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The potential of the park at the Albert Basin in Newry has long been recognised by locals and visitors alike but few have been able to put words down to express that potential like local woman Mary Gallagher.
Gallagher imagines that the park has already happened being started several years ago, and goes on to list the incredible knock on benefits that it could have for our area. None of them would be impossible to attain. In fact with the beauty of the Albert Basin area looking down Newry Canal towards Carlingford they all could be easily attainable along with much much more besides!
Sadly even though Council unanimously voted to build a 15 acre city park on the site in 2017, virtually nothing has happened since.
£16M was allocated by the Department of Finance in December but instead of it being the starting gun to build a world class park at 'full tilt' it appears that not even £16 million will speed up this project.
Council produced an Outline Business Case earlier this month which suggests a park could be on the site by 2027/ 2028 although it taking £16 million to grass up some areas, plant some trees, put in some paths and provide a childrens playground seems rather overpriced. Many of the things mentioned in a Council Consultation aren't even mentioned - Marina, Opening Bridge, Skateboard Park, Visitors Centre, linkage to Warrenpoint road - In fact probably all the items that could make it a 'World Class Park'.
Mary Gallagher's Dream:
Imagine if you can, that the park was started 5/10 years ago ….. the trees in the Park are now tall and lush, the Rhododendrons and roses rival those in Rowallane at Saintfield and Thomas and Lady Dixon park. ….
The Marina is full of boats and we are about to have our ‘Annual Regatta’ … The Rowing Club has a week long of ‘anniversary’ of events planned with Rowers coming from all over Europe and USA ( they are staying newly built holiday appartments overlooking the Basin……
The summer programme for the Exhibition Centre is fully booked . The BBC and RTÉ have set up new studios in the Conference Centre to cope with the demand for locally based programmes .
There’s a big skateboarding competition planned for August… those holiday appartments are fully booked again …
James Mc Areavey is now welcoming visitors to the new Maritime Museum and European visitors are coming to see how we have managed to reclaim our canal and build walkways, cafes, running tracks, while providing for and protecting our heritage and natural environment . ….
There’s a new opening Bridge now over the River and Canal and people come from far and near to see it all lit up at night…. The illuminations are world class …
It’s now May 2022….. I am still dreaming , ….. methinks that the money Conor Murphy promised has been sidelined /syphoned off for wee bits of ‘other projects’ here and there? The Lord only knows…
….. in the meantime… I will just continue to dream 
……….and dream…..
