Minister Poots, Chairman, MPs, MLAs, Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is not often that I get the opportunity to be on stage in such a beautiful auditorium.  I am delighted to be able to be here to celebrate the opening of the Strule Arts Centre.

While the Arts Centre itself has been funded by my colleagues here today, the Department for Social Development has provided the £3.5 million required to open up and develop this magnificent site overlooking the River Strule.

It is a feature of the historical development of so many of our towns that they have turned their backs on rivers, which then become neglected and overgrown receptacles for rubbish.

In today’s society, such riverside areas can be recognised as the powerful and valuable recreational and amenity resource that they really are, and many are now being brought forward and opened up for development.

It has not been easy to assemble such a site, with its difficulties of access, multiple ownership, and the ever present balance to be achieved between developing alongside the river without being inundated by it!

Omagh District Council are to be congratulated for recognising the potential of this site, and for their perseverance in the face of adversity in bringing it forward for development.

Standing here today on a cold winter’s night, your new Arts Centre has a stunning setting.  I can only imagine how pleasant it must be on a warm summer’s evening to sit on the terrace and watch the river roll by.

I have been very impressed by the design and quality of the new building, and I understand that in the 6 months since it opened its doors, you have delivered a varied and successful programme of events.

The opening up of the site has created new streets and footpaths, a beautiful new bridge connecting to the College across the river, and terraces from which these views can be enjoyed.  I understand that only a short stretch of cycle and footpath remains to be completed.

I am also delighted to have unveiled the plaques commemorating the new pieces of public art – the piece in Market Street entitled “Balance”, and “Treelines” outside the door to this building.

The opening up of backland sites such as this and the assembly of land to provide new opportunities for development – are key work areas for DSD in working with Councils and private sector developers to help Northern Ireland’s towns and cities develop as attractive places in which to live and invest.  It prepares them to compete in a fast changing world, and to be the equal of any in the rest of Ireland or the UK.

I congratulate everyone involved in the delivery of this project, particularly the Council, the design team and the contractors on their achievements, and look forward to the rest of the evening.

My Department has been delighted to have been involved in facilitating the development of such a significant new facility for the town, and I wish the people of Omagh many years of pleasure and success.