Meelmore Lodge Undergoes Development

Meelmore Lodge Undergoes Development

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is pleased to be involved with the Meelmore Lodge Outdoor Visitor Amenity Area development plans. The development project has seen the coming together of the public and private sectors to provide a creative and sustainable solution for people and traffic management in the Mourne Mountains area.

The development incorporates a new amenity block incorporating toilets, showers and changing facilities for outdoor users, coffee shop and visitor servicing provisions as well as the important provision of much needed additional car parking. Meelmore Lodge is situated at a very strategic point in the Mourne Mountains and the project has enhanced the focus at the Hare’s Gap into the much loved mountain landscape. 

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Gillian Fitzpatrick said, “It is important that we find creative solutions to manage this wonderful outdoor landscape and help sustain its use and development going forward for the enjoyment of visitors and locals alike. A key Council priority is to develop the Mourne Mountains as the premier Tourism destination in Ireland and this initiative, and hopefully others like it to come, will help achieve this ambition.”

Councillor Fitzpatrick added, “Newry, Mourne and Down District Council would like to acknowledge its partners in this project, Tourism Northern Ireland for their key funding and especially the landowners, Mr Dessie Patterson and family, for their commitment and drive in seeing this project to a successful conclusion.”

This project has been part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the European Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland and administered by Tourism Northern Ireland. 

Supporting the opening of the enhanced facilities at Meelmore Lodge, Tourism Northern Ireland Chief Executive, John McGrillen said, "Tourism Northern Ireland, in conjunction with the ERDF Sustainable Competitiveness Programme, has been closely involved with the implementation of the Trassey outdoor tourist amenity facility and I am delighted that we contributed funding support to this project. The enhanced amenity site and car park will have a direct impact on our visitors, encouraging longer stays, repeat visits to Trassey and the wider Mourne area and consequently generate more revenue for the local area.”