A new community group in Co Fermanagh is aiming to make Belleek Northern Ireland’s first ‘heritage village’.
The Belleek Development and Heritage Group was recently set up by a number of volunteers to drive development for the town.
Chair of the group Andy Murie says the area has untapped potential in terms of tourism and culture, and wants it to match other villages in Ireland and other parts of the UK in terms of recognition for its heritage.
“This was set up because we wanted to make Belleek the first Heritage Village in Northern Ireland,” native Scot Andy told MyFermanagh.
“When I first came over here the first thing I noticed was there was none of these around.
“If you go to the south for example or over to England and Wales you get these heritage villages or towns but there are none here.
“I wanted to develop a programme where we would pursue that and now we have some funding in for a development plan for it.”
Andy says the local community group are keen to turn the area into one where people stay for a few days rather than moving on.
He added: “Belleek is one of the top tourist attractions in the north with Belleek Pottery, but we want it to be bigger than that in terms of having people stay a wee bit longer and try and promote what we have here.
“There are plans in place to develop the marina down here and there is lots going on.
“There is a tight community here, and I think there is a thing that we have been forgotten about a wee bit because of where we are on the border.
“Now that there is an organisation in place which is pursuing things to happen in Belleek then I think it’s exciting to see what will happen over the next few years.”
