Níos mó ná droichead – more than a bridge at Narrow Water
The Narrow Water Bridge is fast approaching completion and will be a gamechanger for people and places in County Down, writes Sinéad Ennis, Sinn Féin MLA for South Down.
Narrow Water Bridge is the most significant cross-border infrastructure project in recent decades.
First conceptualised in the mid-1970s, its story was circuitous and, at various times, it seemed as though Carlingford Lough would never be spanned at its narrowest point.
As recently as during Chris Hazzard MP’s time as the north’s Infrastructure Minister (2016-2017), opponents cast doubt upon the strategic necessity of the project, with some rejecting it as “a misty-eyed project that has no economic benefit” and others alluding to “a political smell” that was in some way objectionable.
Regardless, Chris recognised the transformative impact the Narrow Water Bridge would have and made clear his commitment to the project in engagements with the Dublin Government.
As minister, he was determined that the bridge be taken forward as a priority and fought to ensure that its social and economic value was recognised.
Today, underpinned by the financial firepower of the Shared Island Fund, the 195m-long cable-stayed link between Cornamucklagh, County Louth and Narrow Water, County Down, is fast approaching completion.
Cross-border collaboration
With construction works and steel fabrication progressing on schedule, Louth County Council, as project lead, and Newry, Mourne and Down District Councilm as a key stakeholder, are continuing to leverage their long-standing ‘strategic alliance’ to deliver a transformative vision for both sides of Carlingford Lough.
This is more than a bridge.
The wider vision has the potential to consolidate cross-border collaboration between local authorities, public bodies, businesses and communities.
As quick as the bridge is going up, Sinn Féin is working hard to drive forward complementary projects that will create jobs and boost the local economy.
Complementary projects
Following the opening of the massively successful and popular 11.4km-long Carlingford Greenway, which links directly with the Narrow Water Bridge, this connectivity will be matched on the northern shore with planned active travel schemes connecting Carlingford, Omeath, Warrenpoint, Rostrevor and beyond.
Indeed, Minister Liz Kimmins’ Department for Infrastructure has already proposed a new, segregated, active travel scheme to provide a continuous link between the Narrow Water Bridge and Warrenpoint town centre.
A public consultation on the proposal is open until July 31.
This is complemented by ongoing work by Sinn Féin councillors in Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to secure £30 million of crucial investment, via the Belfast Region City Deal, to deliver a new immersive tourism trail from Carlingford Lough to Strangford Lough.
This plan includes significant investment to transform South Down’s most popular visitor attraction, Kilbroney Forest Park, into a world-class facility.
At the same time, Shared Island money has also been allocated to support a feasibility assessment and economic appraisal of Louth County Council’s ‘Loop of the Lough’ tourism product concept, which would stitch together key attractions on both sides of Carlingford Lough.
This is in addition to Carlingford Lough’s inclusion within the €23 million ‘Shared Destinations Project’, through which Fáilte Ireland, Tourism NI, and Tourism Ireland are working with local authorities to develop sustainable tourism attractions.
Social and economic benefit
Once completed, the bridge will unlock enormous opportunities for workers, families, communities and local businesses across South Down, improving connectivity with the rest of Ireland.
Going some way to undo the disruptive consequences of partition, the bridge will unite and reinvigorate the Carlingford Lough region, creating jobs, helping local businesses, improving infrastructure, encouraging outdoor recreation and crystalising community development.
Providing a direct link between the iconic Mourne Mountains and the historic Cooley Peninsula, the bridge will act as a shared gateway to enhanced cooperation on sustainable tourism initiatives.
Following the recent extension of the Fáilte Ireland-owned ‘Hidden Heartlands’ brand into County Fermanagh, I am reiterating Sinn Féin’s call to extend the ‘Ireland’s Ancient East’ brand into County Down.
Inclusion in a strong, internationally-recognised brand would be a catalyst for sustainable tourism in the Kingdom of Mourne, acting as a key driver of regional balance and strengthening the local economy.
Likewise, with cross-border trade now totalling over €14 billion per annum, this is a generational opportunity to align South Down with the gathering momentum of the all-Ireland economy.
This is more than concrete and steel. This is about uniting people and creating a better future.
As we look to the end of 2027 and the completion of what will soon become an iconic symbol of unity, we stand on the precipice of tangible social and economic transformation locally.
Sinn Féin will continue to work to ensure that South Down is ready to embrace the Narrow Water Bridge vision.