NARROW WATER
Narrow Water lies on a political fault line in Ireland that stretches back to ancient times. In Pre-Christian Ireland the Clanrye river formed part of the border between the old Gaelic kingdoms of Oriel and Ulidia
It was into Carlingford Lough that Saint Patrick is believed to have sailed in the fifth century. He made his way up the river where legend has it that he planted a yew tree that would give the town of Newry its Gaelic name - Iúir Cinn Trá - the yew tree at the head of the strand.
In the 12th century Narrow Water lay at the northernmost reaches of the Pale, an area successfully settled by the Anglo-Normans, a stone’s throw from the yet unconquered Gaelic province of Ulster.
Following the partition of Ireland in 1922, Narrow Water found itself on the border between the newly formed Irish Free State and Northern Ireland. In 2016 this narrow stretch of water assumed a geopolitical significance when the United Kingdom left the European Union. Northern Ireland voted to stay.
For millennia Narrow Water served as an important crossing point for farmers and fishermen. The first serious mention of building a bridge across the narrow channel appeared in the Newry Reporter in 1905. The Chairman of the local council was reported to have said that, 'at first sight it might seem to be a wild business, but when one came to examine the matter, it may not seem to be an extraordinary affair.'
Seventy-five years would pass before the matter received further consideration.
Following the political trauma and serious civil unrest of the early decades of the 20th century, the area languished. Emigration was rife. Apart from an upswing in economic activity experienced during the years of the Second World War, the area continued its decline. The Newry Canal, the first summit canal in Britain and Ireland, which had been on the wane since the advent of the railways, was finally abandoned in 1949. By 1965, all rail connections had closed and unemployment levels were at record highs.
When political violence flared again in the 1970s, the area found itself seized by a vicious terrorist campaign and an increasingly barbaric spiral of sectarian violence. This period, referred to euphemistically in Ireland as 'the Troubles' saw in the area surrounding Carlingford Lough, some of the worst atrocities in the many decades of conflict. Neither community was spared. The security forces, both police and army, also paid a heavy price throughout these awful years. Indeed it was at Narrow Water that the British Army incurred the greatest loss of life in a single terrorist attack.
In the midst of great upheaval and despair, the far-seeing Arthur Lockhart, Chairman of Newry & Mourne District Council met on the 13 January 1976 with his counterpart PJ O’Hare of Louth County Council. Both Lockhart and O'Hare, though they came from different political traditions, were convinced then that a bridge at Narrow Water would unite the communities around Carlingford Lough and provide a much-needed boost to tourism. The persistent political violence of the next two decades however prevented any serious consideration of the project.
In the period following the Peace Process and the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, a dedicated group of local people successfully lobbied both governments and Brussels. Towards the mid 90's, under pressure from both communities, the main paramilitary groupings ended their campaigns of violence.
A decision to proceed with building a bridge at Narrow Water was finally taken in 2012. The project received the full approval of both governments and the promise of substantial financial support from the EU. However following a miscalculation of costs and subsequent political mishandling, the project failed to go ahead. Political will quickly ebbed and the committed European funding was withdrawn and reallocated.
That such an important infrastructural project should be allowed to fail at the eleventh hour deeply shocked and disappointed an incredulous local community. The failure to deliver the bridge in 2013 effectively squandered an opportunity for this part of the border region to move on from a Post-Troubles Twilight Zone.
THE RISE AND FALL OF THE 2012 PROJECT
January 2007 - Cross-border funding proposed in Transforming Ireland, the National Development Plan 2007-2013. Dublin Government contribution believed to be €14 million.
Attitudes to the Narrow Water Bridge typically divide along traditional unionist and nationalist lines.
'This announcement will help develop and expand the north-eastern economic corridor and give a new impetus to tourism in the area. It is the news that many people in the area have waited decades for. '' PJ Bradley Northern Ireland Assembly Member ( Social Democratic and Labour Party) and prominent early campaigner.
"This is a misty-eyed project that has no economic benefit for the Newry area. The real focus should be on creating a relief road closer to Newry.'' Danny Kennedy Northern Ireland Assembly Member (Ulster Unionist Party)
May 2008 - Feasibility study and public consultations completed by Louth County Council. Preliminary route options published.
Oct 2008 - Final route and preliminary bridge design published.
Apr 2011 - Ground investigation works begin at site.
July 2011- Fine Gael led government in Dublin loses interest in project.
''…competing demands from other local authorities for strategic schemes which have a better benefit/cost ratio, this Department…is not in a position to proceed any further with the Narrow Water Bridge project, and beyond 2011 no further funding will be made available for it.'' Leo Varadkar Minister for Transport
Dec 2011 – Louth County Council decides to go it alone.
Mar 2012 - Louth County Council applies for planning permission and issues compulsory purchase order.
July 2012 – Application for EU funding rejected
August 2012 – Appeal lodged with EU.
Oct 2012 - European funding secured & planning permission approved on both sides of the border.
Jan 2012 - Agreed shared costs break down as follows: EU Interreg funding €17.3 m, Government of Ireland €3.9 m, Northern Ireland Executive €3.2 m totalling €24.4 m
June 2012-Tenders received range from €26m and €40m.
May 2013 - Northern Ireland Finance Minister Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party) confirms his departmental funding ''…and not a penny more!''
Nov 2013 - With no expectation of shortfall being made up, EU funding withdrawn. Project collapses.
