DUP pair welcome new border signage signage

The old ‘Welcome to Northern Ireland’ sign close to the border at Newry, which had been defaced, was a concern raised by the two representatives and after lobbying the Department For Infrastructure and Tourism NI, a new sign was put in position in recent days.

William Irwin MLA stated, “My colleague Scott Armstrong and I are delighted to see a fresh new sign welcoming motorists, tourists and general commuters to Northern Ireland on this main thoroughfare.

"I thank the Department for Infrastructure for their co-operation on this matter and for the resources to erect a brand new sign. It is despicable that the previous signage had been defaced to such a heavy extent by vandals and I was unimpressed by the fact that visitors to Northern Ireland were greeted with such a vandalised and defaced sign.”

Cllr Armstrong said, ‘This issue became pertinent and personal to me when collecting friends from the United States of America from Dublin Airport. Whilst crossing the border, I was embarrassed when one of them pointed out the state of the sign and they noted that they did not feel ‘too welcome’ to visit Northern Ireland.

Cllr. Armstrong added, “This was an issue that had also been raised by a number of people who regularly travel on this main route in both directions and they too shared the view that the vandalism of the sign was unacceptable and was a poor first impression for visitors.

"Tourism is vital to so many industries in Northern Ireland and I am delighted that along with my colleague William Irwin MLA our combined efforts have seen the sign replaced with the assistance of DFI.

"I trust that the sign will be left alone and no further resources will have to be used in restoring and repairing this important sign.”