Exploris reopening is great news for town

Exploris reopening is great news for town

17 February 2016

IT’S Portaferry’s year. That’s the message from those behind transforming a town which just a few short months ago faced a bleak future.

But with the long-term fate of Exploris finally secured this week, a hotel re-opened and the finishing touches being put to a major new arts and heritage centre, Portaferry has reached its “turning point”.

John Dumigan, chairman of Portaferry Regeneration, made the prediction as he met with community group representatives yesterday at the new ‘Portico’ heritage centre — a unique Greek Revival style church transformed with extraordinary vision and a £1m investment.

“This is Portaferry’s year,” he said. “We see this as a turning point for Portaferry, so many things are coming together and happening this year.

“There has been a serious drive to get to the good news of Exploris. But for the council it is not just about Exploris, or the hotel. It is about ‘Destination Portaferry’. 

“We have to see if the council want to row in behind this, but there is a clear indication that they do want to work towards bringing Portaferry back to tourism.”

On Thursday evening the news came through that Exploris would reopen in the summer following a £1.5m investment in refurbishment works and a new operator — the company responsible for the success of Crumlin Road Gaol in Belfast. Crumlin Road Gaol Ltd (CRG) will operate the aquarium and seal sanctuary on behalf of Ards and North Down Council as well as developing a partnership with Oceanworld Aquarium in Dingle, County Kerry.

Exploris has been beset by problems and threats of closure for the past three years, which at one point sparked a global ‘Save Exploris’ campaign on social media. Environment Minister Mark H Durkan stepped in with a major funding promise in August 2014 but there were a few more bumps on the road before the green light on construction was finally given at a meeting of council on Thursday.

The good news is that the contract with CRG Ltd is for a minimum of 25 years and they are committed to investing at least £2m into the facility during the life of the contract.

Pouring over a list of upcoming concerts, films, maritime and sporting events in Portaferry, Mr Dumigan paid tribute to the “strength of the people” in Portaferry and its various community groups.

“Between now and six months ago there is a vast difference,” he said. “There is a serious energy that people want to make this place work. There has been an essential coming together.”

A £250,000 redevelopment of the town’s Market House and a Townscape Heritage Initiative have been among the projects keeping Portaferry Regeneration busy. Developing the area’s Christian heritage and Viking heritage more fully is also on the cards.

“We really want to bring the Market House back to its former glory,” said Mr Dumigan. “The Market House is a very prominent building within Portaferry and a major driver for other people in the area to upgrade their properties.

“That land around Exploris, for example, we also want to see if we can work together to develop that into a family adventure playground.”

Councillor Joe Boyle, who joined Mr Dumigan yesterday, backed the vision and said the council was now fully on board with Exploris.

“Yes there have been reservations,” he said of earlier disagreements. “That is called politics and people have different points of view but ultimately we had a unanimous backing.”

Verity Peet, heritage officer at Portico, added that the new partnership with North Down Council had helped.

“We have benefited from the experience of North Down promoting marine tourism and Christian heritage,” she said. “That expertise brought on board means there is a good mix.

Moira Ritchie, representing Portaferry Sailing Club and Portaferry Gala, was also at the meeting.

“Hopefully we will see a boost in the town from day visitors,” she said. “Another gateway is through sailing and we have the Portaferry Sails and Sounds coming up, a new boat and music festival in association with the Old Gaffers Association. We hope to have a mini Fleadh comprised of traditional music and traditional boats.” 

Food taster sessions are also on the cards.

Allison Murphy, of Portaferry and Strangford Trust, is particularly excited at the opening of a new Maritime and Heritage Centre in March at 8 The Shore.

She said they wanted to “draw people down the peninsula” but that it was important to consider “the other side of the Lough” when it came to Portaferry’s future.

“Strangford has been affected too by the closure of Exploris,” she said. 

Aside from all the maritime and heritage activities, Portaferry resident Ryan Conlan is championing a new triathlon event due to take place in August. A member of the Narrows Tri Club, he said the aim was to revitalise the Portaferry Triathlon last held back in the early 1990s.

“We have the draw of Strangford Lough and it will really promote the scenery in the area,” he said. “We hope we will see quite a lot of new visitors to the area as a result.”

More information on some of the many upcoming events in Portaferry can be found at www.porticoards.com and www.portaferryandstrangfordtrust.org