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A rendering of what the bridge is expected to look like upon completion Department of the Taoiseach

Construction commences on new bridge linking Republic and NI hoped to be 'game-changer'

The bridge will span 195 metres and accommodate vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians.

LAST UPDATE | 4 Jun 2024

CONSTRUCTION IS COMMENCING on a long-awaited bridge linking Co Louth with Co Down.

The Narrow Water Bridge is set to connect Cornamucklagh near Omeath in Co Louth with Narrow Water near Warrenpoint in Co Down.

The bridge will span 195 metres and accommodate vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians, and will be able to open to allow the passage of ships through and on to the Newry Canal.

Taoiseach Simon Harris, Tánaiste Micheál Martin and Minister for Heritage Malcolm Noonan, as well as Northern Ireland’s Minister for Infrastructure John O’Dowd, are due to visit the site today.

€102 million euro, plus VAT, has been allocated from the Shared Ireland Fund to go towards the project.

The Taoiseach said that the bridge would be a “game-changer for commerce, daily life and tourism in this part of our shared island”.

“The Shared Island Unit was set up by the coalition for this very reason – to bring about visionary projects for the whole island that had long been sought after but not yet realised,” Harris said.

“I want to pay tribute to the communities and politicians from all parties and none in both Ireland and Northern Ireland who campaigned for a Narrow Water Bridge for decades.”

Speaking in Omeath, he said that he thinks “every single cent” spent will be a “really positive investment”.

I don’t think any one of us can fully capture the benefits that this is going to bring, the benefits in terms of connectedness, in terms of communities wanting to engage, but also the really practical benefit, and it is the hugely economic benefits that we’re going to see from this in terms of tourism.

“There is so much untapped potential in this region of this island and this bridge is going to play a very important role.”

Similarly, the Tánaiste described the project as a “clear physical manifestation of the philosophy underpinning Shared Island”.

He said that the bridge can be delivered “on time and in budget”. 

The bridge’s developer, BAM, is also building the National Children’s Hospital in Dublin, a project that has suffered from delays and spiralling costs for years.

Harris and Martin said there are “frustrations” in Government about the National Children’s Hospital, but both stressed the need for the tendering process to be separate to politics, and said they have confidence in Louth County Council to oversee the bridge project.

Martin said: “There’s set systems for the council to oversee the project.

“(BAM) have used the last three weeks very effectively, in terms of getting started with the dry weather, so I think we can get this project done on time and within budget.”

Harris said: “I think they’re two very separate and distinct projects. I think it is a statement of fact that there is frustration on the part of the Government and on the part of the people of Ireland in relation to some aspects in terms of the completion of a hospital that is now 92% complete.

It embodies our ambition for reconciliation, a closer relationship between North and South, and progress.

“Today is the realisation of a vision long shared across this stretch of water, delivering on the desire of both communities to reach out, to connect and to grow together,” the Tánaiste added. 

He said that it “will be an incredible catalyst for generations to come in terms of economics, tourism, biodiversity, greenways, you name it”.

Additional reporting by Press Association

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    Mute Shane McGrath
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    Feb 14th 2023, 12:21 PM

    When they changed to reduced sugar it was the end….. Lilt has never been the same.

    238
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    Mute Finn H. Schoyen
    Favourite Finn H. Schoyen
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    Feb 14th 2023, 12:49 PM

    @Shane McGrath: Exactly. I’ve been cutting down on soft drinks because I’m allergic to aspartame. It used to be my only reason for ordering regular instead of diet drinks.

    And the other artificial sweeteners aren’t doing any favours to the taste either.

    If they had reduced the sugar, and left it at that, I wouldn’t mind, but trying to compensate by using artificial sweeteners is wrong on so many levels.

    136
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    Mute Paul Cunningham
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    Feb 14th 2023, 6:45 PM

    @Shane McGrath: Blame the sugar tax for ruining lifes small pleasures.

    21
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    Mute Fi Wyse
    Favourite Fi Wyse
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    Feb 14th 2023, 12:41 PM

    If you don’t have Lilt and Cidona as your Christmas softdrinks are you even Irish????

