Annual Maiden of the Mournes Festival
Warrenpoint hosts the 30th International Maiden of the Mournes festival from the 11th-18th August. Thirty years ago In September 1989 Newry and Mourne Tourist Development Association had come to the conclusion that if a real boost to tourism was to happen something along the nature of the highly successful “Rose Of Tralee Festival” in Kerry would have to be organized. They were well aware of the enormous benefits that the Festival brought to the whole Kerry region. The obstacles facing organising such a festival in Northern Ireland beset by communal strife at the time would be enormous. It was considered that Warrenpoint in County Down with Carlingford lough and the Mourne mountains as its backdrop would make the best place to make the attempt if support for making the effort was forthcoming. In October of 1989, a preliminary meeting was held in Warrenpoint Town Hall to which a wide invitation was extended. After a number of meetings a committee was eventually formed with the purpose of establishing an International Festival along the lines of the Tralee Festival....
