MOUNTAINS OF MOURNE

These mountains occupy just a small corner of County Down, with no more than a dozen peaks surpassing 600 m, and yet they attract thousands of visitors each year. Northern Ireland's grandest scenery  sweeps around in a great arc of granite mountains between Dundrum Bay and Carlingford Lough, a patchwork of tiny sheep-cropped fields with drystone walls lying below the peaks. As well  as being popular for rock climbing, this area can only be properly enjoyed on foot. The main recreation area is the Silent Valley with reservoirs and dams, and superb mountain panoramas. The best base for the Mourne area is the resort of Newcastle, "Where the Mountains o' Mourne sweep down to the sea". Some 35 km north of Newcastle, the Legananny Dolmen is one of the finest and most photographed ancient sites in the country.

The Mountains of Mourne, County Down, in the south east, provide fine walking country

 

CITY OF NEWRY

This cathedral town and port is in a hollow among hills at the head of the Newry River estuary. The town is intersected by canals built in the early eighteenth century, now disused for commerce but stocked with fish and they are a venue for international angling contests.

 

The distinguished history of Newry has resulted in a fine array of both civic and religious buildings. Known as the Gateway to the North, the area has a history of continuous settlement dating back to 4000BC and enjoys wonderful architecture, including beautiful Georgian houses, a cathedral that dates back to the 1830s and a unique town hall built over the Clanyre River. The Town Hall (half in County Down, half in County Armagh) actually spans  the Clanrye River. Evidence of the town's mercantile past can be noted in the names of the streets. The Catholic Cathedral in Hill Street has some good stained-glass windows.

BELFAST

Belfast is the capital city of the North of Ireland and is situated at the head of Belfast Lough. It is the largest urban area in the province of Ulster, the second largest city on the island of Ireland and the 15th largest city in the United Kingdom. The name Belfast also originates from the Gaelic Beal Feirste, which means mouth of the river.

Some of the many attractions in the historic city of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Top row: Queen's University, the Crown Bar and City Hall.
Middle row: Belfast Castle, the Titanic Centre and the Botanic Gardens.
Bottom row: Stormont, the Big Fish and Harland & Wolfe Titanic Mural.

Belfast is a product of the Victorian industrial age. Shipbuilding, engineering, linen and rope-making flourished here. The city's most enduring peaceful symbols are the two great yellow Harland and Wolff dockyard, nicknamed Samson and Goliath, while numerous haughty Victorian buildings fill the city center. City Hall is the most impressive structure, topped by handsome copper domes, with elaborate stucco and a staircase of three types of Italian marble inside.

Only in Belfast can you trace the Titanic story to its source, discover the passion and pride of those who designed and built her and relive the excitement of the Titanic era when the city was at the height of its powers.

To find out more about Belfast: Belfast City Hall

Received from Vikki