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Buncrana waste ground to be
transformed
23.10.13
A PIECE of waste ground
in Buncrana is to be transformed into the 'Amazing
Grace Reflection Park'.
The park, beside the Tourist Office at Railway Road,
is the second phase in the development of an
'Amazing Grace Experience' for the area and comes
after the official opening of a viewing platform at
the Shore Front.
The initiative organisers explained that Buncrana’s
historic connection with the story of the famous
hymn 'Amazing Grace' dates back to 1748 when slave
trader John Newton found refuge in Lough Swilly
after a facing death in a violent Atlantic storm.
"This was the critical turning point in the life of
the self-proclaimed “wretch”, which he later
described in his most famous hymn as “the hour I
first believed," said a spokesperson.
"The facts and the significance of John Newton’s
arrival in Lough Swilly have been confirmed and
endorsed by the world’s leading expert on the life
of John Newton, by the UK-based John Newton Project
(responsible for researching, archiving and
preserving the history of John Newton) and by local
historians in the West Inishowen History and
Heritage society." |
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Chairman of Inishowen Development
Partnership, Anthony Doogan; Buncrana Mayor Cllr
Peter McLaughlin; IDP manager Andrew Ward and
Amazing Grace Initiative chairman Nicholas Crossan
pictured at the sod turning for the Amazing Grace
Reflection Park at Railway Road, Buncrana. |
The under-construction
park and the viewing point have received assistance
from Inishowen Development Partnership (Leader) and
the Department of Environment, Community and Local
Government for their support under the National
Rural Development Programme 2007-2013. It is hoped
the new park will be completed within six months.
The organisers say funding has been made possible
for the 'Amazing Grace Initiative' because of "the
significant potential of this global story to
attract visitors to the region". "Research
demonstrates the strength of the 'brand' by a
comparison with other iconic Irish sites: in a
single month, there are 60,000 Google searches each
for the Cliffs of Moher and for the Blarney stone
but there are 835,000 searches for 'Amazing Grace',"
the organisers added.
Buncrana Mayor Cllr Peter McLaughlin said:
“Inishowen Development Partnership plays a vital
role in accessing grant funding for community
projects across the peninsula which would not
otherwise be possible.” |
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