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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Tourism hopes rise as Narrow Water Bridge takes shape one year on
With an estimated cost of about €100m (£84.3m), the Narrow Water Bridge aims to kickstart a new era of cross-border tourism on Carlingford Lough. The bridge is being fully funded by the Irish government's Shared Island Unit and will link south Down in Northern Ireland with north Louth in the Republic. It aims to create a new tourist destination, incorporating the Mourne, Cooley and Ring of Gullion mountain ranges. But for this to happen, private investment must follow the Irish government's huge financial commitment. There is already an early litmus test for how the bridge scheme is changing the tourist outlook for the area – the planned sale of the former Park Hotel in Omeath. The hotel, which sits on an 85-acre site a stone's throw from the bridge on the Republic of Ireland side, has been closed for nearly 20 years. But, according to the man responsible for finding a buyer, the bridge development has already changed the outlook for sites like the Park Hotel. "So far we're getting great interest so it's looking good," said Newry-based property agent Garry Best. "We had discussions with the owner for the last three or four years but his preference was to wait until at least the bridge was started." And it's hard to miss that building work. In the water, there are more than 20 huge metal columns piled into the river bed where the bridge will be constructed. Meanwhile, access roads are being created and improvements made to the road network on both the north and south sides. Construction began 12 months ago and it is thought it will be completed by late 2027. The sight of the work starting – and the promise of a completed bridge – is helping fuel investment in the area, the president of the Warrenpoint, Burren and Rostrevor Chamber of Commerce said. Colleen Dowdell, who also helps run her family's pub in Warrenpoint, the Victoria, said people are hopeful it will lead to a number of eyesore sites in the town being upgraded. There are some projects under way - an upgrade of the town's promenade and work on a building on Cole's Corner, which Ms Dowdall said has "probably been vacant since I was a child". "But to see investment in the likes of the old Osborne Hotel on the seafront would be huge," she added. "There's also not one person in this region who doesn't want to see the old Baths on the seafront revitalised. That's what people hope will happen." Meanwhile there have been other public investments on both sides of the border, which, while not necessarily connected to the bridge, are certainly complimentary. These include public realm schemes on Warrenpoint and Omeath seafronts; the greenway linking Newry to Carlingford, which is nearing completion; and funding from the Irish government to develop a network of trails and water access points around Carlingford Lough. There was also the recent news that the £44m Mourne Gondola project could be relocated to Kilbroney Park in Rostrevor – a move that would represent a significant tourism investment, albeit one that has received a mixed response in the region. For those in favour, the project could help drive hundreds of thousands of visitors to the region each year but others hold environmental and economic concerns, as well as questions over whether Rostrevor's roads and car parking could handle an influx of visitors. That, in essence, is the big challenge – how to develop tourism in the area while being respectful to residents and the surrounding landscape. Californian landscape artist Lauren Taylor, who owns a gallery in the centre of Rostrevor, said many tourism-facing businesses like hers have high hopes for the bridge. "The ability to go all around the lough and visit Carlingford, Warrenpoint and Rostrevor in one day is really beneficial for the area," she aid. "It'll not only drive tourism but will attract small businesses like mine to settle into the area. "It would be lovely to see more galleries, more boutiques, more small shops – all those things that tourists and locals want as well." For many around Carlingford Lough, the bridge represents a second chance for the region to establish itself. In decades past, trains and trams connected many of the towns around the lough - until 1965 trains ran to Warrenpoint, while Carlingford and Omeath were connected by rail until 1951. There was also the Red Star Ferry, which ran regular services between Warrenpoint and Omeath. But it wasn't just the demise of railways that damaged the region's appeal for tourists – sitting flush on the border during the Troubles did little to entice visitors. In August 1979, Narrow Water was the scene of an IRA double bomb attack which led to the deaths of 18 British Soldier, while a civilian, William Hudson, was also killed by Army gunfire following the attack. As a result, the bridge project has long been met with a sense of unease for some in the unionist community. But the growth in popularity of Carlingford village as a destination over the past 20 years saw the campaign for the bridge revitalised. It was not until the launch of the Irish government's Shared Island Unit in 2021, that things took a major step forward leading to an official turning of the sod in June 2024. Cable car plan may move to Kilbroney Forest Park A bridge across the border 'will benefit all of us' A5 and Casement Park get share of €800m funding from Dublin
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Tourism hopes rise as Narrow Water Bridge takes shape one year on
With an estimated cost of about €100m (£84.3m), the Narrow Water Bridge aims to kickstart a new era of cross-border tourism on Carlingford Lough. The bridge is being fully funded by the Irish government's Shared Island Unit and will link south Down in Northern Ireland with north Louth in the Republic. It aims to create a new tourist destination, incorporating the Mourne, Cooley and Ring of Gullion mountain ranges. But for this to happen, private investment must follow the Irish government's huge financial commitment. There is already an early litmus test for how the bridge scheme is changing the tourist outlook for the area – the planned sale of the former Park Hotel in Omeath. The hotel, which sits on an 85-acre site a stone's throw from the bridge on the Republic of Ireland side, has been closed for nearly 20 years. But, according to the man responsible for finding a buyer, the bridge development has already changed the outlook for sites like the Park Hotel. "So far we're getting great interest so it's looking good," said Newry-based property agent Garry