Armagh, otherwise known as Ard Macha, is a vibrant City steeped in history, from it’s ancient position as the Seat of the High Kings of Ulster to its current standing as the Christian and Spiritual Capital of Ireland. The landscape of rural Armagh is interwoven with apple orchards, old country homes, wells and burial sites from a bygone era and is renowned as the ‘Orchard County’. Armagh City is a small city and can be explored alone or on a guided tour which will help uncover the myths and legends of Cu Chulainn, Saint Patrick and Brian Boru as you admire the Georgian architecture around the Mall and city centre.

At the heart of the city stands Saint Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral. Tradition has it that Saint Patrick chose Armagh as the centre of his mission in Ireland and it was on this hill top site that the original church was built in 445AD. On another hill top is Saint Patrick’s Roman Catholic Cathedral, the foundation stone of which was laid on Saint Patrick’s Day 1840 by Archbishop William Crolly. Both cathedrals are beautifully decorated in very different styles and well worth a visit if you have a few moments free.

Why not explore Northern Ireland’s capital city as it shakes off it’??s former ghosts and is reborn as a city for the 21^{st Century. As traditional heavy industries have declined so the café culture is developing as you can see around the city centre and newly redeveloped Laganside. You can use your time to peruse the shops or take part in one or more of the following visits and tours.}

The harbour area itself has always been a romantic and mysterious place, full of interesting sights, sounds and history, an exciting place which reeks of adventure and far off places! As a busy working port, most of it has been inaccessible to the public for many years unless you were employed in the shipping or shipbuilding industries, or were an incoming or outgoing passenger on a ferry or liner. This tour is a unique opportunity to experience all those exciting travel urges that seem to grip your senses in such a place!

Experience the new Tyrone Crystal shop and Visitor Centre in the heart of Tyrone. Witness the art, craft and history of Tyrone crystal making in the short audio visual presentation, have a look around the factory or browse through crystal, gifts, tableware, cutlery, fragrances and food in a relaxed shopping atmosphere.

Dungannon District council will then host a lunch in the council offices for this group.

Phillip Toner farms a few miles outside Armagh. He farms 350 acres and milks 160 head of cattle as well as rearing broilers for Moypark. All male cattle are also reared for beef.

St Patrick’s Trian incorporates three major exhibitions: The Armagh Story traces the story of Armagh’s historic Pagan monuments through to the coming of Saint Patrick and Celtic Christianity right to the modern day city. Patrick’s Testament takes a closer look at our patron Saint through the writings found in the ancient manuscript “The Book Of Armagh”. In The Land of Lilliput, Jonathan Swift’s most famous work “Gulliver’s Travels” is encapsulated, as children can dress up and hear the story narrated by a 20-foot giant.

This listed building is a vernacular 1703 thatched farmhouse, owned and lived in by Dan Winter and his son and re-thatched and restored in 2000 by his direct descendents. It was in the top sitting room where leaders met following the battle of the Diamond (1795) to discuss the forming of a new organisation which is now known world wide as the Orange Order. A large proportion of the original fabric of the house has been conserved and displays include housing artefacts of local historical interest, vintage farm machinery and a number of orange banners and memorabilia.

Mr Nicholson sits on a number of European Parliament Committees , including agriculture, fisheries, regional transport and Tourism. He is also the Chairman of the influential European Parliament delegation for relations with the US congress.