New members appointed to board of visitor centre

New members appointed to board of visitor centre

2 April 2014

THE St. Patrick Centre in Downpatrick has appointed four new board members.

Dean Henry Hull, Eamonn McGrady, Emma Killen and Malcolm Crichton were welcomed recently by Mr. John Carson, the chairman of the Visitor Centre dedicated to Ireland’s Patron Saint.

Dean Henry Hull is the Dean of Down, Emma Killen is a solicitor with King and Boyd in Downpatrick, while Eamonn McGrady runs his own accountancy business in the town. Malcolm Crichton is the managing director of the Down Recorder.

Mr. Carson said the Centre’s Board will be strengthened by a wide selection of local business, church and professional experience and expertise.

He paid tribute to deceased board members, former South Down MP Eddie McGrady and Lance Dermot, and to Sir Billy Hastings, who recently retired from the St. Patrick Centre Board.

Looking forward, Mr. Carson said he is “enthusiastic” about the future of the St. Patrick Centre and working with the new board members. He believes along with the experience of existing board members, the reconstituted board “will add greatly to the running of the visitor centre.”

Mr. Carson confirmed a new five-year business plan is currently being prepared for the multi-million pound visitor attraction with the help of Invest NI and Down Council.

“I look forward to working with all parties to achieve

the goals of the new business plan,” he continued. “In the past year, the Centre has continued to build on the success of 2012, showing a healthy increase in visitor numbers and coach tours.

“The growing number of cruise ships visiting Belfast has also generated business and I look forward to working with Warrenpoint harbour when cruise ships are expected there in 2015.”