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Giants Causeway Development
By manager@ni247.com Published: 12/07/2010
Northern Ireland's only World Heritage Site, which includes the Giant's Causeway and other geological features such as Finn MacCool's organ, chimney tops, and even his boot, is owned by the National Trust on behalf of the nation.
The funding will go towards an £18.5million project which includes a new visitor centre, improvement of existing paths and new paths and further protection and conservation of the 3km stretch of coastline.
The project will also include an outreach scheme to recruit new volunteers to help out at the Causeway and involve schools, universities and local communities in a series of education and environmental programmes.
The Heritage Lottery Fund also announced a £3.7 million grant to Liverpool's Florence Institute for Boys, one of the oldest surviving purpose-built youth clubs in the UK, for repair and conservation work.
Its alumni include Tommy Bache, a boxer who won medals in the 1958 Empire Games and Gerry Marsden - of Gerry and the Pacemakers - who played his first gig there in the 1950s, but it has been closed for more than 20 years.
Dame Jenny Abramsky, chairwoman of the Heritage Lottery Fund, said: "This is heritage in all its kaleidoscopic glory.
'From Northern Ireland's breathtaking coastal landscape to Liverpool's first ever youth club, these places have mass appeal.
'Heritage means different things to different people but what is really important is these places reflect the UK's multi-layered and fascinating history.'
National Trust Director for Northern Ireland, Hilary McGrady hailed the HLF funding as a 'landmark announcement' for the Giant's Causeway and the people of Northern Ireland.
The National Trust hopes to be able to start work onsite in 'a matter of weeks'.
