Cllr Mark McKinty, Deputy Mayor of Larne, has welcomed recent progress on the Gobbins Pathrestoration project. Speaking following a boat trip to view the path from the sea, the Ulster Unionist Larne Lough representative was positive about progress over the next 12 months. "We are very lucky to live in such a beautiful Borough, and to have a feature such as the Gobbins on our doorstep" he said. "It has been one of Northern Ireland's best-kept secrets for a long time, and I am excited that it will soon receive international recognition".
Background
In 1892 the railway company opened up the coastline around Whitehead and Blackhead to excursionists by making pathways and footbridges along the cliffs to encourage rail traffic from Belfast and Larne.
The Gobbins Path was designed by civil engineer Berkeley Deane Wise, and included staircases along the cliffs, dramatic tubular and suspension bridges and caves and tunnels carved through the rock. It eventually stretched more than two miles.
Construction work commenced in May 1901. Bridges were constructed in Belfast and floated out from Whitehead on barges before being lifted into position, high above the sea. The first section of the path opened in 1902.
According to an advertisement of the time, the 'new cliff path along the Gobbins Cliffs, with its ravines, bore caves, natural aquariums ... has no parallel in Europe as a marine cliff walk'.
Wise, chief engineer for the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway, tied in promotion of his Gobbins path directly to rail travel. Visitors would arrive at the station in Ballycarry or Whitehead and then either walk there or be taken onwards by jaunting car. For several decades, until the outbreak of the Second World War, the Gobbins was one of the most popular tourist destinations in Northern Ireland, said to be even bigger than the Giant's Causeway.
When Wise retired in 1906 the company seemed to lose interest. It was to have stretched 3¼ miles with a northern exit at Heddle’s Port but sadly the path was never completed. It was last painted in 1936. Severe gales and rock falls meant a high annual maintenance bill and, after a lack of repairs or maintenance during its temporary closure in the World War II, the railway decided it could not afford the rebuilding costs. After the war, the Ulster Transport Authority took on the job of reopening the path and strengthening most of the bridges, but in 1954 high costs forced them to abandon the task, and the path was finally closed in 1961.
Restoration
In June 2012, Larne Borough Council sanctioned a £6 million deal which would lead to the Gobbins Path being reinstated. The Scheme is due to start in autumn 2012. This two-phase plan includes rebuilding the path and bridges plus a new cliff-top path, visitors' centre, café and playground.
As before, much of the engineering will be constructed off-site and transported to the path by barges. Work will only take place in autumn and winter due to the colonies of nesting sea birds on the cliffs, which are protected during breeding season.
Ulster Unionist MEP, Jim Nicholson, has welcomed the £3.5million investment into the restoration of the Gobbins cliff path in Islandmagee, from the Special EU Programmes Body.
Mr Nicholson said, “In its prime, this coastal path was more popular than the Giant’s Causeway, but has now been closed to the public for almost 60 years; hopefully the restoration of this path will re-establish the Gobbins as a popular tourist destination in Northern Ireland. I am pleased that the Special EU Programmes body has invested £3.5million towards the £6million project.
“The creation of a visitor centre is included in this project, which is projected to attract 70,000 visitors in its first year; this will be a great boost for the East Antrim area when this project is completed in May 2014.”
Cllr McKinty shared this view of the potential for Larne and Islandmagee in particular: "The entire project is due to be completed by May 2014, and a key element is the participation of and opportunities for the local community" he said. "Information evenings on the fascinating history, myths and folklore surrounding the Gobbins have proven to be very successful and enlightening."
"The visitors centre in Islandmagee will also house a new Community facility. The tours, café, gift shop and shuttle bus will provide local employment in addition to providing a platform for crafts from the local area. Further, the knock-on effect within the local economy will be fantastic, and the Gobbins project is an important part of our marketing of Larne as a destination where people can stay for longer."
"In the past, this project was Northern Ireland's signature project - drawing international attention, such as the Institute of Civil Engineers who held their first meeting outside London to visit the Gobbins. It is rightly being given equally importance now, with the Tourist Board holding the project as its theme for 2014, similar to the Titanic Project and the UK City of Culture have been over the past two years".
Cllr McKinty concluded: "This project has been a long time coming, and even recently we have had some major hurdles to negotiate in order to secure its future. I am excited about the potential for this project - the Gobbins restoration will put Larne on the world map. However, I am glad that the local community is a key part of the restoration project, and that the long-term benefit will ultimately lie with the people of Islandmagee and the wider Larne and East Antrim area."
