Mourne Gullion Strangford UNESCO Global Geopark Making An Impact

The stunning Mourne Gullion Strangford Global Geopark features in a new video raising awareness and understanding of UNESCO’s presence and impact across Northern Ireland.

The “Our Special Places” video, premiered at Stormont to an audience of MLAs, local councillors and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council representatives, showcases the region’s internationally recognised UNESCO destinations.

The video introduces all five Northern Ireland designations including Mourne Gullion Strangford Global Geopark, Giant's Causeway World Heritage Site, Belfast City of Music, Cuilcagh Lakelands Global Geopark and Moravian Church Settlements - Gracehill World Heritage Site.

In addition to the main video, there are five shorter ones, highlighting the unique character, global significance and local relevance of each site, showcasing not only the international significance of the landscapes, but the strong partnerships and local pride that underpin them.

Funding for the “Our Special Places” video was provided through the UK National Commission for UNESCO's (UKNC) Local to Global 2.0 Community Grants Scheme, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund thanks to National Lottery players. Across the UK, six grants of £10,000 were awarded to collaborative projects within UNESCO regional clusters.

The Stormont event also provided elected representatives with an opportunity to learn more about UNESCO and the work of the UK National Commission for UNESCO in Northern Ireland from James Bridge, Chief Executive and Secretary General of UKNC and Keira Brown, Local to Global Programme Coordinator.

A panel discussion featuring representatives from Northern Ireland's UNESCO sites explored the diversity, value and impact of the designations, while also highlighting opportunities for future UNESCO recognition across the region.

Discussions focused on the vital role UNESCO sites play in protecting and promoting Northern Ireland's heritage, supporting local communities, encouraging sustainable tourism and enhancing the region's profile on the global stage.

James Bridge, Chief Executive and Secretary General of UKNC said, “The ‘Our Special Places’ project is a wonderful celebration of Northern Ireland's UNESCO sites, showing how they work together to celebrate and share the stories that make their communities unique and of global interest. Through this collaboration, Northen Ireland’s UNESCO sites created a resource that highlights its extraordinary cultural and natural heritage, while demonstrating the benefits that UNESCO recognition can bring to local people.

“We are delighted in this year of celebrations for the 80th anniversary of UNESCO's founding in 1945, that the Local to Global programme has supported this partnership and helped strengthen connections across Northern Ireland’s UNESCO network.

“By raising awareness of these internationally significant places, the project will inspire greater understanding, pride and engagement, while showcasing Northern Ireland’s contribution to UNESCO’s global mission of protecting heritage, fostering creativity and supporting sustainable development.”

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and the Mourne Gullion Strangford UNESCO Global Geopark is at the centre of an innovative new all-island partnership connecting UNESCO-designated sites across Ireland for the first time.

The Council has secured 100% funding through the PEACEPLUS Change Makers Programme (Investment Area 6.2) for the “UNESCO Together” Project which will be delivered over the next two years, establishing a cross-border network linking UNESCO Global Geoparks, World Heritage Sites, Biosphere Reserves and Creative Cities across Northern Ireland and Ireland.

The project positions the Council and Mourne Gullion Strangford Global Geopark as a leading partner in UNESCO collaboration, with a strong focus on peacebuilding, reconciliation, youth engagement and shared natural and cultural heritage. It also directly supports wider objectives around community cohesion and people-to-people connection.

UNESCO Together will develop an all-island strategic roadmap for long-term cooperation between UNESCO sites, including exploring future initiatives such as a UNESCO Tourism Trail, highlighting World Heritage Sites and Global Geoparks as drivers of sustainable tourism, education, cultural identity and community development.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is the lead partner, responsible for overall coordination, governance, financial management and communications, with the project delivered in partnership with Cavan County Council and Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Glyn Hanna said, “The new video raises not only the significance of Mourne Gullion Strangford UNESCO Global Geopark locally, but regionally and nationally.

Our geopark brings together geology, nature, culture and living communities across a diverse area of mountains, lowlands, coast and sea. As part of the UNESCO Global Geoparks programme, Mourne Gullion Strangford recognises internationally important geology while supporting education, conservation and sustainable development at a local level.”

To view the main showcase “Our Special Places” video, visit Our Special Places | Northern Ireland's UNESCO Sites, while to view the one dedicated to Mourne Gullion Strangford, visit  Our Special Places | Mourne Gullion Strangford UNESCO Global Geopark.