Come slong to what we hope will be the inaugural conference of a new network bringing together groups with a shared interest in our heritage.

Down Heritage Network Conference

Saturday 18 May 2013, 1030am to 4pm

Down County Museum

10.30-11.00                 Registration/morning coffee

11.00-11.30                 Community history projects at Down County Museum

11.30-1.00                   Workshops: 1. Caring for and using historic objects

2. Caring for and using historic photographs and documents

3. Find out more about archaeology and local sites

1.00-2.00                     Lunch

2.00-3.00                     Museum tour including the museum stores

3.00-3.20                     Community projects at Newry and Mourne Museum

3.20-4.00                     Open Forum: How to develop the Down Heritage Network and ideas for the future.

Admission Free

Sessions facilitated by staff from Down County Museum and Newry and Mourne Museum.

We would love to see as many groups as possible to be represented. This is your chance to shape the network and share issues and experiences with other groups.

Contact Linda on 028-44615218 for more details.

Special Activities for Groups

Down County Museum will be taking part in this unique project in May 2013. The project has been initiated by Christina Henri an artist from Hobart, Tasmania. She is seeking to commemorate the thousands of British and Irish women transported to Australia from the 1780s until the mid-nineteenth century.

Roses from the Heart will create an art installation made up of thousands of bonnets created by people from all over the world. Christina has been travelling all over Australia and Britain and Ireland inviting groups, schools and individuals to make bonnets with her and learn more about how convict women contributed to Australian history and society. She chose bonnets as a symbol of these women’s lives as many convict women were assigned to work amongst the community in private residences as domestic help.

Sew a bonnet and be part of history! 25,266 bonnets have been made so far.

Our special activities for groups include the following:

Living history: meet a prisoner or gaoler from the old gaol of Down and find out more about life in prison 200 years ago.

Short talk: find out more about the gaol’s prisoners from debtors and thieves, to 1798 rebels and highwaymen!

Art/craft: work with artist Christina Henri to create bonnets to be part of a major art installation. You do not have to be able to sew to take part in this!

This activity lasts two hours and is suitable for adults and young people (over 14 year olds). Admission is free and sessions are available at the following times: (max 30-35 per session) or in the morning time on some of these dates. Contact us to discuss.

Monday 13 May         2pm                             Monday 20 May         2pm

Tuesday 14 May         2pm                             Tuesday 21 May         2pm

Wednesday 15 May    2pm                             Wednesday 22 May    2pm

Thursday 23 May        2pm

Contact Linda McKenna,

Community Education Manager,

Down County Museum, for more details or to book a session.

Tel: 028-44615218 or email: linda.mckenna@downdc.gov.uk

One of the most important reasons why Killyleagh is a preferred holiday location is actually because it is in a county that’s abounding with activities and things worth doing. Sailing, trekking, fishing and golfing are to name just a few of many things that Killyleagh and its surrounding areas have on offer. Sailing is favored by many visitors and the city has 3 sailing clubs alone, without mentioning others which are scattered along the coast of Strangford Lough. It’s also hard not to use the gorgeous country which Killyleagh is encircled by. For people that enjoy a good walk, there are lots of country lanes to stroll which are crammed with a superb collection of animal life including badgers, red squirrels, kingfishers and more lately a resurge in the superb Buzzards. For the more heavy hikers and hill trekkers there’s the Mountains of Mourne which offer astounding views and a relaxed and relaxing environment.

Delamont Country Park is an excellent place to visit for all the family, particularly if you have babies in your company. Visitors can book ship trips out on to Strangford Lough and with the chance to perhaps catch a glance of a seal, or if you are even luckier, a lazing shark, it turns out to be a top hit with all visitors. The park has a Thomas the tank engine and carriages and even travels thru a tunnel where it sounds its horn, this is a brilliant experience for the small ones.

Delamont Country Park is also the home of the Strangford Stone, the tallest megalith in the English Isles at ten metres high. It has got a heavy purpose in Delamont as it was raised in 1999 by one thousand younger people from all parts of Northern Ireland to mark the start of the millennium. With other activities like an out of doors gymnasium, canoe trails and many walks Delamont Park is an exciting and fun experience for any person of any age.

