ISSUE 16 Spring 2018 A Newsletter for the Ring of Gullion Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and The Landscape Partnership Scheme Sign up for monthly updates at www.RingOfGullion.org IN THIS ISSUE... Gardening with Wildlife Course What is a UNESCO Global Geopark? Wild Goats of South Armagh © Marie McCartan Ring of Gullion Cultural Funding Success in 2017 Become a Ring of In 2017, three projects in South Armagh were successful in their funding applications to the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Co-operation with Northern Gullion Youth Ranger Ireland Scheme. This scheme offers funding support for small, Applications are now open for the final Ring of Gullion Landscape self-contained projects, which seek to enhance, celebrate or Partnership Youth Ranger Programme; this is a fantastic commemorate the artistic, cultural, musical, film or heritage of the opportunity for 14–17 year-olds, to explore and learn about the Island of Ireland on a North/South basis. Ring of Gullion during the summer holidays. The Co-operation with Northern Ireland Scheme provides The Youth Ranger programme is running from 16th – 27th July, a platform for cultural exchanges and joint projects from excluding the weekend, and applications are open from now until organisations on both sides of the border and has produced some 5pm on Thursday 31st May 2018. As a Youth Ranger, you will fascinating and valuable projects over the years. The three South spend two weeks exploring the Ring of Gullion, learning about Armagh projects were: the landscape and heritage of the area as you go on outdoor Castleblayney Community Enterprise CLG and Cullyhanna adventures. You will also help Partnership staff look after our Community Association – Received €10,000 to establish and wonderful and unique habitats through hands-on practical Outdoor Recreation Development in Ring of enhance the shared culture of Castleblayney and Cullyhanna conservation. through music, heritage and folklore over the summer of 2017. By participating in the programme, you have the opportunity to Gullion - Opening of Infinity Swim Academy St Mary’s Primary School, Mullaghbane and Scoil Eoin gain valuable skills such as first aid, navigation and survival skills A local family, immersed in water sports and open water Pól, Loch an Iúir Donegal – Received €4,500 for a Digital (useful for general camping and should the zombie apocalypse swimming for generations, recently saw the realisation of History Project which has brought both communities together ever occur!). At the end of the programme, you will receive a bronze a dream with the official opening of its swim school. Three while exchanging skills between the generations. The multi- 50-hour Millennium Volunteer Award as well as an Explorer-level brothers, Padraig, Martin and Sean Mallon, are behind the generational, cross-community group worked together to produce John Muir Award – great additions to your CV. brand new Infinity Swim Academy on the Camlough Road in a series of six short films based on historical sites in the area. To participate in the programme you need to have a reasonable Bessbrook. The academy is set to provide a whole range of level of fitness, enthusiasm, willingness to have-a-go and of water-based activities, classes and swimming lessons for all The films were showcased at the Michael J Murphy Winter School course, complete an application form. An application pack and ages and abilities. in November. The stories can be viewed by scanning the QR codes placed at each historic site. full details about the programme is available for download from With lots of collaboration with local schools and groups, the www.ringofgullion.org/jobs/ Infinity Swim Academy looks set to be an innovative swim The Old Irish Goat Society – Received €1,700 to survey the feral Alternatively, scan the QR code to download the pack directly to centre with an emphasis on fun and nurturing a love of goat population of Slieve Gullion. For full details of the survey, your phone or tablet. Applications are open from 1st March until swimming and water-based activities for the entire community. please read the ‘Wild Goats of South Armagh’ article on page 4. The Ring of Gullion Partnership would like to send their warmest 5pm on 31st May 2018. The area also benefited from the Gallery of Photography congratulations to the new Swim Academy. Reframing the Border, a cross-border community-based arts If you have an outdoor recreation group or business in the Ring initiative that had a workshop in Tí Chulainn, during the summer. of Gullion that you would like to tell everyone about, contact the Ring of Gullion Partnership to get into the next Newsletter. Camp Gullion Camp Gullion is the first international summer camp to come to South Armagh. Running from the 1st–13th July 2018 (inclusive), Camp Gullion will bring fifty