New lighting shines a spotlight on Newtownstewart Castle

A £60,000 investment is helping bring Newtownstewart’s rich heritage to life, with new illumination of the historic castle marking another step forward in the town centre’s regeneration.

NEW lighting has been installed at Newtownstewart Castle, giving one of the district’s most recognisable historic landmarks a striking new presence after dark and marking further progress in efforts to enhance the town centre.

Derry City and Strabane District Council has unveiled the new lighting scheme, which has been delivered in partnership with the Historic Environment Division and supported by £60,000 in funding.

The project involved securing a power connection to the site and installing a series of uplighters to illuminate the castle’s surviving masonry, highlighting its architectural features and helping residents and visitors appreciate the monument in a new light.

The improvements form part of the Newtownstewart Town Centre Regeneration Plan 2025, which identified opportunities to celebrate the town’s heritage, improve the visitor experience and strengthen local identity through regeneration and placemaking.

Funded through the COVID Recovery Small Settlements Programme, the initiative brings together the Department for Communities, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, the Department for Infrastructure and local councils to support the revitalisation of towns and villages across Northern Ireland.

The lighting scheme represents another positive step in Newtownstewart’s ongoing transformation, complementing a series of recent town centre improvements, including a heritage paint scheme, new seating and attractive planting features.

Together, these enhancements are helping create a more welcoming environment for residents and visitors while reinforcing the town’s distinctive character and sense of place.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Grace Uí Niallais, welcomed the completion of the project, highlighting the importance of celebrating Newtownstewart’s heritage while continuing to invest in the town’s future.

“Newtownstewart Castle is one of the area's most recognisable heritage landmarks, and this investment helps ensure it can be appreciated in a new way by both residents and visitors,” she said.

“The lighting scheme not only enhances the appearance of the castle but also draws attention to the rich history and heritage of Newtownstewart.

“The project reflects our commitment to protecting and promoting our built heritage while supporting wider town centre regeneration. Alongside recent regeneration improvements, it contributes to creating a more vibrant, attractive and welcoming town centre and encourages people to explore and engage with local heritage.”

The project was delivered in close collaboration with the Department for Communities’ North West Development Office and the Historic Environment Division, recognising the importance of protecting and celebrating the shared historic environment for current and future generations.

It also builds on the success of Council’s Art on Your Doorstep exhibition, delivered in collaboration with The National Gallery and hosted at the castle from March to September this year.

The exhibition attracted visitors to the historic site and demonstrated how heritage locations can provide valuable spaces for cultural engagement, learning and community activity.

The new lighting adds to that momentum, helping to raise the profile of the castle and encouraging greater appreciation of its historical and architectural significance.

It also supports the objectives of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Heritage Plan, which seeks to protect, promote and increase awareness of the district’s unique heritage assets.

The scheme forms part of Council’s wider programme of regeneration, heritage and placemaking initiatives across the district, aimed at strengthening town centres, supporting local communities and showcasing the area’s distinctive cultural and historic attractions.

With the castle now illuminated after dark and further improvements already enhancing the town centre, Newtownstewart is continuing to build on its rich past while creating a more attractive and engaging place for people to live, visit and explore.