Cross-border ferry suspension ‘a loss’ for tourism
The Carlingford Lough ferry service was launched almost a decade ago and ran its first service in July 2017. [BBC]
Neighboring business owners have warned that the suspension of Carlingford Lough ferry services would mean a significant loss to tourism on both sides of the border.
The cross-border service carries foot passengers and vehicles between the villages of Greencastle in County Down and Greenore in County Louth.
The service started almost a decade ago but has recently a short announcement on the website He confirmed that the ferry would not operate “any day in 2026”.
Eavan Brady, a cafe owner in Greenore, said “the whole Cooley peninsula will suffer as a result of this” but added he was hopeful service could be restored.
‘There won’t be that many footsteps’
The operators of the ferry did not make a statement regarding the suspension of their services, which usually last from late spring to October each year.
However, their website stated that the firm will extend the expiration dates of outstanding 2026 tickets “so that they can be used when the ferry is back in service.”
Brady, owner of Coast and Co cafe, said the suspension was a setback for local businesses in the north and south where the summer season is busy.
“Right now that means there won’t be a lot of footfall in the area,” he said. BBC’s Evening Extra program.
“Not only at Greenore, but at Cooley; at Carlingford; at Omeath; in all the outlying districts, and the same on the other side of the valley—at Cranfield; at Newcastle; at Kilkeel; at Rostrevor.”
The cafe owner said this could mean fewer summer jobs for young students because businesses like his often hire extra staff to serve ferry passengers.
“Visitors would come either to get off the ferry or to get on the ferry, maybe they would come for takeaway coffee, sandwiches, donuts, etc.,” he explained.
He said many passengers had explored the village of Greenore and that they “may not have been in that direction before before the ferry brought them to our door.”
‘One of the jewels in the crown’
The ferry operates between Greencastle in County Down and Omeath in County Louth. [BBC]
Richard Lewis, who runs a cycle hire company in Carlingford, said the ferry suspension was “a loss as it was a huge gain” for tourism.
“This is just one of the jewels in the crown of Carlingford Lough, the Cooley peninsula and the Mournes,” he said.
The crossing usually took about 15 to 20 minutes but also bypassed the city of Newry, saving travelers about 30 miles (48 km) of road travel.
“If you’re coming from, say, Newcastle or Kilkeel, it shortens the journey significantly… now you have to go around the whole valley,” Lewis explained.
“So I think it could take 90 minutes, including going through Newry, whereas you can reliably get from point to point in 30 minutes.”
A new road bridge connecting Warrenpoint in County Down to Omeath in County Louth is expected to cut journey times.
However, the Narrow Water Bridge still under construction and is not expected to open until the end of 2027.
‘A tourism attraction on its own’
Diane Forsythe of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) said suspending the ferry for the remainder of 2026 was a “major blow to South Down tourism”.
“Carlingford Ferry was much more than a simple transit service,” he said in a statement released last week.
“It has become a tourist attraction in its own right and has helped promote Carlingford Lough to thousands of visitors.”
The South Down councilor said “tourism bodies have been expressing concerns for some time about the lack of support for the ferry”.
He said he raised the issue with officials from Tourism NI, Tourism Ireland and Stormont’s Department of Economics three months ago.
“I am disappointed in the lack of urgency shown to the ferry as an important tourism asset,” Forsythe said.
“As the Narrow Water Bridge project progresses, there is a growing feeling that the ferry is being overlooked. I believe there is room for both.”
Brady said businesses like his have to “adapt” and find other ways to attract more visitors to their area.
The cafe owner added that it was possible for ferry services to restart in the future.
“I hope it will come back again, especially as we say the expiry date of the tickets will be extended,” he said.
“This might give some glimmer of hope.”