Best. "We had discussions with the owner for the last three or four years but his preference was to wait until at least the bridge was started." And it's hard to miss that building work. In the water, there are more than 20 huge metal columns piled into the river bed where the bridge will be constructed. Meanwhile, access roads are being created and improvements made to the road network on both the north and south sides. Construction began 12 months ago and it is thought it will be completed by late 2027. The sight of the work starting – and the promise of a completed bridge – is helping fuel investment in the area, the president of the Warrenpoint, Burren and Rostrevor Chamber of Commerce said. Colleen Dowdell, who also helps run her family's pub in Warrenpoint, the Victoria, said people are hopeful it will lead to a number of eyesore sites in the town being upgraded. There are some projects under way - an upgrade of the town's promenade and work on a building on Cole's Corner, which Ms Dowdall said has "probably been vacant since I was a child". "But to see investment in the likes of the old Osborne Hotel on the seafront would be huge," she added. "There's also not one person in this region who doesn't want to see the old Baths on the seafront revitalised. That's what people hope will happen." Meanwhile there have been other public investments on both sides of the border, which, while not necessarily connected to the bridge, are certainly complimentary. These include public realm schemes on Warrenpoint and Omeath seafronts; the greenway linking Newry to Carlingford, which is nearing completion; and funding from the Irish government to develop a network of trails and water access points around Carlingford Lough. There was also the recent news that the £44m Mourne Gondola project could be relocated to Kilbroney Park in Rostrevor – a move that would represent a significant tourism investment, albeit one that has received a mixed response in the region. For those in favour, the project could help drive hundreds of thousands of visitors to the region each year but others hold environmental and economic concerns, as well as questions over whether Rostrevor's roads and car parking could handle an influx of visitors. That, in essence, is the big challenge – how to develop tourism in the area while being respectful to residents and the surrounding landscape. Californian landscape artist Lauren Taylor, who owns a gallery in the centre of Rostrevor, said many tourism-facing businesses like hers have high hopes for the bridge. "The ability to go all around the lough and visit Carlingford, Warrenpoint and Rostrevor in one day is really beneficial for the area," she aid. "It'll not only drive tourism but will attract small businesses like mine to settle into the area. "It would be lovely to see more galleries, more boutiques, more small shops – all those things that tourists and locals want as well." For many around Carlingford Lough, the bridge represents a second chance for the region to establish itself. In decades past, trains and trams connected many of the towns around the lough - until 1965 trains ran to Warrenpoint, while Carlingford and Omeath were connected by rail until 1951. There was also the Red Star Ferry, which ran regular services between Warrenpoint and Omeath. But it wasn't just the demise of railways that damaged the region's appeal for tourists – sitting flush on the border during the Troubles did little to entice visitors. In August 1979, Narrow Water was the scene of an IRA double bomb attack which led to the deaths of 18 British Soldier, while a civilian, William Hudson, was also killed by Army gunfire following the attack. As a result, the bridge project has long been met with a sense of unease for some in the unionist community. But the growth in popularity of Carlingford village as a destination over the past 20 years saw the campaign for the bridge revitalised. It was not until the launch of the Irish government's Shared Island Unit in 2021, that things took a major step forward leading to an official turning of the sod in June 2024. Cable car plan may move to Kilbroney Forest Park A bridge across the border 'will benefit all of us' A5 and Casement Park get share of €800m funding from Dublin
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Narrow Water Bridge: Tourism hopes rise around Carlingford Lough
With an estimated cost of about €100m (£84.3m), the Narrow Water Bridge aims to kickstart a new era of cross-border tourism on Carlingford bridge is being fully funded by the Irish government's Shared Island Unit and will link south Down in Northern Ireland with north Louth in the aims to create a new tourist destination, incorporating the Mourne, Cooley and Ring of Gullion mountain ranges. But for this to happen, private investment must follow the Irish government's huge financial commitment. There is already an early litmus test for how the bridge scheme is changing the tourist outlook for the area – the planned sale of the former Park Hotel in Omeath. The hotel, which sits on an 85-acre site a stone's throw from the bridge on the Republic of Ireland side, has been closed for nearly 20 according to the man responsible for finding a buyer, the bridge development has already changed the outlook for sites like the Park Hotel."So far we're getting great interest so it's looking good," said Newry-based property agent Garry Best."We had discussions with the owner for the last three or four years but his preference was to wait until at least the bridge was started."And it's hard to miss that building the water, there are more than 20 huge metal columns piled into the river bed where the bridge will be access roads are being created and improvements made to the road network on both the north and south began 12 months ago and it is thought it will be completed by late 2027. How do people feel about the bridge in Warrenpoint? The sight of the work starting – and the promise of a completed bridge – is helping fuel investment in the area, the president of the Warrenpoint, Burren and Rostrevor Chamber of Commerce Dowdell, who also helps run her family's pub in Warrenpoint, the Victoria, said people are hopeful it will lead to a number of eyesore sites in the town being are some projects under way - an upgrade of the town's promenade and work on a building on Cole's Corner, which Ms Dowdall said has "probably been vacant since I was a child"."But to see investment in the likes of the old Osborne Hotel on the seafront would be huge," she added."There's also not one person in this region who doesn't want to see the old Baths on the seafront revitalised. That's what people hope will happen." Meanwhile there have been other public investments on both sides of the border, which, while not necessarily connected to the bridge, are certainly include public realm schemes on Warrenpoint and Omeath seafronts; the greenway linking Newry to Carlingford, which is nearing completion; and funding from the Irish government to develop a network of trails and water access points around Carlingford was also the recent news that the £44m Mourne Gondola project could be relocated to Kilbroney Park in Rostrevor – a move that would represent a significant tourism investment, albeit one that has received a mixed response in the those in favour, the project could help drive hundreds of thousands of visitors to the region each year but others hold environmental and economic concerns, as well as questions over whether Rostrevor's roads and car parking could handle an influx of visitors. 