New Project Tells the Stories of the Local Landscape and People

The heritage and history of the areas around Camlough Lake and Victoria Lock are set to come alive through the introduction of new audio story devices.

These devices called ‘U-Turn-Around’ machines, are part of a new project run by the Ring of Gullion Landscape Partnership Scheme (LPS) as part of a Heritage Lottery Fund programme to conserve and enhance some of the region’s most treasured landscapes.

The machines are wind-up, dynamo powered digital sound stores which are easy to operate. Visitors will be able to select one of four different stories at each site in either English or Irish, and a few turns of the handle is all that is needed to play the story.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Roisin Mulgrew said, “I am very pleased to see the launch of this new project. These U turn-around devices are such a simple way for visitors to find out more about their location and its stories. The technology doesn’t require any mains electricity and is green and sustainable. The recordings contain far more information than a traditional interpretative panel, and the stories mean that everyone can enjoy finding out about these incredible sites.”

The LPS worked with community groups to identify which stories local people wanted to tell the world about. Scripts were developed featuring two characters: Sophie and her grandfather. In each of the light-hearted stories, Sophie discovers more about her area and talks to her granddad about his memories and stories.

Local volunteers Bara O’Muiri and his daughter Roise, were selected to be the voices of Sophie and her granddad, and the pair recorded the stories in both English and Irish. The recordings were made and edited at local Take Six sound studio, where technicians worked their magic by adding voiceovers and sound effects recorded from the two sites to add atmosphere and reality to the stories.

Stories from Camlough include ‘Born from Fire and Ice’ about the geology of the area and ‘Wild Swimming and Triathlons’,  which looks at the sporting heritage of the lake.  ‘Better than a Zoo’ explores the wildlife of the Camlough Lake and finally ‘The Secret Tunnel’ spins some yarns about the old hydro-electric plans for the lough.

The device for Victoria Lock tells the wonderful stories of how the lock works, the history of the canal, the links between the sea and Fathom as well as helping people to identify the wildlife of shore and mountain.