Cornamucklagh House in Omeath on the market

Cornamucklagh House on the Ferryhill Road in Omeath has been put up for sale for an undisclosed sum.

The pub and restaurant, which has 600sqm of space inside it, is also available as a letting option through Dundalk-based estate agents Property Partners Laurence Gunne.

Formerly known as Davey’s, the property is situated on the main road from Newry to Omeath overlooking the Narrow Water.

The premises was completely refurbished approximately six years ago by its current owner. It features two bars, a restaurant and a function room.

A supporters’ club, golf society and Irish language interest and tuition group are also based out of the pub, which is best known for the now world famous Cornamucklagh Donkey Derby every August.

It also sells lotto tickets, which brings in plenty of custom from north of the border, while there is also a beer garden and an adjoining field of over an acre.

You can read more about the property here.

Dearey to query Warrenpoint oil spillage’s impact on Co Louth coastline

A picture shared by Cllr Dearey on his Twitter page of oil found a mile upstream from the spillage a week after it occurred

Green Party councillor Mark Dearey is set to call for a full debate on the impact of an oil spillage at Warrenpoint over a week ago on the Louth shoreline of Carlingford Lough.

The Omeath man said he would like to discuss the matter in full at the next meeting of Louth County Council after earlier this week expressing his concern that, a week after the spill, an area a mile upstream was still coated in oil.

Louth County Council did release a statement on the spillage, which occurred on October 22^nd, saying they were continue to monitor the shoreline for any negative impact.

The statement read: “Louth County Council (LCC) were informed on the 23rd of October of a fuel oil spillage at Warrenpoint harbour which occurred on the night of the 22nd of October.

“The affected areas reported were Warrenpoint Harbour and an area of foreshore near Narrow Water Castle in Co Down. Booms were deployed at Warrenpoint Harbour and an on-going beach clean is being carried out at Narrow Water Castle by the Northern Ireland authorities.

“As soon as the Council were made aware of the incident LCC informed all the relevant statutory and public bodies in the Republic and have been liaising with these bodies and the relevant bodies in Northern Ireland since the 23rd of October.

“LCC along with other public bodies have been inspecting the foreshore since the incident was notified to the Council. Some contaminated seaweed has been found along the foreshore in an area North of Omeath in Co Louth and the Council are arranging for removal and disposal of the affected material. On the Louth side of the Lough no impacts have been noted in the water body itself and along the shoreline.

“LCC will be continually monitoring the shoreline until such a stage as the clean-up on the Northern side of the Lough has been closed off and there are no further risks to the environment.”

Breathnach welcomes bridge order for Narrow Water project

An artist’s impression of the Narrow Water Bridge

Louth County Council chairman Cllr Declan Breathnach has welcomed the decision of Mr Danny Kennedy MLA, Minister for Regional Development (Northern Ireland) to proceed with a Bridge Order for the Narrow Water Bridge connecting counties Louth and Down.

Cllr Breathnach said the decision by Minister Kennedy means that the bridge has cleared a further important milestone, despite this week’s announcement that the project was on hold due to a funding shortfall.

“While we had the announcement earlier this week that the bridge project was ‘on hold’ given the shortfall between the available funds and the prices quoted during the tendering process, it is still important that we continue the statutory approval process and the Narrow Water Bridge Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 and Newry River (Diversion of Navigable Watercourse and Extinguishment of Public Rights of Navigation) Order (NI) 2013 are both vital in this regard.

“The fact that Mr Kennedy is proceeding in this way without the need for a time-consuming and expensive public inquiry is also to be welcomed.”

The Council Cathaoirleach said the onus is now on public representatives and officials to examine every possible avenue to allow the bridge to proceed.

“Having navigated the complex approval process in both the Republic and Northern Ireland and won the support of key stakeholders who recognise its huge social and economic potential, it is vital that we now spare no effort to keep this project alive and use all of our creativity and energy to find a solution to the funding issue.

“There is a very robust and carefully thought out rationale for this project and the case for proceeding is arguably stronger in the present economic environment when the positive spin-offs from it would be all the more welcome. To me, this is one of the main missing pieces of the jigsaw that can unlock this entire region’s potential and connect people and places as never before. None of us can be blind to the economic realities of today but we can’t have a recession in our ambition and vision as well.”

The single-carriageway, 195 metres cable-stayed Narrow Water Bridge is designed to connect Cornamucklagh near Omeath, Co Louth with Narrow Water near Warrenpoint, Co Down and the total length of the proposed scheme is 620m.

Previously: Narrow Water Bridge project on hold due to funding shortfall

Narrow Water Bridge project on hold due to funding shortfall

An artist’s impression of the Narrow Water Bridge

In what could be a major blow for tourism in the region, the Narrow Water Bridge project has been put on hold pending a cost and funding review.

Louth County Council announced the project was on hold this afternoon “after tenders received from construction companies for the project ran substantially above the allocated budget.”

They revealed that tenders received ranged from €26m to €40m plus VAT. Just €17.4m was received in funding from Europe for the project.

A spokesperson for Louth County Council said today: “Having examined all of the tenders received from contractors competing to build the bridge, it is clear that their estimates of the cost of construction are considerably higher than the figures we have been working with to date. This leaves us with a substantial funding shortfall. Our focus now is on seeing if this can be filled through any combination of additional funding and cost reductions.

“While our ambition remains to see this socially and economically desirable project through to completion, the reality is that it is now effectively on hold. At this time, we want to record our appreciation for the support that we have received to date from all of the various stakeholders in both the Republic and Northern Ireland.”

The current Narrow Water Bridge project commenced in 2008 when Louth County Council engaged Roughan O’Donovan Consulting Engineers to design a bridge in keeping with the outstanding natural beauty in the area. The same company designed the Mary McAleese Boyne Valley Bridge on the M1 Dublin-Belfast motorway.

The single-carriageway, 195 metres cable-stayed Narrow Water Bridge is designed to connect Cornamucklagh near Omeath, Co Louth with Narrow Water near Warrenpoint, Co Down and the total length of the proposed scheme is 620m.

A discussion on the bridge took place in Dublin in May with Paddy Malone and Paddy Matthews of Dundalk Chamber of Commerce making a presentation on the economic and tourist-related benefits of the bridge. Jim Boylan of Warrenpoint Chamber of Commerce also outlined the jobs potential it would create, with at least 270 people to be hired in the construction phase alone.

The Irish government had secured 80% of the funding at that time, with the project finally getting the go ahead at the end of May when Northern Irish First Minister Sammy Wilson pledged his support to the project.

The proposed location for the bridge is the scene of one of the bloodiest attacks during the Troubles, in August 1979, in which the IRA killed 18 British soldiers and seriously injured six more.

Previously: Narrow Water Bridge to get the go ahead