New accommodation in Northern Ireland coming to Downpatrick

15 October 2009 -

New accommodation in Northern Ireland is being created in Downpatrick by the creation of the St. Patrick's Abbey Hotel.

The £14 million, 80-room hotel will be themed around St Patrick and will help to encourage tourists to the area.

It will provide three-star accommodation and beds for some of the 125,000 visitors who travel through the area each year.

Kevin Smyth, from the hotel development team, said: "This project will be the first superior hotel of its kind in the town and it will encourage visitors to extend their stay in this area of natural beauty."

Margaret Ritchie, social development minister, added that the hotel will be in an 'ideal position' for tourists visiting the historic area.

It is thought that building work on the new accommodation in Northern Ireland will start early next year, with it due to be opened in late spring 2011.

Last month saw the opening of the first hotel in Lisburn, when the Premier Inn hotel and Linen House restaurant officially started taking guests.