As Northern Ireland marks 25 years of peace, UNESCO has selected the Mourne Gullion Strangford region between Belfast and Dublin to become one of 195 Global Geoparks, three of which are on the island of Ireland.
Along this remote-feeling stretch of east coast, glacial hills or ‘drumlins’ (from droimnín, the Irish word for “little ridge”) tumble to the Irish Sea. Inland, granite mountains leap cloudward; woodpeckers, pine martens, and red deer abide in the forests, while 70,000 seabirds grace the sea inlet known as Strangford Lough.
Fans of Game of Thrones may be familiar with the Mourne Mountains, cliffs and forests from backdrops in the series, but the landscape has been delighting walkers and nature lovers for much longer. And for over ten years, local authorities have been working towards the global label.
An area of outstanding natural beauty since 1991 (AONB), the region is custodian to three remarkable features. One is a geological landform regarded as the British Isles’ finest example of a ‘ring dyke’ called the Ring of Gullion. At the heart of the AONB, rises the second – the 850-metre peak of Slieve Donard. Meanwhile the third, the UK’s largest coastal lough, teems with wildlife as it curls towards Belfast.
Now UNESCO has embraced them all under one of its most unifying and grassroots-led banners, recognising the Global Geopark for both its internationally-significant geology and its cultural riches.
Sustainably championing local heritage as well as the landscape is a key to retaining the special status, which aims to:
“give local people a sense of pride in their region and strengthen their identification with the area. The creation of innovative local enterprises, new jobs and high-quality training courses is stimulated as new sources of revenue are generated through geotourism, while the geological resources of the area are protected.”
In Mourne Gullion and Strangford that heritage culture offer currently takes many forms, among which dry-stone wall building, distilling, woodworking, harp-playing and foraging. But not everyone is convinced by the creation of the new Geopark.
“Some local farmers are afraid that the label means more restrictions, but I think we take for granted how beautiful our back yard is – it needs protecting,” a resident told The Guardian. Another pointed out the need to attract international visitors to an area still associated by some with The Troubles.
The Global Geopark recognition will be reviewed after four years.
