Cash boost for ailing St. Pat’s Centre

Cash boost for ailing St. Pat’s Centre

4 July 2012 - by Ciara Colhoun

A MUCH-needed financial boost has been given to the St. Patrick Centre in Downpatrick

The Northern Ireland Environment Agency is to invest £40,000 in a new exhibition at the troubled centred, which recently staved off the threat of closure by agreeing a new deal with Down Council.

The announcement has been welcomed by South Down MP, Margaret Ritchie, who said the centre plays a key role in the tourist package in South Down.

“The St Patrick’s Centre should be a beginning and an end base for visitors to the area,” she said.

“We must extend the visitor experience into St. Patrick’s County and spread visitor spend throughout the area. One way of doing this is to educate visitors on the many other St. Patrick visitor attractions in Down District and the early Christian heritage in the Mournes, such as St Donard’s connection.”

Miss Ritchie said the Northern Ireland Environment Agency’s commitment to fund the new exhibition in the centre would help improve the experience for local visitors.

“Our heritage and tourism product is one and the same and this £40,000 will lead to improvements in what we can offer visitors to the St. Patrick Centre and St. Patrick’s Country,” she said.

“I look forward to these improvements and I will continue to lobby for funds to ensure an improved visitor experience and an increase in visitors numbers to St. Patrick’s Country and the Mournes.

“There is no doubt that money invested in heritage tourism will make a major contribution to the local economy and job creation.”