the magic of a place apart

The process is under way to create Northern Ireland's first National
Park which will embrace nearly 150,000 acres of County Down
and invite visitors to enjoy a diversity of scenery, habitat and
cultural traditions the equal of any in Ireland.

The park will spread like a skirt from its crowning glory, the
Mountains of Mourne, revered by generations as a wonderful
wilderness haven and an inspiration for artists, poets, songsters
and adventurers.

While it will offer much more, with its miles of varied coast,
its forests, its pastoral landcapes, the witnesses of its ancient
heritage and the craic of its lively and friendly communities, for
many the Mountains of Mourne will BE the Park, the magnet
that draws them.

The following glimpses I hope will give visitors to the site a flavour
of the magic of the unique Mountains of Mourne - and make
them want to know more, to come to discover for themselves.

The images and text of this website are from the book 'The Mountains of
Mourne - A Celebration of a Place Apart' © the author David Kirk