-----
If you have any interesting stories or photographs about the Gobbins, please let me know! Email: mmckinty@gmail.com
Background
In 1892 the railway company opened up the coastline around Whitehead and Blackhead to excursionists by making pathways and footbridges along the cliffs to encourage rail traffic from Belfast and Larne.
The Gobbins Path was designed by civil engineer Berkeley Deane Wise, and included staircases along the cliffs, dramatic tubular and suspension bridges and caves and tunnels carved through the rock. It eventually stretched more than two miles.
 |
| Postcard of one of the bridges at the Gobbins path showing the engineer Berkley Deane Wise and his wife, Leah, in about 1902. |
Construction work commenced in May 1901. Bridges were constructed in Belfast and floated out from Whitehead on barges before being lifted into position, high above the sea. The first section of the path opened in 1902.
According to an advertisement of the time, the 'new cliff path along the Gobbins Cliffs, with its ravines, bore caves, natural aquariums ... has no parallel in Europe as a marine cliff walk'.
Wise, chief engineer for the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway, tied in promotion of his Gobbins path directly to rail travel. Visitors would arrive at the station in Ballycarry or Whitehead and then either walk there or be taken onwards by jaunting car. For several decades, until the outbreak of the Second World War, the Gobbins was one of the most popular tourist destinations in Northern Ireland, said to be even bigger than the Giant's Causeway.
 |
| A view of the suspension bridge. |
When Wise retired in 1906 the company seemed to lose interest. It was to have stretched 3¼ miles with a northern exit at Heddle’s Port but sadly the path was never completed. It was last painted in 1936. Severe gales and rock falls meant a high annual maintenance bill and, after a lack of repairs or maintenance during its temporary closure in the World War II, the railway decided it could not afford the rebuilding costs. After the war, the Ulster Transport Authority took on the job of reopening the path and strengthening most of the bridges, but in 1954 high costs forced them to abandon the task, and the path was finally closed in 1961.
 |
| A group of ladies on the tubular bridge, c.1940. |
In June 2012, Larne Borough Council sanctioned a £6 million deal which would lead to the Gobbins Path being reinstated. The Scheme is due to start in autumn 2012. This two-phase plan includes rebuilding the path and bridges plus a new cliff-top path, visitors' centre, café and playground.
As before, much of the engineering will be constructed off-site and transported to the path by barges. Work will only take place in autumn and winter due to the colonies of nesting sea birds on the cliffs, which are protected during breeding season.
 |
| Many of the bridges, stairs and pathways are beyond use. |
Ulster Unionist MEP, Jim Nicholson, has welcomed the £3.5million investment into the restoration of the Gobbins cliff path in Islandmagee, from the Special EU Programmes Body.
Mr Nicholson said, “In its prime, this coastal path was more popular than the Giant’s Causeway, but has now been closed to the public for almost 60 years; hopefully the restoration of this path will re-establish the Gobbins as a popular tourist destination in Northern Ireland. I am pleased that the Special EU Programmes body has invested £3.5million towards the £6million project.
“The creation of a visitor centre is included in this project, which is projected to attract 70,000 visitors in its first year; this will be a great boost for the East Antrim area when this project is completed in May 2014.”
 |
| Cllr Mark McKinty at Wise's Eye, the entrance to the Gobbins Path. |
Cllr McKinty shared this view of the potential for Larne and Islandmagee in particular: "The entire project is due to be completed by May 2014, and a key element is the participation of and opportunities for the local community" he said. "Information evenings on the fascinating history, myths and folklore surrounding the Gobbins have proven to be very successful and enlightening."
"The visitors centre in Islandmagee will also house a new Community facility. The tours, café, gift shop and shuttle bus will provide local employment in addition to providing a platform for crafts from the local area. Further, the knock-on effect within the local economy will be fantastic, and the Gobbins project is an important part of our marketing of Larne as a destination where people can stay for longer."
"In the past, this project was Northern Ireland's signature project - drawing international attention, such as the Institute of Civil Engineers who held their first meeting outside London to visit the Gobbins. It is rightly being given equally importance now, with the Tourist Board holding the project as its theme for 2014, similar to the Titanic Project and the UK City of Culture have been over the past two years".
Cllr McKinty concluded: "This project has been a long time coming, and even recently we have had some major hurdles to negotiate in order to secure its future. I am excited about the potential for this project - the Gobbins restoration will put Larne on the world map. However, I am glad that the local community is a key part of the restoration project, and that the long-term benefit will ultimately lie with the people of Islandmagee and the wider Larne and East Antrim area."
-----
If you have any interesting stories or photographs about the Gobbins, please let me know! Email: mmckinty@gmail.com
