Public consultation opens on borough’s draft Heritage Strategy
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Council are inviting residents, community groups, and stakeholders across the borough to help shape the future of our local heritage. Following a successful engagement period, where the public shared their views through surveys and drop-in sessions, a Draft Heritage Strategy has been developed to reflect what heritage means to the people of Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon.
A public consultation is now open for feedback on the strategy, to hear what works well, what could be improved, and what might be missing. This input will help identify key heritage priorities and guide the delivery of the Heritage Places initiative between now and 2033.
Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Alderman Stephen Moutray said:
“Heritage is at the heart of our communities—it connects us to our past, shapes our present, and inspires our future. This Draft Heritage Strategy is a vital step in ensuring that the voices of local people guide how we protect and celebrate our shared heritage across the borough. I encourage everyone to take part in the consultation and help shape a strategy that celebrates and protects our heritage for generations to come.”
Nikki McVeigh, a Northern Ireland Committee Member for The National Lottery Heritage Fund said:
“Heritage Places is an opportunity to take a fresh look at all forms of heritage and bring together everyone who cares about their local heritage to see how developing the cultural, built and natural heritage of the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council area could make it an even better place to live, work and visit. We would encourage anyone with an interest in heritage to get involved with this consultation either through the online survey or at an upcoming drop in event.”
Consultation period 22 December 2025 to 16 March 2026.
How to Get Involved:
- Read the draft Strategy and complete the online survey to share your thoughts here.
- Visit drop-in sessions across the borough and share your thoughts with our Heritage Places team:
- Gosford Forest Park: Saturday 10 January, 2pm – 4pm
- Dromore Community Centre: Tuesday 20 January, 6pm – 8pm
- Tommy Makem Centre Keady: Thursday 19 February, 6pm – 8pm
- Lurgan Town Centre: Thursday 5 March, 10am – 12:00pm
For more engagement events, please visit ABC Culture NI.
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough is the first place in Northern Ireland to be designated as a Heritage Place. Heritage Places is a UK-wide strategic initiative made possible by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery Players. This 10-year commitment seeks to unlock the potential of local heritage, igniting imagination, pride, and inspiration in Heritage Places across the UK. Through collaboration and targeted investment, the ABC Heritage Places project will transform the borough’s historic fabric, ensuring that its unique character endures for generations to come.
Read the draft strategy and access the survey online here – https://shorturl.at/q9P3M
