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Sunday, 6th July 2008

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GET ON THE WILLIAMITE TRAIL



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MEMBERS of the White House Preservation Trust recently attended an Orange Order-backed initiative which they hope will draw more tourists to the borough.
The Williamite Trail tourist, map which follows the route of King William and his Army in 1690, before and after the Battle of the Boyne, was launched in Belfast earlier this month.
William landed a portion of his army at Whitehouse on the shores of
Belfast Lough on an artificial island known as 'Donald's Island', in June 1690.
Members of the Trust have been working together with the Orange Order to ensure that the White House and Gideon's Green were included in the new trail.
Alister Bell, Secretary of the White House Preservation Trust, said: "The Trust Board welcomes the launch of the Williamite Trail and has worked with the Orange Order to ensure that the White House and Gideon's Green were included in the trail.
"When the restored White House opens in May 2009 it will contain a permanent exhibition on the Williamite Wars in Ireland, so it is important a proper trail has been developed including the White House.
"It is also timely that the trail was launched with the Official Opening of Oldbridge House at the site of the Battle of the Boyne last week. This trail will surely be developed into a major cross border tourism opportunity."
The White House is generally recognised as one of Ireland's oldest and most important buildings. The White House Preservation Trust has undertaken the challenge of restoring it to make it a centre for a Williamite display, local history studies and genealogy.
The new map was specially designed after discussions with historians on both sides of the border.
The route begins in Northern Ireland in Londonderry, the location for the longest siege in British military history, and a major influence on the Williamite period.
The map then follows William and his army after he landed at Carrickfergus and travelled southwards through what is now Northern Ireland, before moving towards the Battle of the Boyne, near Drogheda.
It was here that King William and his army of 36,000 met his father-in-law James II and his 25,000 troops in the last known battle where two Kings were on the ground and involved in the fighting. The battle was the decisive encounter in a war that was primarily about the attempt by James II to regain the throne of England and Scotland.
In the Republic of Ireland, the trail takes in the Battle of Aughrim and Limerick where the treaty was signed that ended the Williamite Wars.
The tourist trail ends in Kinsale where King William's army, led by the Duke of Marlborough, advanced on Charles Fort and took control of it following a 13-day siege.
The Orange Order's Education Officer David Scott said the institution had high hopes for the Williamite Trail.
"There is a growing fascination with the history of that period," he said.
"We believe that the Williamite Trail will be an important addition to the tourist literature that is available.
"We have been working with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Tourism Ireland to seek advice on developing the history surrounding the Orange Order in such a way as to appeal to visitors."



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  • Last Updated: 14 May 2008 3:34 PM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Glengormley, NEWTOWN ABBEY
 
 
  

 
 


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