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Two cross border organisations that work together to promote the Carlingford Lough area are warning of an impending disaster for tourism in the region. Sailing up the Newry Ship Canal is one of the most spectacular passages a sea-going boat can make but plans are still being advanced at a pace to build a fixed bridge over the waterway, completely eliminating key opportunities created by the opening Narrow Water Bridge.
A fixed bridge would bring almost 300 years of Newry's maritime heritage to an end, and flotillas and tall ship cruises organised by Carlingford Marina and the Iúr Cinn Fleadh Festival would not be able to happen.
This summer the organisations ran an event with over 30 yachts and organised 12 tall ship trips on Newry Ship Canal. The concern is that if the fixed bridge is allowed to proceed future generations will be deprived of the colourful and fun spectacle.
Work on the ground is progressing quickly on the building of the much welcomed Narrow Water Bridge, which will greatly enhance the tourism offering for the area. Funding for the project is being provided by the Irish Government, and the bridge will incorporate an opening section to allow tall ships and yachts to travel up Newry Ship Canal, into the heart of Newry.
Meanwhile the Stormont Executive are advancing plans to build another bridge over Newry Ship Canal as part of a proposed Southern Relief Road. The 12m fixed structure will mean tall ships and yachts travelling under the Narrow Water Bridge will have nowhere to go, as they will be unable to use the Ship Canal or access Newry city. Funding for the Southern Relief Road is being provided by the Belfast Region City Deal, and Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd confirmed his intention to proceed with a fixed bridge in April 2024.
Jaw dropping
Jonathan O'Connor Moneley, Carlingford Marina organisers of Carlingford Cruising Week & Moneley Oyster Pearl Regatta said "It would be a real shame for the people of Newry City - and for UK and Ireland Sailing communities on the whole for the Newry Ship Canal to become inaccessible for boats. Sailing up the Newry Canal is one of the most spectacular passages a sea-going boat can make and is rivalled only by places such as the Caledonian Canal in Scotland, or the Canal du Midi in southern France. It is an astonishing experience for a sailor to go from navigating in open water with nothing on the horizon, to suddenly finding themselves snaking up a narrow waterway in the hushed and tranquil embrace of green fields, trees, grassy marshes, etc, it's jaw dropping. Awe inspiring. On top of that what makes the Newry Canal so special is that you are also met with a plethora of historical landmarks lining the banks of the river as you go. Newry, at the moment, possesses this fabulous asset - and more and more people are finding out about, appreciating it, and making use of it with regular flotillas organised to the heart of Newry City each year. To lose this asset now would be so disheartening."
One project cancelling the benefits of the other
Columba O'Hare speaking on behalf of Iúr Cinn Fleadh, a festival of traditional and folk music and arts added "Currently Newry city is accessible by yacht or tall ship from anywhere in the world via Carlingford Lough and Newry Ship Canal, and has been for nearly 300 years. It is completely ludicrous that tens of millions are being spent on two projects, with one project cancelling the benefits of the other. What should be a tourist boost for the city of Newry, unbelievably is actually being designed by those in charge to help make Newry a tourist wasteland. If our local authorities can't promote our obvious assets, what chance is there of them promoting any?"
"Every year since 2014 we have hosted incredibly popular tall ship trips with trad music on the Ship Canal, and this is now at risk. We would ask political parties to intervene and find a solution, before this incredible asset is lost to the entire Carlingford Lough region.
"The Southern Relief Road Bridge must be an opening structure. Just imagine how popular this unique attraction would be, sailing through two opening bridges and a historic lock to travel up the oldest canal in Ireland."
The Department for Infrastructure has said that to build an opening structure on the bridge over Newry Ship Canal would cost an additional £10m on top of the expected £110-£130m cost of the project, but Carlingford Marina and Iúr Cinn Fleadh are adamant that the proposed fixed bridge would be a catastrophic blow to future tourism in the region.
