Monday 17th January at 7.45pm in An Cuan, Rostrevor is the location for an entertaining and informative evening of song, poems, storytelling and art, all of which showcases the influence of the Mourne landscape and its people on the painters, song writers and poets who visit and live here. Among the artists on the night are singers and song writers Tommy Sands, Matthew McGrath and Rosemary Brennan. There will be art work from Rostrevor watercolourist Colum McEvoy and Welsh painter Victor Cirefice now living in the heart of the Mournes. The evening will be peppered with recitations and stories. Introducing the artists is Marie McStay. Marie McStay has long been associated with the public face of the area because of the popular BBC Radio Ulster Programme 'Your Place and Mine'.

So come along and also enjoy conversations over a cup of tea or coffee where you can share what you value about Mourne heritage and the mountains, and in particular what you think the new Landscape Partnership could best do to work with local communities to protect, conserve and celebrate the Mourne Mountains for current and future generations. Tara Haughian the Development Officer for the Landscape Partnership will be on hand to help facilitate these conversations.

The Mourne Mountain Landscape Partnership - just beginning its development year - is funded primarily by the Heritage Lottery Fund and is housed within the Mourne Heritage Trust, working in partnership with all the key bodies connected to the Mournes. The aim is to submit an agreed Landscape Conservation Action Plan for the Mourne Mountains area to the Heritage Lottery Fund to draw down close to £2million pounds, ring fenced by the Lottery for this special area.

Head of HLF Northern Ireland, Paul Mullan, said: “This event will bring the community together to celebrate their past by sharing the unique cultural and industrial heritage of the Mournes. The development of a successful Landscape Partnership scheme depends on community engagement and consultation and we hope local people will enjoy taking part in this fantastic evening.”

Tara concluded, ‘if you are interested in coming along and or finding out more information about the Landscape Partnership Scheme please contact me and I will gladly have a chat with you. It is really important that at this stage we hear from local communities, landowners and all stakeholders to hear what people value about the landscape and what they want to conserve. This all needs to go into the Landscape Conservation Action Plan so we can draw down funds to work on projects.’

Tara can be contacted at the Silent Valley Mountain Park on 41765489, or her mobile, 07912045966 or email tara.haughian@mourne.co.uk. Details of this event can be found on www.Mournelive.com