Communities Minister has welcomed a delegation
from Normandy, France to Carrickfergus ahead of the European Year
of the Normans in 2027.
The Minister met Hervé Morin, President of the Normandy Region
and other representatives from Normandy Council in the Keep of
Carrickfergus Castle and presented him with a plaque crafted by
apprentices from the Conservation Works Team featuring the Year
of the Normans 2027 emblem in wrought iron, mounted on a plaque
of Scrabo sandstone.
The Minister said: “I am pleased to welcome the Normandy
Delegation to Carrickfergus Castle which is one of the best
examples of a Norman Castle in Europe. Our shared heritage across
Northern Ireland and, indeed, Europe provides a powerful platform
for understanding our collective past while creating meaningful
opportunities for those who live, work, and visit these
shores.
“Recent investment in my Department's State Care
Conservation Works Team and the Northern Ireland Heritage Skills
Centre is helping to strengthen the skills base needed to sustain
all of our State Care Monuments found within communities across
Northern Ireland. Heritage skills sharing will bring benefits to
all of our historic places and people.”
The Department has produced a programme featuring our State Care
Monuments in the European Year of the Normans 2027. Highlights
include a family fun day at Dundrum Castle; walks and talks led
by archaeologists at Norman State Care sites such as Inch Abbey,
Carrickfergus Castle and Dromore motte and bailey; as well as a
planned exhibition, Castles, Mottes and Monasteries, drawing on
the HERoNI archive.
Notes to editors:
- The Normandy Delegation was led by Hervé Morin, President of
the Normandy Region, and Catherine Morin-Desailly, Senator for
Seine-Maritime and Chair of the Culture, Tourism and Heritage
Commission of the Normandy Region.
- Carrickfergus Castle is a Norman castle in Northern Ireland,
situated in the town of Carrickfergus in County Antrim, on the
northern shore of Belfast Lough. Begun by John de Courcy soon
after his 1177 invasion of Ulster. Besieged in turn by the Scots,
Irish, English and French, the castle played an important
military role until 1928 and remains one of the best-preserved
medieval structures in Ireland. It is also a State Care
Monument.
- In line with the collaborative nature of the European Year of
the Normans 2027, speakers at the wider Northern Ireland
Stakeholder Event included representatives from the Historic
Environment Division, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council,
British Council, and the National Monuments Service (ROI), who
outlined plans and the opportunities available for Northern
Ireland stakeholders.
- More details on events will be available in the summer.
Inclusive BSL sign language tours of several State Care Monuments
are also being planned to ensure the programme is accessible to
the deaf community.