    237
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    Mute Sara McS
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    Feb 14th 2023, 12:47 PM

    @Fi Wyse: or Tanora if you’re from Cork

    114
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    Mute Fi Wyse
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    Feb 14th 2023, 1:16 PM

    @Sara McS: Tanora and a chicken fillet roll. Gift nyom

    37
    See 4 more replies ▾
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    Mute thesaltyurchin
    Favourite thesaltyurchin
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    Feb 14th 2023, 1:36 PM

    Rockshandy rules this isle!… Victory!

    40
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    Mute Fi Wyse
    Favourite Fi Wyse
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    Feb 14th 2023, 2:13 PM

    @thesaltyurchin: The Mas with the flat 7up might not agree with you…..

    22
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    Mute thesaltyurchin
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    Feb 14th 2023, 4:46 PM

    @Fi Wyse: or the boiled red lemonade. A legendary cure-all! :)

    22
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    Mute Shedonny
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    Feb 15th 2023, 7:11 AM

    @Fi Wyse:
    Who on earth drinks this rubbish?
    Artificial sweeteners are the no. 1 causse of cancer.

    Can’t say you weren’t warned.

    1
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    Mute DERRY1973
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    Feb 14th 2023, 1:11 PM

    With the cost of living these days lilt might be the closest we get to the tropics.

    130
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    Mute Keth Warsaw
    Favourite Keth Warsaw
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    Feb 14th 2023, 1:43 PM

    More than the product itself, I liked the original advertising campaign. Everytime I drank it, or even now when I just think of it, I think of the West Indies and that ‘totally tropical taste’.

    93
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    Mute Longlin
    Favourite Longlin
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    Feb 14th 2023, 12:37 PM

    I’m sure Fanta will reconsider their decision on the results of this poll, so get voting everyone!

    83
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    Mute Padraic Forde
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    Feb 14th 2023, 1:53 PM

    After a sweaty hot day in the bog bringing home trailers of turf, there’s nothing like going to the fridge and opening and downing a can of lilt……..

    70
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    Mute Irish Antichrist
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    Feb 14th 2023, 12:26 PM

    Who
    The
    *
    Cares

    53
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    Mute Tom Leddy
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    Feb 14th 2023, 1:56 PM

    Don’t drink it, but I’m outraged anyway. Is there a protest arranged or maybe an online petition? Anyone know the number for Joe Duffy?

    41
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    Mute Gareth Miskelly
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    Feb 14th 2023, 1:37 PM

    The Aldi version is very nice!

    35
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    Mute Neil Reilly
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    Feb 15th 2023, 10:27 AM

    @Gareth Miskelly: no it’s not it’s mank

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    Mute Antaine O'Labhradha
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    Feb 14th 2023, 1:50 PM

    Fanta was created by Coca Cola for sale in the Nazi market during WWII. That was the company’s way of getting around federal legislation banning trade with Germany. Germany was the only production base for Fanta until the parent company started global sales. It’s a small world, really..

    28
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    Mute Malachi Shanks
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    Feb 14th 2023, 2:24 PM

    Yes, it’s totally tropical

    19
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    Mute TheGrey Gimp
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    Feb 14th 2023, 12:51 PM

    Just YUCK

    21
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    Mute Dr. Emmett Lathrop Brown
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    Feb 14th 2023, 3:41 PM

    Listing the ingredients for fun :)
    Carbonated Water, Fruit Juices from Concentrate 5% (Pineapple, Grapefruit), Sugar, Citric Acid, Antioxidant (Ascorbic Acid), Sweeteners (Acesulfame K, Aspartame, Sodium Saccharin), Preservative (Potassium Sorbate), Flavourings, Stabilisers (Acacia Gum, Guar Gum, Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate, Glycerol Esters of Wood Rosins), Colour (Carotenes). Contains a Source of Phenylalanine.
    Total Carbohydrates 4.6g
    Total Sugars 4.6g

    14
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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Feb 14th 2023, 6:33 PM

    Fair enough, I’ll be trying the Fanta version.

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    Mute Gearóid MacEachaidh
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    Feb 14th 2023, 1:50 PM

    Never liked the stuff but I have a mate that’s addicted to it. He’ll be freaking out

    19
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    Mute Self Employed Anarchist
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    Feb 14th 2023, 8:35 PM

    Always dreamed of being “ The Lilt Man “ – not the same on courtown beach though :-(

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    Mute Paul Jude Redmond
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    Feb 14th 2023, 6:04 PM

    Shrugs shoulders and walks away…

    7
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