Enterprise Minister, Arlene Foster, has welcomed the announcement of an £8 million investment at Galgorm Castle Estates which will create over 60 full-and part-time jobs in Ballymena, at an event in Ballymena's Braid Centre.

Galgorm Castle Estates Developments, Ballymena, which, currently consists of Galgorm Castle, a courtyard housing twenty businesses and a championship golf course; today announced its investment which will see the estate expand even further.

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said: "This significant investment is just the latest in a series of investments in Ballymena and demonstrates the faith that indigenous businesses like Galgorm Castle Estates have in Northern Ireland. The business centre on the estate has already attracted international firms including, an American engineering company and a South Korean software company.

"Galgorm Castle has the potential to become an even bigger economic asset to the Ballymena borough, and the planned developments to the Castle, Courtyard and new Garden Centre will help drive visitors to this historic site and create welcome job opportunities in the area.

"Just last month I announced that Galgorm Castle Golf Club was hosting the Northern Ireland Open Challenge, an event which will bring around 30,000 spectators to the course. The combination of a superb golfing product, together with the new garden centre and restoration work to the Castle, will make it an even more attractive proposition for tourists."

The Estate's expansion will consist of three phases which will include the development of a garden centre, a courtyard business centre and essential restoration of the Castle itself. The first phase is now underway.

Delegates at the event, which included local elected representatives and private business owners, were addressed by Christopher Brooke, Galgorm Castle. He said: "Our investment is entirely privately funded and clearly displays our faith in the future growth and prosperity of Ballymena. We believe that through these developments, we can raise international awareness of Galgorm, Ballymena borough and Northern Ireland and attract further foreign direct investment into the area. We hope this provides a welcome boost for business in Ballymena."

(CD)