Last chance to learn the lore of Gullion

The last opportunity to join the unique band of Ambassadors for the Ring of Gullion has just opened.

Over the last three years, the Ring of Gullion Landscape Partnership has run its top-rated Ambassadors programme, which has successfully trained nearly 50 envoys for this beautiful region. The Ring of Gullion Ambassadors are vital to the sharing of the natural, built and cultural heritage of the Ring of Gullion with young and old, local and visitor alike. Some of the Ambassadors have even set up part-time businesses on the strength of their training.

The final Ambassador training programme will be running from January to March 2018. If you are interested in sharing your passion for the Ring of Gullion with friends, neighbours or visitors to the area, this course is for you. Once you have completed the course you will have an Open College Network (OCN) level-2 qualification in tour guiding, an emergency first aid certification and have insurance to lead walks for your community; not to mention a greater appreciation and understanding of the natural, built and cultural heritage of South Armagh.

The course is open to everyone from young people hoping to improve their CV’s to retirees with some time on their hands and from tourism providers to people wanting to try something a bit different. No previous qualifications or experience is required. Anne Quigley, a recent Ambassador trainee has this to say about the programme, “The course itself was extremely well organised and each one of our lecturers was excellent. Everything about the course was superb.”

“The Council’s tourism strategy is to establish the Newry, Mourne and Down district as one of the premier tourism destinations on the Island of Ireland by 2021. The Ring of Gullion Ambassador programme is a vital component of this overall aim, so I would encourage anyone interested in taking part in this fantastic programme.” added Rosin Mulgrew, Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.

Knowing more about our heritage and passing on that knowledge is also of vital importance to communities and our sense of place. This course will help you to explore your culture, build up a collection of stories and share them with your community as well as visitors. Full details are available here. Places will be limited so please register your interest as soon as possible, the course costs £65. Please book by calling into Crossmaglen Community Centre Mon-Fri 9-5 and ask for anyone in the Ring of Gullion team.