Louth to benefit as €820k Shared Island Funding for Carlingford Lough tourism
Money will fund tourism development projects around Carlingford Lough
Fianna Fáil TD for Louth, Erin McGreehan, has welcomed the allocation of €820,000 from the Shared Island Fund to support the further development of the Great Lighthouses of Ireland initiative and tourism development projects around Carlingford Lough.
The funding forms part of a wider national allocation of €377 million through the Shared Island Fund for 12 new programmes. This brings total Government investment through the fund to more than €1 billion, supporting a more connected, sustainable and prosperous island for communities across Ireland.
Welcoming the announcement, Deputy McGreehan said:
“The inclusion of a feasibility assessment for the proposed ‘Loop of the Lough’ tourism concept is a clear indication that both the Department and local authorities are committed to exploring every opportunity to restore the Carlingford Lough Ferry Service in a way that is both viable and sustainable.
“The ferry service was a hugely valuable local amenity and transport link. However, it struggled to achieve the level of commercial viability required to sustain year-round, long-term operations without additional support.
“The concept of the Loop of the Lough presents an exciting opportunity to create a stronger tourism offering around Carlingford Lough. With the Narrow Water Bridge and the ferry service together completing the route, there is real potential to develop a sustainable tourism model that could support the return of the ferry.
“By increasing visitor numbers through the proposed tourism initiative, the ferry service could achieve the passenger numbers required to operate on a sustainable basis. This feasibility study will determine whether that potential can be realised.
“It is important to recognise that time is of the essence. While the service may not have been commercially viable in its previous form, it remained an essential link that many local people depended upon.
“The sooner this assessment is completed and the project moves forward, the sooner we can work towards restoring this important piece of local connectivity and tourism infrastructure.
“I will be engaging with Louth County Council and the Department of Tourism in the coming weeks to provide whatever local support is necessary to ensure this assessment progresses as quickly as possible.”