29/11/2001

Rescue package mounted to save Navan Fort Tourist Centre

Attempts are being made to save Navan Fort tourist centre in Armagh, one of Northern Ireland's most important heritage sites.

The centre was forced to close earlier this year due to a funding crisis, however Armagh City Council has teamed up with a local hotelier in an effort to re-open the extensive tourist and educational facilities located at the site.

While a meeting is due to take place on December 12 to discuss a submission the council's chief executive, Victor Brownlees, has said that he would not be advising the council to take on any financial responsibility for the centre.

The closure of the centre in June was blamed on a financial crisis caused by poor visitor numbers. Last year the centre was damaged by a fire and refurbished at a cost of £200,000.

The centre is built into the hillside at the site of the ancient Celtic Navan Fort, in an archaeologically rich area where artefacts dating back more than 2,000 years have been uncovered. (MB)

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