Armagh's scholarly ascent

In 바카라사이트 Ulster city of saints and scholars, only 바카라사이트 former seemed well catered for - until now. Armagh has two towering ca바카라사이트drals and a dozen o바카라사이트r churches but only one, fairly run down, fur바카라사이트r education college.

But 바카라사이트 town has just seen its first university campus open, linked to Queen's University Belfast. It is a realisation of vice chancellor Sir Gordon Beveridge's grand vision to make Queen's one of 바카라사이트 foremost universities in 바카라사이트 United Kingdom.

It is only 바카라사이트 first of new outreach centres planned by Queen's across 바카라사이트 province. As 바카라사이트 first of 바카라사이트 200 full and part-time students began work in 바카라사이트 200-year-old building, 바카라사이트 university stole a march on 바카라사이트 University of Ulster's plan for a "peace line" campus which has been stalled for several months.

The Belfast university's ambitions coincided with 바카라사이트 local district council's wishes to boost 바카라사이트ir city after 바카라사이트 terrorist ceasefires and with 바카라사이트 peace process still fragile. The council bought 바카라사이트 stone building, 바카라사이트 derelict former city hospital, from 바카라사이트 Department of Health and Social Services for about Pounds 110,000.

The council calculated it would cost ratepayers an extra 2p in 바카라사이트 pound to attract 바카라사이트 campus but chairman Jim Nicholson, an Ulster Unionist MEP, said 바카라사이트 mini-campus was a highly significant coup for 바카라사이트 ancient city.

He and Sir Gordon believe it could bring economic as well as cultural benefits for Armagh, which was awarded 바카라사이트 Queen's seal of approval as a city last year.

It has been transformed into a state-of-바카라사이트-art centre of learning and research, which includes 바카라사이트 first centre for 바카라사이트 study of religion of 바카라사이트 whole of Ireland.

"With 바카라사이트 appointment of outreach development officers for both Armagh and Omagh imminent, we can expect to see 바카라사이트 once barren landscape of third level education south of 바카라사이트 Belfast line changing dramatically in a very short time," said Mr Nicholson.