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"There is no seagoing traffic" on Newry Ship Canal. That was the incredible statement from a Department for Infrastructure representative at yesterday's Newry Southern Relief Road Scheme, Public Information Day at Newry Leisure Centre. The comment was hastily withdrawn a minute later after a local sailor spoke of his trip down the canal from Newry to South America, but it remains concerning that the very department that plans to shut Newry Ship Canal forever for tall ships and yachts didn't seem to know that the waterway was being used! Just back in August 2024 the Brian Boru tall ship sailed from Wexford to Belfast via Newry City for Iur Cinn Fleadh while in July a flotilla of yachts from Carlingford and beyond sailed up the Canal and proved a tremendous crowd puller into the bargain. Other local boats have also been sea bound from Newry in 2024.
Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd has said that the Southern Relief Road which is being built to take freight traffic from Warrenpoint Port to the Dublin - Belfast Road will involve the building of a 12m fixed bridge over Newry Ship Canal which will result in Newry City being inaccessible to higher masted boats despite the in-progress Narrow Water Bridge allowing them through, just a few miles away.
Speaking on the Canal, attendee Colum Sands said "You are closing a significant historic canal to seagoing traffic" to which Sid Stevenson from the Department for Infrastructure replied "But what seagoing traffic is there." adding "There is no seagoing traffic."
IWAI Newry and Portadown Branch Member Peter Maxwell intervened "I sailed in that canal down to the south end of South America with my yacht. It had a 20 metre mast, and you're saying there's no sea going traffic."
Sands called for a correction and Stevenson replied "There is going to be an impact on a number of vessels but looking at the heritage impact, the economic impact, the engineering and environmental we've decided that we can still maintain the navigation for the majority of boats up and down the canal with the 12m bridge" adding "I withdraw the statement yes"
Speaking about the project Stevenson commented "The benefit is going to be for the city of Newry" to which attendee Brian Cleland replied "According to people from Newry it's not to our benefit because it's going to destroy our canal which is our most important historic monument by far. It won't be a ship canal any more."
Stevenson added "My statement on sea going ships was incorrect and I apologise for that." to which Cleland replied "When you don't seem to know what the Ship Canal is, at a fundamental level, is pretty shocking to be honest."
Quite a few ships
Council Haven't Formally Objected
Explaining that Newry, Mourne and Down District Council haven't formally objected to the project the DfI representative said "We haven't received any formal opposition from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. Some of the Councilors agree that the bridge should be opening, and that's why we're going through this process to get representations that could be formally considered because it's a legal requirement to do so. But Newry, Mourne and Down District Council are part of the Belfast Region City Deal, and they're part of the bigger picture, and they see the benefits."
Contradiction
Information Boards around the venue at yesterday's meeting explained the difference between the Narrow Water Bridge and the Southern Relief Road Bridge with one for tourism and one for Warrenpoint Port. Attendee Frances Gallagher said "So one of the contradictions is that one is a tourist bridge to develop tourism and then the Southern Relief Road is going to destroy one of the the great maritime heritage treasures of Ireland - it's a tourist attraction, so one is contradicting the other."
Have Your Say
If you would like to have your say you can see information about the project at Newry Leisure Centre until 4 March 2025.
You can also make representations in the following ways:
- Email: southern.sri@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk
- Address: Major Projects Team South, DfI, Marlborough House, Central Way, Craigavon, BT64 1AD
- Telephone: (028) 3832 0409/articles/newry-southern-relief-road-overview
