Final stage of 'fabulous' new cross-border greenway opens

Damien and Linda are on a pathway. Damien has a bike. He's wearing a red jacket and Linda is wearing a lime green jacket with navy sleeves. A lake is on one side. Trees are in the background.

Damien Ó Tuama cycled the route with Linda Meehan from Drogheda

Cormac Campbell
BBC News NI south east reporter

The final stretch of a new cross-border greenway linking Newry city and Carlingford village has been officially opened.

The final 5km section, between Victoria Lock on Newry Ship Canal and Omeath, which includes boardwalks, coastal paths and sections of old trainline, passes through the site of the new Narrow Water Bridge.

It's hoped the facility will attract tens of thousands of visitors each year.

There are also hopes the northern section of the greenway can be connected through Newry city to the canal towpath which leads to Portadown and from Narrow Water into Warrenpoint and Rostrevor.

On the southern shore there are plans to extend the facility around the Cooley Peninsula to Dundalk – although these plans have seen significant objection from local landowners.

With a stated cost of €5.14m (£4.45m), the greenway starts at the Albert Basin in Newry and ends 12 miles away in Carlingford village.

Built in stages , it has taken the best part of a decade to complete with financial support from the Special EU Programmes Body.

The final stage, which crosses the border between Victoria Lock in Northern Ireland and Omeath in the Republic, officially opened last week.

What is the greenway like?

Damien Ó Tuama, of the Irish Cycling Campaign, said the greenway is "fantastic".

"The scenery is totally gorgeous. The surfacing is a mixture of loose gravel and nice smooth black top," he said.

Damien was cycling the route with Linda Meehan from Drogheda.

Linda said there was a stark difference between cycling in the city and on the greenway.

"I think this is fabulous," she said.

"But to be honest, Newry wasn't great for cycling through – apart from the very steep hills there were poor facilities for cyclists and poor signage."

Kimmins is standing in front of a pier leading to water. She has brown hair. She's wearing a red top and a black coat.

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said the department already has plans for an inner greenway through Newry

This is something Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said her department is keen to address.

"The department already has plans for an inner greenway through Newry and we are working through those stages," she said.

"The Narrow Water Bridge is also a pedestrian and cycle route too so my understanding is it will be incorporated into this."

A poster says protect Cooley Peninsula. Your garden, your laundry. Your life on display. It's attached to a mobile board. It's parked on grass with trees in the background.

There is significant objection from local landowners in building a greenway around the Cooley peninsula

So far so good, but drive just a few miles past Carlingford towards Greenore and you will start seeing objection signs.

The signs are in relation to the proposed development of a greenway from Dundalk to Carlingford around the Cooley peninsula.

'They are going to take people's land'

Thomas is standing in a living room. He's wearing a blue, white and black stripped top. There is a mirror hanging above the fireplace. Several frames photos are hanging on the wall and on the fire place. A table is behind him and a sofa.

Cooley farmer Thomas Keenan is "completely against" building a greenway

Cooley farmer Thomas Keenan said the level of objection is significant.

"This is a small place and, with the sea and mountains, all that is left here is to build a greenway through good farmland, which we are completely against," he said.

"It is people's livelihood and the threat of compulsory purchase orders - that they are going to take people's land - has frightened everyone."

A sign says our land, our rights. It's attached to a gate on a field. Some houses are in the background.

Jerry Buttimer, Irish Minister of State with special responsibility for rural transport, said concerns can't be ignored

At last week's opening event, Jerry Buttimer, Irish Minister of State with special responsibility for rural transport, said all efforts will be made to find a solution.

"We do listen to what are genuine concerns from landowners and how we can marry both to ensure that we can have seamless greenway but we're also recognising that residents and landowners have concerns that can't just be ignored."

'The right mix'

Cathaoirleach is standing with a pier behind him leading to water. He has a navy suit on with a green tie and a white shirt and a chain of office is around his neck. He has brown hair.

Sean Kelly, from Louth County Council, said there were "a lot of objections so it is about trying to get the right mix"

Sean Kelly, Cathaoirleach (chair) of Louth County council, acknowledges that consensus is some way off.

"There are three prospective routes and they are under discussion with local landowners," he said.

"There are a lot of objections so it is about trying to get the right mix."

These are debates that will play out in the months and years ahead.

The project was supported by a European Union programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body.

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