First Minister opens new flax visitor centre at Upperlands

Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster MLA who officially opened the Flax Visitor Centre in Upperlands last Friday morning pictured with Upperlands Community Development Group Chairman Bill McGinnis and Vice-Chairperson Douglas Lamont.INMM3716-311

The visitor centre is an integral part of a major investment in community facilities by UCDL in the south Londonderry village, one of the historic centres of the linen/textile industry.

The centre features exhibits telling the story of the village, the linen industry locally and important people who originated from the area such as Charles Thomson. There is also a model house exhibition and operational railway.

The Clark family textile business, continues to produce fabric for export.

Invited guests who attended the official opening of the new Flax Visitor Centre in Upperlands last Friday morning.INMM3716-310

The Flax Visitor Centre is also aimed as a tourist attraction and is part of the Linenhall Business Park which also houses shop and Industrial Units for small businesses and the newly opened Flax Coffee Shop.

Following a tour of the complex with UCDL directors and staff, Mrs Foster said: “This is a hugely impressive community-led project, which has a significant part to play in the economic and social fabric, and in the future wellbeing of this historic and picturesque village.

“I am confident the investment in facilities for local enterprise and social integration, as well as in the development of an extremely impressive Visitor Centre and museum, will pay dividends for the local area.

“It will greatly enhance the area’s tourism appeal, particularly from America, given the connection to Charles Thomson, who designed the Great Seal of the US and who was one of the signatories to the Declaration of Independence.”

First Minister Arlene Foster signs the visitors book when she officially opened the Flax Visitor Centre in Upperlands last Friday morning.INMM3716-309

UCDL Director Dr Bill McGinnis said: “The opening of the Visitor Centre is an immensely significant milestone in the economic and social development of this historic community. This is an excellent example of community-focused self-help led by the Board of UCDL.

“Our Visitors’ Centre, I believe, ranks with the best I’ve seen in terms of its displays and overall design. We are working closely with Tourism Ireland and Tourism NI to bring more visitors to the centre.”

“Our efforts to regenerate the local economy through the provision of start-up units are already proving successful. Indeed, 80 per cent of our start-up units are already occupied and generating significant revenue for the community body and, of course, the wider community.”

“We are paying our way and contributing to the wider Northern Ireland economy by using excess water to generate power both for the community group and to sell to the wider electricity grid,” added Dr McGinnis.