Return of summer tours at Northern Ireland Assembly, Stormont

19 June 2012

The Northern Ireland Assembly Summer Tours are back, with even more on offer for visitors to the historic building.

Those coming to Parliament Buildings will be able to visit the Assembly and Senate Chambers, Great Hall, working Committee rooms and the historic Library. Visitors will hear how the ornate central chandelier in the Great Hall once hung in the apartments in Windsor Castle and the mystery of the red dispatch boxes in the Senate Chamber whose keys have been lost forever.

Throughout July and August new guided tours will take place on the hour every hour between 10am and 3pm on Monday to Friday.

Launching the tours, the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Mr William Hay MLA, said: “This is the second year that we have opened up Parliament Buildings during the summer and we are delighted to encourage even more people to come and see the home of Northern Ireland’s legislative body.

“Parliament Buildings is a wonderful environment to work in. This building belongs to the people of Northern Ireland and we are keen to share its history and beauty with as many people as we can.

“This year we can offer even more to our visitors from home and abroad with art exhibitions in the Great Hall, all of which reflect this summer’s London Olympic theme.

“These free tours will also give people a real opportunity to see where their MLAs debate the big issues of the day and work to improve Northern Ireland for all of us. Hopefully, it will also encourage more people to come back and engage with their MLAs when the Assembly is considering issues they feel strongly about.”

“As well as the historic Parliament Buildings, the wider Stormont Estate provides all the elements for a great day out. We would encourage everyone to bring a picnic or just walk around the beautiful grounds including the Peace Garden, nature trails and the Mo Mowlam children’s park.”

Image: Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly William Hay MLA and Minister for Finance and Personnel Sammy Wilson MLA join Karen Lynagh and Deirdre McCormick from Jurys Inn in Belfast at the launch of the Summer Tours programme at Parliament Buildings and Stormont Estate.