North East secures significant Shared Island Investment – O’Dowd

A €10m regeneration investment in the Oldbridge Visitor Centre, a commitment to build the long awaited Narrow Water Bridge and a €12.5m investment to introduce a new hourly rail service between Dublin and Belfast have all been announced as priorities in the Shared Island programme.

Fine Gael TD and Chairperson of the Joint Committee on the Good Friday Agreement, Fergus O’Dowd, was speaking after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced new Government funding commitments of over €800 million for Shared Island projects.

Deputy O’Dowd said “I’m absolutely delighted to see that the Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre in Oldbridge is set to benefit from €10m in investment to build on and improve the visitor experience at the site to reflect its unique historic significance to communities North and South.

“This is a project I have been working on with my colleague Minister of the OPW, Patrick O’Donovon since November 2021 when we first met with OPW officials in Oldbridge House to discuss the possible opportunities for the facility to become a key meeting point for North South activities.

“The commitment to build the long-awaited Narrow Water Bridge is also a major statement of intent, this 280m long bridge will span counties Louth and Down and will be the realisation of a long term commitment that was contained within Fine Gael’s 2020 General Election Manifesto. This bridge will provide a welcome boost for cross border tourism and trade and will improve our connectivity north and south.

Deputy O’Dowd continued: “I also note the €12.5m announced to introduce a new a new hourly rail service between Dublin and Belfast, this is key to link the two largest cities on the island as we try to further improve our connectivity over the coming years.

“Economic development must be at the forefront of our shared island strategy. We must be cognisant of the importance of safeguarding our respective cultures, while also having cross-border consensus and cooperation to work for the betterment of our communities.”