'High hopes' for the bridge in Rostrevor That, in essence, is the big challenge – how to develop tourism in the area while being respectful to residents and the surrounding landscape artist Lauren Taylor, who owns a gallery in the centre of Rostrevor, said many tourism-facing businesses like hers have high hopes for the bridge."The ability to go all around the lough and visit Carlingford, Warrenpoint and Rostrevor in one day is really beneficial for the area," she aid."It'll not only drive tourism but will attract small businesses like mine to settle into the area."It would be lovely to see more galleries, more boutiques, more small shops – all those things that tourists and locals want as well." Carlingford Lough and tourism: A short history For many around Carlingford Lough, the bridge represents a second chance for the region to establish decades past, trains and trams connected many of the towns around the lough - until 1965 trains ran to Warrenpoint, while Carlingford and Omeath were connected by rail until was also the Red Star Ferry, which ran regular services between Warrenpoint and it wasn't just the demise of railways that damaged the region's appeal for tourists – sitting flush on the border during the Troubles did little to entice visitors. In August 1979, Narrow Water was the scene of an IRA double bomb attack which led to the deaths of 18 British Soldier, while a civilian, William Hudson, was also killed by Army gunfire following the a result, the bridge project has long been met with a sense of unease for some in the unionist the growth in popularity of Carlingford village as a destination over the past 20 years saw the campaign for the bridge was not until the launch of the Irish government's Shared Island Unit in 2021, that things took a major step forward leading to an official turning of the sod in June 2024.
Irish Post
22-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Post
Dublin to Derry flights could be back by 2026
MORE than decade after it vanished from departure boards, flights between Dublin and the City of Derry Airport (CoDA) could be restarted by the end of 2026. The route, which was dropped in 2011, has long been considered a missing cog in the transportation infrastructure of the area. At its peak, the airport welcomed nearly 130,000 passengers in the July–September period of 2011. In comparison, passenger numbers during the same time in 2023 stood at just 48,000, highlighting the steep drop in usage following route cancellations and the broader impact of the pandemic. Irish Minister of State and Donegal TD Charlie McConalogue confirmed that talks are taking place to revive the route, which would be supported through a public service obligation (PSO) scheme. PSO routes involve government subsidies to maintain air services that are not financially viable on a commercial basis but are deemed essential for regional connectivity. McConalogue emphasised the Irish government's commitment to the project, highlighting that the restoration of the route was a stated goal in the current programme for government. He also noted the involvement of the Irish transport minister, Darragh O'Brien, who is expected to meet with airport management in the coming weeks to move things along. The loss of the Dublin route has been widely acknowledged as a setback for Derry, Donegal and the broader northwest region. McConalogue described it as a 'real disadvantage', stressing the importance of restoring international connectivity and the potential for the route to support local economic growth. The initiative is being developed with input from the Irish government's Shared Island Unit, which was created in 2020 to support cross-border infrastructure and investment. This unit has played a role in many large-scale projects in Northern Ireland, including upgrades to the A5 road and the redevelopment of Casement Park. City of Derry Airport welcomed the news, describing the efforts as a 'positive development' and underscoring the importance of economic links between Dublin and the northwest. Airport representatives noted that reinstating the route could help sustain local employment and improve overall accessibility for the region. This announcement follows a separate commitment to continue subsidising direct flights between Derry and Heathrow until March 2027. That service, operated by Loganair, is supported by a joint funding package from Northern Ireland's Department for the Economy and the UK Department for Transport, totalling £4.6 million. If successful, the reintroduction of the Dublin–Derry route could offer renewed opportunities for tourism, business and community development. A significant factor for travellers is time; while taking a car, bus or train can take anywhere between three and a half to five hours, a flight would only take between 20 and 40 minutes. However, with these benefits, there are also environmental concerns. Short-haul flights are among the most carbon-intensive forms of transport, and their environmental impact is especially questionable when viable alternatives, such as rail, exist. Considering the global climate crisis, expanding air travel this way could draw criticism from environmental groups. These worries are already shaping transport policy in other parts of Europe. France has taken the bold step of banning domestic short-haul flights where train journeys of two and a half hours or less are available. This policy, implemented in 2023, aims to cut carbon emissions by encouraging travellers to choose trains instead of flights. In this landscape, proposals like the Dublin–Derry route raise questions about whether government-subsidised flights are a sustainable solution, especially if greener options, like cross-border rail upgrades, could serve similar purposes with far less cost to the environment.