primary and first-year secondary school children from Barcelona to the Mullaghbane area where, with fifty local children of the same age, they will participate in a two-week language exchange programme. Calling all tourism providers, tour guides and The camp is based between Tí Chulainn and the new Blue Bell Lane Glamping Centre, Tullymacreeve, Mullaghbane, where the Ambassadors Catalan children will stay. Activities will take place in Mullaghbane In partnership with Newry, Mourne and District Council, we are village and the wider Ring of Gullion area. The goal of the camp organising a Mountains, Myths and Maritime Tourism Industry is to provide a safe, secure environment for all the children to day, on 9th April, in the Canal Court Hotel and Spa, Newry. The learn from each other, including each other’s languages, and to purpose of the day, which runs from 9.30am – 4.30pm, is to bring showcase the local culture, history, traditions, sports, music and together the various aspects of the tourism industry from across dance to an international audience. the council region to network and learn about how to develop The local children will be proud ambassadors of the area as “experience” holidays. they interact with the Catalan children, sending them back to There will be a chance to hear from and talk to experts from Barcelona with new friendships and with a vision of South Armagh across Ireland who have already developed successful tourism as vibrant, dynamic and deeply proud of its history. experiences as well as to hear from our more local Ambassadors, Camp Gullion invites all children from the South Armagh area who have used their training to advance or augment tourism (aged 10–13) to be part of this innovative experience. Local businesses. There will also be an opportunity for local Ambassadors children will be able to teach the visitors English while learning and tourism providers to have their say in what future training or Spanish and Catalan from native speakers, all without having to support they would like from the Council. leave home! For more information on how to sign up to join the For more information, contact Newry Visitor Information Centre camp, please email Ryan Hamill on [email protected] and visit on 028 3031 3170 or email [email protected]. the website on www.campgullion.com 2 3 What is a UNESCO Global Geopark? Some local residents may be aware that Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is moving forward with plans to establish New Oriel Arts website orielarts.com a UNESCO Global Geopark in the three Areas of Outstanding Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin’s most recent project has been the Natural Beauty (AONB) in the Newry, Mourne and Down District; Photo credit © Linda Thompson establishment of the Oriel Arts website www.orielarts.com. The these are the Mourne Mountains, the Ring of Gullion and website is a rich source of information and performance and Strangford & Lecale. However, many people will be wondering Gardening with Wildlife Course a thing of rare beauty. It took its own time to gestate. what is a UNESCO Global Geopark? Benefits Put the pesticide down and leave a few dandelions be. Come “It arose out of research I published in ‘A Hidden Ulster’ 13 UNESCO Global Geopark The proposed UNESCO Global Geopark has the potential to make along to our Gardening with Wildlife course and learn how you years ago,” she says. “I’m an independent scholar, and it’s the a significant difference to the people living in the district. The ‘Geopark’ is not short for ‘geological park’. ‘Geo’ comes from can use native wildlife to your advantage. culmination of a process to reclaim and renew the tradition in UK sites are part of a growing international network of UNESCO Oriel, which had been forgotten. I felt I was the only person the Greek word for earth. A Geopark is about all the aspects Global Geoparks. On this 10-week practical course, you can learn how to: who could do it. It was a systematic programme of work to of an area’s heritage – wildlife, history, archaeology, the built If successful, the UNESCO Global Geopark brand will develop bring this material back to the mainstream tradition, so the environment, and the intangible cultural heritage. • Feed your soil to feed your plants, sustainable tourism that generates economic benefits, while musicians and singers could go to the sources and sing and UNESCO Global Geoparks are single, unified geographical areas providing recreational opportunities and increased awareness of • Make free organic plant food, play music from the Oriel tradition, which had been forgotten.” where sites and landscapes of international geological significance the area’s natural assets. • Create a successful compost heap, Oriel is a region that straddles the borders of Armagh and are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development.