County Down’s houses and gardens delight international journalists

Leading journalists from Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria and the Nordic countries have been visiting Northern Ireland. Tourism Ireland, in conjunction with Tourism NI, invited the journalists to come and visit some of County Down’s historic properties and gardens.

The journalists – who have a combined audience of over 2.4 million readers – write for daily newspapers and lifestyle and gardening magazines, including Passauer Neue Presse (Germany), Il Mio Giardino (Italy) and Condé Nast Traveler (Spain). 

The group explored some of County Down’s historic properties and learned all about their horticultural traditions. Their fact-finding trip included Montalto Estate, Castlewellan Forest Park, Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, Castle Ward and Mount Stewart. They also had some time to explore Belfast’s Titanic and Linen Quarters and the Botanic Gardens.   

Elmagh Killeen, Tourism Ireland’s Acting Director of Markets, said: “Tourism Ireland was delighted to invite these influential journalists to come and explore some of County Down’s finest historic properties and gardens. May is the perfect time of year for them to see our beautiful gardens in bloom and learn all about our rich history. The journalists reach an audience of over 2.4 million readers with a special interest in gardening. Their articles will encourage those readers to consider Northern Ireland for their next holiday or short break and come and experience our historic houses and beautiful gardens for themselves.”

International journalists at Montalto Estate with Lucia King, Tourism NI (fourth right); and Lesley Heron, Montalto Estate's head gardener (third right).