Camlough Heritage Trail Launched

A project revealing the heritage, architecture and fascinating characters that tell the tale of Camlough’s history was launched Wednesday 4 January, 2017.

The new Camlough and Bessbrook Heritage Trail is complimented by four new interpretation panels. The route guides visitors on a thought-provoking walk through the centre of the village and out onto the slopes of Camlough Mountain, returning via the unique roofless St Jude’s church.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Gillian Fitzpatrick said, “Many significant characters; from gambling writers to fighting diplomats and from plumbers to republicans have had an impact on Camlough and these panels and the trail leaflet show the range of influences that have shaped the area’s heritage”.

The Camlough Heritage Trail project is an outcome of the Landscape Partnership Scheme (LPS), part of the Heritage Lottery Fund’s programme to conserve and enhance some of the region’s most treasured landscapes, and runs from September 2015 until August 2018.

Camlough Heritage Society worked closely with the Landscape Partnership to condense the long history of Camlough into one simple trail, to tell tales stretching back 12,000 years.

Landscape Partnership and the Camlough Heritage Society Chairperson, Des Murphy said,

“From glaciers to the age of steam and from the war of independence to world record swimming, this trail weaves the people and land together to reveal a unique place that deserves to be celebrated.”

Mr Murphy continued, “The new panels in Camlough compliment interpretation panels already erected in Bessbrook and the trail leaflet focuses on both settlements which a have long intertwined history. The leaflet will be available in Raymond McCreesh house as well as in all the libraries and Visitor Information Centres and we hope many people will follow the trail over the coming years perhaps bringing it further alive by joining one of our guided tours.”