Music in the forest for Prince Charles as his visit to Northern Ireland continues

For the final stop on day one of a two-day tour of Northern Ireland, Prince Charles visited Slieve Gullion Forest Park in County Armagh. During the engagement, the Prince took the time to learn how the park operates to reduce erosion on traditional stonework. He also learned how local trade is supported by buying sheeps’ wool to create fleeces to underlay the footpaths.

The Prince was told during his visit, “It never rains in south Armagh.” After flying in by helicopter, Charles was treated to a musical performance by a group of children from The Ring of Gullion Traditional Arts Partnership, which is a community arts association that focuses on traditional music and song.

“They’re very good,” said the Prince.

The Prince of Wales asked how their exams went and wished the young musicians luck in the future. The Prince then chatted with workers from the Mourne Heritage Trust about their conservation work on the mountain and the tools they use. Moving up the mountain into the forest, a number of scientists spoke about their work with pine martens – a mustelid native to and widespread throughout Northern Europe. It can also be referred to as a Baum marten or sweet marten. The Ring of Gullion is a popular example of the volcanic ring dyke system in the United Kingdom. It’s home to biodiversity, threatened species such as the red squirrel and the pine marten.

Near the end of the engagement, the Prince spoke with Padraig Carragher of Bluebell Lane Glamping, discussing the planting of 20,000 trees in the area and the local legends of Finn McCool. A mythical hunter-warrior in Irish mythology, he is also known in Scotland and the Isle of Man. “We now have visitors from as far afield as Larne and Carrickfergus who come here to take in the beauty of the Ring of Gullion,” Padraig said. “South Armagh is now about its ancient history – not about the recent history.”

At the end of his tour, the Prince spoke to several families who had been waiting patiently in the spectacle, and a little girl presented him with a bouquet of freshly picked bluebells. This is the first visit of a member of the House of Windsor to the community of south Armagh. Only security orientated visited by royals have happened in the past.