Dark Skies Observatory To Be Developed In Omagh

The Rural Tourism Scheme is investing £500,000 in a new Dark Skies observatory at Davagh Forest Park in Omagh.The Davagh Dark Skies project is due to start later in March.SDLP Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone said: "Davagh Forest Park is one of the most beautiful landscapes in the North. Carefully preserved, it's rugged setting is the perfect backdrop to watch the skies and the stars. It's also one of the very few places across the North that is sheltered from light pollution, making it an ideal spot to build this new observatory."There's incredible potential to tap into our rural communities and rural heritage as a driver for tourism. The way that Davagh has been protected means that you can look into the night sky and see exactly what our ancestors saw when they lived in the hills of county Tyrone."This is an important project for tourism, for the local economy and to market our community as a tourism destination."(CD)