Tourism, Geoparks and Heritage Potential

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Tourism, Geoparks and Heritage Potential

• Presentation by
• Brendan McSherry,
• Louth heritage officer

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Location Dependent Development

• Developing like where you are matters
• Using what youve got
• Gaining the heritage dividend

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Dundalk is a beautiful place

• Not my words but a quotation from a 2004
  national report on major archaeological
  excavations carried out by the NRA.
• He also states that the area is immensely rich
  regarding archaeological sites and the land is
  steeped in legends

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Geology as background

• North Louth/south Armagh, is one of Irelands
  most interesting geological areas
• Our geological heritage has created the wonderful
  landscape and seascape
• These support fantastic wildlife
• It has created a unique and internationally
  important archaeological heritage
• It has shaped the town we see today

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Industrial Development Policy

• Focus has been on Foreign Direct Investment
• We often assemble imported components
• Foreign-owned factories manufacture for export
• It doesnt matter where in the world you are
• So its easy to relocate somewhere cheaper

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Problems with current policy

• Industry is free to relocate wherever and
  whenever it wants
• Any one of our FDI factories could relocate to
  Eastern Europe or South-East Asia tomorrow

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What can we do?

• What can we do that will tie development into
  this location, what can we hold on to?
• What new, reliable forms of economic activity
  could we develop?
• How can we live more sustainably, in our own
  place, using our own resources?

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Using what we have

• Location dependent development should be
  considered, something based on rare resources,
  that we have here and that others dont
• We need more native development, that can only
  take place here and which cant be easily shifted
  off to Poland or China

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What do we have?

• Is there anything special about the location of
  Dundalk that can add value and give us a
  competitive advantage over other places which are
  not so fortunately located?
• What can Dundalk and district do next that will
  create sustainable employment in our area?

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Our sustainable USP

• What we have here in Dundalk that other people
  would covet includes
• Accessibility Connectivity
• Rich natural and cultural heritage
• Renewable energy resources

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Heritage Tourism Assets

• Beautiful landscapes
• Spectacular wildlife
• Fascinating archaeology
• BUT with easy access and great connectivity,
  were only an hour away!

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Other aspects of our Heritage

• Railway heritage (Greenore village)
• Dundalk Bay top bird site in Ireland
• Landscape, walks, views, geology
• The Gap of the North
• Traditional Irish language culture
• An Táin Bó Cuailgne
• Saint Brigid and the Hill of Faughart
• Archaeology Cooley is one of the most
  interesting archaeological landscapes in Ireland

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Resources for Heritage Tourism

• Birds
• Geology and landscape
• Archaeology, including the walled town of
  Carlingford

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An unappreciated place

• Why is there so little awareness of the wonderful
  location of Dundalk (compared to Kerry or West
  Cork)?
• Why dont people appreciate what we have here in
  Dundalk, north Louth and adjacent areas in south
  Armagh Down?

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The Border Town

• The area was very badly hit by Partition, which
  killed our railway network and ultimately the
  railway engineering industry
• It also made the idea of promoting Dundalk,
  Omeath, Forkill or Crossmaglen as tourist
  destinations laughable

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But times have changed

• The Cooley peninsula, and adjacent areas like
  the Ring of Gullion and the Mourne Mountains, are
  ideal locations for outdoor pursuits such as
  hillwalking, cycling, horse riding, climbing and
  sailing. They are great study centres for
  learning about landscapes, archaeology and
  geology. They are some of the richest sites in
  Ireland in wildlife terms, with both Carlingford
  Lough and Dundalk Bay, as well as the mountains,
  being covered by several European wildlife
  designations.

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Achieving our potential

• How can Dundalk, north Louth and adjacent areas
  achieve their potential?

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Branding Dundalk

• I feel we need an international brand,
  something globally recognised, which would show
  the quality of the place!
• Something like UNESCO World Heritage Site
  status.

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International Recognition

• We dont qualify for WHS status (there are only
  three in Ireland)
• BUT there is another UNESCO brand that we
  could get for our area
• We could try to get the area recognised as a
  European and a Global Geopark

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What would this mean?

• Well be hearing from another geopark soon!
• Educational programmes
• Countryside access provision and management
• Promotion of the area
• Branding for products e.g. Kerry Geopark soap,
  chocolate, bread
• We have both a brewery and a distillery

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The heritage dividend

• Increased tourism spend, more visitors and a
  longer stay
• More specialist, branded products
• Higher awareness and a greater appreciation of
  the areas heritage
• A more positive image for the area
• Educational facilities, school trips
• Better quality of life for all

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Other possibilities

• Birdwatching hides on Carlingford Lough
• Birdwatching hides on Dundalk Bay
• Dundalk Bay International Bird Reserve and Bird
  Watching Centre

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Summary

• We have a very rich heritage in this area,
  including archaeological, architectural, historic
  and cultural heritage.
• Our natural heritage is recognised as being of
  international value, both our geology and our
  wildlife
• The best way to benefit economically from this
  heritage is by winning Geopark status

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Thank You

• I hope you found the ideas in this presentation
  interesting
• I would be happy to answer any questions you may
  have.
• Brendan McSherry
• Louth heritage officer