The Journal
28-04-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Childcare and education among areas needing more cross border co-operation, report says
CROSS BORDER CO-OPERATION in key areas identified by the Good Friday Agreement has not met its full potential, according to a report. The latest ESRI-Shared Island report also identifies a number of areas around employment, childcare, and education. The Good Friday Agreement established a framework for formal cross-border co-operation on the island, creating six North-South bodies under the North South Ministerial Council. The report states: 'Despite successes in a co-operative approach to tourism, progress in other strategic areas such as education, health, agriculture, and the environment has not met its full potential.' It argues there are advantages to 'substantially upscaling North-South co-operation' in these existing strategic areas and expanding the remit of collaboration to skills provision, foreign direct investment, labour market access and energy security. The report identifies areas with policy implications, including much higher rates of early school leaving in Northern Ireland having consequences for access and quality of employment, as well as productivity. There are also differences in take-up of post-secondary qualifications, showing the 'potential to develop further education and training in Northern Ireland as a route to employment'. The report says there is potential for mutual policy learning around the targeting of local areas or schools as a basis for addressing educational disadvantage, as inequality in this area has knock-on consequences for adult life changes including employment and health. There is a need for workforce development in healthcare and housing supply in both jurisdictions, the authors state. There are similar challenges in the 'gendered nature of care' and impacts on employment, with a need for continuing expansion of early years and after-school care on both sides of the border. 'Lone mothers face particular challenges in accessing high-quality employment in both Ireland and Northern Ireland, suggesting the need for appropriate education and training supports as well as childcare.' The latest ESRI report is a synthesis of 15 previous publications under the four-year work programme conducted for the Irish Government's Shared Island Unit. Advertisement The Taoiseach is scheduled to launch the report at an event in Dublin City Centre on Monday where he will deliver a keynote address. Micheal Martin said: 'We need data to inform all-island investment and co-operation priorities, as we build a shared future together on this island. 'The huge untapped potential of all-island co-operation is a major takeaway from the ESRI's overarching report. This reflects the Government's commitments to expand our Shared Island Initiative, so that we bring co-operation to a new level.' Inequalities Other key findings include a widening gap in disposable household income between Ireland and Northern Ireland, at 18.3% higher in the Republic in 2018. Education participation rates are higher in Ireland across nearly all age groups, while early school leaving is more common in Northern Ireland. Life expectancy at birth is two years higher in Ireland than in Northern Ireland, reflecting overall differences in welfare and living standards. Women with children are less likely to be in paid employment than men in both jurisdictions, with higher rates of part-time work and low pay among women. Market income inequality before taxes and benefits is lower in Northern Ireland. In Ireland, the tax system is more important in reducing inequality while in Northern Ireland, means-tested benefits play a stronger role. Overall, inequality in disposable income after tax and transfers is very similar in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Child income poverty rates are higher in Northern Ireland, while child material deprivation is somewhat higher in Ireland. Both regions have similar GP supply and primary healthcare utilisation, with long waits being a common issue in both regions. Ireland has higher levels of unmet needs due to costs. Housing costs represent around 20% of disposable income in both regions, with more extreme boom and bust cycles in Ireland. Satisfaction with the political system and trust in institutions are generally higher in Ireland, though attitudes have been volatile. There is some evidence that younger generations are becoming more disillusioned, particularly in Northern Ireland.
