A great nights entertainment was held in An Cuan, Rostrevor on Monday night. The event which was organised by the Mourne Mountains Landscape Partnership invited people along to a Cultural Heritage night, ‘The Mournes, The People and The Stories’.

Over 120 people filled the room to hear songs, stories and enjoy the craic in the company of talented singer songwriters Tommy Sands, Matthew McGrath and Rosemary Brennan. The audience joined in with laughter, song, clapping and the odd teary eye was visible on a few of the folks listening to these songs telling about the mountain landscape, times long ago, heart breaking love stories and comical characters too. Marie McStay who compered the evening related some interesting stories and anecdotes about her experiences of life in the Mournes. Bob Brown from the Heritage Lottery Fund reiterated how important it was for communities to engage at this time in order to draw down funding later to deliver a range of projects.

Around the room paintings and photographs showcased the artistic talent of Victor Cirefice, Colum McEvoy and Sean MacAleenan. The landscape and the lives of people working in the heart of the Mournes is clearly an inspiring theme.

Tara Haughian from the Landscape Partnership said she was delighted with the turn out and it clearly showed how people love an occasion like this and do want to stay connected to their cultural heritage. ‘People maybe only get the chance for an event like this once in the year during festival time. It would be great if there were more regular opportunities to participate in events, workshops and other similar activities throughout the year. The Landscape Partnership hopes after Monday night’s event that people will think through what they value about their cultural heritage living so close to the Mournes and I will be able to support the development of these ideas to go forward in to the final plan for submission to the Heritage Lottery Fund.’

Anyone interested in talking to Tara should contact her on tara.haughian@mourne.co.uk or phone 41765489 or 07912045966.