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The following sets the NWBCN Campaign timeline and political backdrop against which the campaign operated. As a committed cross-community group staying above the party-political fray was challenging.
2014 - Narrow Water Bridge Community Network (NWBCN) founded.-NWBCN begins to engage with local political parties and supporters of the Bridge Project.
2015 - NWBCN fundraise and prepare promotional video highlighting community demand for the Narrow Water Bridge (NWB). -NWBCN sets out mission statement and vision for the the Carlingford Lough Area.
2016
January - NWBCN develops presentation defining economic case for the bridge.
February - Fresh Start Agreement revives Northern Ireland (NI) Assembly with commitment to review NWB project.
- NWBCN present to Warrenpoint Chamber of Commerce.
- Sinn Féin emerge as third largest party in a Fine Gael minority-led Dáil in Dublin. Enda Kenny re-elected as Taoiseach.
April -NWBCN meets with incoming SDLP leader, Colm Eastwood at NWB site.
June- NWBCN meets with incoming Finance Minister NI, Mairtín Ó Muilleor at NWB site.- Brexit Referendum. NI leaves EU despite voting to remain.
July - NWBCN presents at the North South Meeting hosted by Newry Mourne & Down District Council (NMDDC) chaired by Department for Infrastructure NI (DfI) and Department for Infrastructure and Tourism ROI.December - NWBCN attends Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement (JCIGFA) Implementation Committee meeting in the Dáil in Dublin.
2018
February - NWBCN launches newsletter.
2019
March - EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness MEP meets NWBCN in Warrenpoint.
2017
January - 'Cash for Ash' scandal engulfs Stormont. NI Assembly collapses amid usual recrimination.
- NWBCN publishes campaign website.
- Infrastructure Ministers Chris Hazzard (NI) and Shane Ross (Republic of Ireland ROI) set out continued support for NWB.
February - NWB seen as complimentary to SRR following Stakeholders Meeting chaired by Department for Infrastructure NI and Department for Infrastructure and Tourism ROI.
November - DfI NI details Southern Relief Road (SRR) options.
June - Leo Varadkar replaces Enda Kenny as Taoiseach.
2020
February New Decade New Approach Agreement relaunches the NI Assembly with UK Government promising to 'turbo-charge projects' including NWB. Dublin Government declares it is ready 'to jointly progress consideration of options for the development of the Narrow Water bridge project at the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC).
- Elections in the Republic see Sinn Féin surge gaining highest share of first preference votes, one seat behind Micheál Martin's Fianna Fáil.
March - PM Boris Johnson announces lockdown on 23rd. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar follows suit on 27th.
June - Micheál Martin elected Taoiseach.
July - DfI NI Minister Nicola Mallon reaffirms her commitment to the NWB in interview to Newry Reporter.
September - NWBCN meet with Minister Mallon on site at Narrow Water as Covid restrictions ease.
October - Taoiseach Micheál Martin launches his Shared Island Initiative (SII), announcing the allocation of €500 million funding for a range of projects from the A5 road upgrade , the Ulster Canal and the Narrow Water Bridge.
December- Newly appointed head of the SII, Ms Aingeal O'Donoghue, at a meeting of JCIGFA, confirms that the €500 million SII funding ring-fenced for the NWB and other projects was additional to anything that may come from Stormont or the Dublin government.
2021
May - Malcolm Noonan Green Party, in reply to question raised in the Seanad by Senators Erin McGreehan Fianna Fáil (FF) and John McGahon Fine Gael (FG), says the Coalition Government is still reviewing a range of options for a crossing at Narrow Water. The Narrow Water Bridge was not yet a definable project.
- NWBCN records disappointment in e-mail correspondence to Nicola Mallon, DfI NI minister.
June - Taoiseach Micheál Martin announces €3 million to bring project to tender stage.
- NWBCN launches Cycle Expressway Proposal.
- DfI (NI) decision to go for a fixed bridge option to cross the Newry Canal (the first summit canal built in Britain or Ireland) as part of the SRR Scheme proves unpopular.
October - DfI (NI) Minister Nichola Mallon and Minister for Housing (ROI) Darragh O'Brien, given special responsibility to deliver NWB by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, host gathering at Narrow Water. Delivery of the the original 2012 NWB (opening bridge) confirmed. Minster Mallon commits to expediting greenway development in the area to align with the NWB.
NWBCN take opportunity to present Cycling Expressway Proposal.
December - Minister Mallon shows support for NWBCN proposal.
2022
February - NI Assembly collapses amid usual recrimination...again.
- NSMC collapses with it.
March - Sinn Féin and Uster Unionist Party endorse NWBCN Cycling Expressway Proposal.
May - NI Assembly Elections held. Sinn Féin emerge as largest party.
- new Assembly meets 13th and again on 20th. DUP refuse to assent to election of Speaker.
- NI Assembly collapses amid usual recrimination...again.
- NSMC collapses with it...again.
October - At Annual Wolfe Tone Commemoration at Bodenstown County Kildare Taoiseach Micheál Martin announces that funding is now in place and the Narrow Water Bridge will be built.
- NWBCN challenge to NMDDC plans for boardwalk solution to complete greenway connection from Carlingford to Victoria Lock Newry fails.
November - Taoiseach Micheál Martin comes north to Narrow Water to announce NWB tendering process.
2023
March - With no NI Assembly in place, DfI Permanent Secretary confirms decision to construct a fixed bridge over Newry Canal.
May - US President Joe Biden, on his trip to Ireland visits Dundalk and Cooley Peninsula. Local woman, Anna McAteer takes opportunity to mention the bridge to the POTUS when he visits her son's restaurant in Dundalk in the company of Micheál Martin, Tanáiste at the time.
2024
February - Taoiseach Leo Varadkar reaffirms NWB funding.
March - Leo Varadkar steps down as Taoiseach to be replaced by Simon Harris.
May- DfI (NI) Minister John O'Dowd completes review SRR fixed bridge confirming a 50m fixed span bridge over Newry Canal.
June - Taoiseach Simon Harris announces at Narrow Water that building is to commence. The Narrow Water Bridge will be completed by November 2027.
2025
March - DfI consultation period ends. SRR now facing a number of issues which involve funding and public opposition to a fixed bridge. There is also likely fall-out from the McAlinden judgement in A5 Upgrade.
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