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Giant's Causeway gets £3m grant Giant's Causeway gets £3m grant
(about 2 hours later)
The new Giant's Causeway visitors' centre is to finally go ahead following a £3m lottery grant.The new Giant's Causeway visitors' centre is to finally go ahead following a £3m lottery grant.
After years of delays and wrangling, construction should start at the site shortly.After years of delays and wrangling, construction should start at the site shortly.
The Heritage Lottery Fund money will go towards an £18.5m revamp of facilities including a new visitors' centre.The Heritage Lottery Fund money will go towards an £18.5m revamp of facilities including a new visitors' centre.
The National Trust, which looks after the site, also plans to improve paths and take measures to conserve and protect the 3km stretch of coastline.The National Trust, which looks after the site, also plans to improve paths and take measures to conserve and protect the 3km stretch of coastline.
The National Trust's Northern Ireland director Hilary McGrady said it was a "landmark announcement".The National Trust's Northern Ireland director Hilary McGrady said it was a "landmark announcement".
She said the grant would ensure the causeway would "truly be sustained, transformed and forever treasured".She said the grant would ensure the causeway would "truly be sustained, transformed and forever treasured".
One of the most popular tourist attractions in Northern Ireland, the Giant's Causeway is a World Heritage Site.One of the most popular tourist attractions in Northern Ireland, the Giant's Causeway is a World Heritage Site.
Legend has it the Irish giant Finn McCool built the causeway to cross the sea and fight a Scottish rival.Legend has it the Irish giant Finn McCool built the causeway to cross the sea and fight a Scottish rival.
As well as a new centre, the plans for the north Antrim coastal site also include:As well as a new centre, the plans for the north Antrim coastal site also include:
  • Visitor guides and live storytelling to educate tourists about the area's history, geology and biodiversity;
  • The creation of new trails and improved maintenance of existing paths, which can be vulnerable to erosion;
  • The recruitment of up to 100 local volunteers as welcome hosts, storytellers, wardens and support staff.
  • Visitor guides and live storytelling to educate tourists about the area's history, geology and biodiversity;
  • The creation of new trails and improved maintenance of existing paths, which can be vulnerable to erosion;
  • The recruitment of up to 100 local volunteers as welcome hosts, storytellers, wardens and support staff.
The lottery grant will be added to funding nearly agreed with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, £4m from the National Trust itself and a fundraising target of £2.25m from the Trust's "A Giant Cause" charity campaign.The lottery grant will be added to funding nearly agreed with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, £4m from the National Trust itself and a fundraising target of £2.25m from the Trust's "A Giant Cause" charity campaign.
The money will go to building a modern visitor's centre, designed by Dublin architects Heneghan Peng, which is hidden from the coastal landscape by a grass roof. The money will go to building a modern visitors' centre, designed by Dublin architects Heneghan Peng, which is hidden from the coastal landscape by a grass roof.
An artist's impression of how the visitor centre may lookAn artist's impression of how the visitor centre may look
The centre will have environmental features such as water-permeable paving, natural lighting and rainwater harvesting.The centre will have environmental features such as water-permeable paving, natural lighting and rainwater harvesting.
The National Trust says it hopes the facilities will be in place by 2012.The National Trust says it hopes the facilities will be in place by 2012.
In recent years, controversy has surrounded efforts to build a new visitors' centre to replace the one which burned down in 2000.In recent years, controversy has surrounded efforts to build a new visitors' centre to replace the one which burned down in 2000.
In 2007, the then Environment Minister Arlene Foster of the DUP announced she was minded to let property developer Seymour Sweeney's company Seaport Investments Ltd build it. That decision was reversed months later.In 2007, the then Environment Minister Arlene Foster of the DUP announced she was minded to let property developer Seymour Sweeney's company Seaport Investments Ltd build it. That decision was reversed months later.
In January 2009, Mrs Foster's ministerial successor Sammy Wilson gave approval to the National Trust's £18.5m plan for new facilities.In January 2009, Mrs Foster's ministerial successor Sammy Wilson gave approval to the National Trust's £18.5m plan for new facilities.
In May 2009, Mr Sweeney dropped a legal challenge to the government's handling of rival bids to build the centre, which cleared the way for work to begin on the National Trust's plans.In May 2009, Mr Sweeney dropped a legal challenge to the government's handling of rival bids to build the centre, which cleared the way for work to begin on the National Trust's plans.
The Giant's Causeway's unique rock formations of rugged symmetrical columns have, for millions of years, stood as a natural rampart against the ferocity of Atlantic storms.The Giant's Causeway's unique rock formations of rugged symmetrical columns have, for millions of years, stood as a natural rampart against the ferocity of Atlantic storms.
The 'discovery' of the causeway was announced in a paper to the Royal Society in 1693.The 'discovery' of the causeway was announced in a paper to the Royal Society in 1693.
At that time, there was furious debate over whether the causeway had been created by men with picks and chisels, by nature, or by the efforts of a giant called Finn.At that time, there was furious debate over whether the causeway had been created by men with picks and chisels, by nature, or by the efforts of a giant called Finn.