Armagh: Apples remain at the core of city’s tourism

According to the local council’s events manager, Gill Robb, like its apples, the region is trying to grow a major tourism product.

“There is so much on offer in and around Armagh,” she said.

“There’s the Navan, the Cathedrals, the Planetarium – so there’s huge scope for further growth and investment.

“Festivals are a great driver to bring people in to enjoy what’s here.”

If there is a stumbling block to Armagh achieving its tourism potential it is poor transport links and a perceived shortage of hotel beds.

The city is currently home to two hotels. Local tour guide Donna Fox believes there is considerable scope for more.

“I work full-time at this and the only time of the year that is slack for me is January,” she said.

“It wasn’t always like that. I became a tour guide in 1997 and there weren’t too many people coming here then, so it’s really grown.

“You have international visitors coming here, people from down south, from across the water, and get a lot of local people. But I think a better public transport network would bring more visitors here.

“I think that’s the that’s the main problem.”