Environment Minister Arlene Foster congratulated photographer Alain Garsmeur and author Ian Hill for the special tribute to the outstanding natural beauty of Strangford Lough in a new publication from Blackstaff Press, sponsored by her Department’s Environment & Heritage Service. ‘Strangford – Portrait of an Irish Lough’ depicts the wealth of the natural and built environment features of Strangford Lough through a series of stunning photographs.
The Minister said: “Strangford Lough is an exceptional place for its natural beauty, its wildlife and its rich heritage. This magnificent book, which celebrates all of this, will go a long way, I am sure, towards raising public awareness, both locally and overseas, of the beauty and importance of this area.
“The lough has been recognised for its marine life by its designation as a Marine Nature Reserve – one of only three in the UK – and for its landscape as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is internationally recognised as a Special Area of Conservation, a Special Protection Area and a Ramsar Wetland. Furthermore it features no less than 20 historic monuments in state care, as well as many listed buildings and registered historic parks, gardens and demesnes.
“As the principal guardian of Northern Ireland’s natural and built environment, my Department is delighted to promote this area and encourage people, today and for generations to come, to appreciate it and to look after it.”
Notes to Editors:
The Authors:
- Alain Le Garsmeur is an acclaimed photographer who lives in Portaferry, on the shores of Strangford Lough. He worked for the Sunday Times magazine from 1970 to 1978. He was a freelance photographer for the Observer Magazine from 1978 to 1986 as well as working on assignment for a number of other high profile publications, including Newsweek, the Independent and Figaro magazine. In 1986 he was awarded the World Press Award. He moved to Northern Ireland in 1990 and has published a number of photographic books on Joyce, Yeats and Irish landscapes.
- Ian Hill was formerly a director of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and is the author of, and contributor to many travel books about the island of Ireland. He has been an on screen presenter with RTE, UTV and BBC while contributing as a columnist and travel writer to the Sunday Times, Sunday Tribune, Irish Times, Radio Times, Belfast Telegraph, News Letter, Irish News, Hibernia and Fortnight. He also writes for the Ulster Tatler. He lives in Strangford.
- Blackstaff Press was founded in 1971 and is today regarded as one of Ireland's foremost book publishers. Over seven hundred titles have been published to date, covering a wide range of subjects (mainly but not exclusively of Irish interest) from natural history and politics to fiction, poetry, cookery and sport. The quality of the books has attracted numerous prizes and awards, and in 1992 Blackstaff achieved a notable double by being named UK Small Publisher of the Year and winner of an AIB Better Ireland Communication Award.
- EHS (Environment & Heritage Service) is an Agency within the Department of the Environment, with responsibility for conserving, protecting and promoting Northern Ireland’s natural and built heritage.
- For media enquiries please contact DOE Press Office on 028 9054 0003. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
