry Visitor Information Centre www.monaghantourism.com Bagenal’s Castle There are so many ways to enjoy this idyllic Castle Street, Newry, BT34 2BY www.facebook.com/ natural wonderland. Choose from a range of T: 028 3031 3170 monaghantourism exhilarating outdoor activities from hill walking Just www.visitnewryandmourne.com and mountain climbing to woodland rambles, minutes boating, water-skiing, horse riding, golfing from the www.youtube.com/ charming monaghantourism and some of the finest angling on the island of Ireland. town of @visitmourne Catleblayney, the The sublime Slieve Gullion Pathway has been serene Lough Muckno visitmournemountains specially created to suit all ages and abilities. attracts nature ramblers, Take the path to the mystical ancient cairn at sports enthusiasts, families the top of Slieve Gullion for a truly spiritual and anglers alike to enjoy its Belfast experience and gaze around you at the breath- wooded walks, picnic areas, boating, taking views that stretch for miles. Children will golfing and world-class angling, not to adore the fabulous new adventure play area in mention its state-of-the-art new adventure the foothills of the mountain too. play area. Castleblayney & South Armagh So easy to get to and around, this beautiful region offers everything from mountains, lakes and woods to a wide range of activities for all. There’s so much more to enjoy while you’re here too, such as welcoming pubs, restaurants and coffee shops, enticing spas, fine hotels and fascinating museums.

So come along, meet the locals and enjoy the wonderful attractions and scenery of this unique area for a truly unforgettable Castleblayney & experience.

This project is part financed by the European Regional Development South Armagh Fund through the INTERREG IVA Cross-Border Programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body An area of Mountains, Lakes, Myths & Legends