As the chestnut goes, nice things come in tiny packages and for Killyleagh this really is true. With lovely environment, traditional castles, buildings and action-packed attractions, Killyleagh is unquestionably a place not to be missed out on.

Outside the towns the terrain of Northern Ireland will beguile you with its variety and rough style. Southern of the Derry the Mountains Sperrin rise in delicate features in the landscape. You may enjoy the amazing wonder of Ness Timber, the location where the Burntollet Stream cascades thirty feet over the Northern Ireland’s maximum waterfall.

The Coast Causeway among Larne and also the Giant Causeway follows 60 miles of impressive shore carved with impressive lush forests, bluffs, and also the calm Antrim glens. In the southwest area of the country, the Fermanagh Lakeland is a relaxed place for fishing and dramatic drives. Here you are able to discover a brief history with the Gaelic Maguire chieftains inside the Enniskillen Fortress and also museums with the area. The scenery of the nation is filled with countless ruins, historic sites, churches and castles to find out.

Planning to visit Northern Ireland? Make sure you visit www.ferriestoireland.org where you can find great deals on ferries to Ireland and tips on places to visit during your stay.

The Department for Regional Development (DRD) which is responsible for operating the service, said it was, nevertheless, valuable.  It said it had no plans to decommission any of the ferries but is awaiting a report into how savings can be made.

The Strangford Lough Ferry Service provides an important transport link to the Ards Peninsula and is a subsidised public service. A number of reviews into various aspects of the management and operation of the ferry service have been carried out by the DRD in the past.

Most recently, following a request from the Committee for Regional Development Committee, the department is preparing a report summarising the findings of these reviews.  The report will cover the potential for efficiency savings, the future of the MV Strangford and the level of service provided

St Columbas College

2 Ballyphilip Road

Newtownards, Portaferry, Newtownards, County Down

028 4272 8323

St Marys Primary School

53 Windmill Hill
Portaferry, Newtownards

0284272 8278

Kirkistown Primary School

Main Road

Cloughey, Newtownards, County Down

028 4277 1455

The Strangford/- Portaferry ferry is a small ferry service that enables travellers to cross Strangford Lough from one town to the other. It also carries a fair amount of cars. It departs on the hour and half past the hour.

The sailing time are as follows

Strangford   First Sailing     Last Sailing

Weekdays     07:30                    22:30

Saturday       08:00                     23:00

Sunday          09:30                      22:30

Portaferry    First Sailing        Last Sailing

Weekdays      07:45                          22:45

Saturday        08:15                           23:15

Sunday           09:45                           22:45

Kircubbin Presbyterian Church

Kircubbin Rd

Cloughey, Kircubbin, Co. Down

028 4273 8368

Ballyphilip Parish

10 Church Street

Portaferry, Newtownards, County Down

028 4272 8373

Ballywalter Presbytrian Church

Main Street

Newtownards, Ballywalter, County Down

028 4275 8788

 Portaferry Festival has been running for many years in conjunction with the Portaferry Development Association. The event originally took place during the traditional holiday period in Northern Ireland (generally the 2 or 3rd week of July), however  in recent years the Gala Committee have staged various Gala events at diffeent times of the year, for example Halloween and Christmas.

The majority of events in the Gala are free to the public, attracting thousands of visitors  each year from around the local area

The Gala events are primarily funded by sponsorship from Portferrys local business community, with other income from community grants and the local council. The Gala Committee consists of volunteers who work throughout the year organizing and coordinating the festival events.

more info can be found here -  www.portaferrygala.com

Located within the walls of Portaferry Castle, overlooking scenic Strangford Lough and just a short walk from the town centre, the Tourist Information Centre offers you local and national tourist information, plus accommodation booking service, fax and photocopying service. The centre also has a  souvenirs for sale for those interested.

The Centre also has the Loft Gallery and the renowned “Art in the Loft” exhibition series which highlights the work of a large range of artists, craftspeople and designer makers from the area and further beyond. As part of the exhibition series, the centre also offers a range of workshops. Further programme details are available by contacting the centre.

Lift access is available to the upper floor.

Opening Hours
Easter – June – Mon – Sat- 10am – 5pm, Sun 1pm – 5pm
July – Aug – Mon – Sat 10am – 5.30pm, Sun 12noon – 5pm
Sep – Easter – Closed