Cross-border ferry suspension 'a loss' for tourism

The suspension of the Carlingford Lough ferry service will mean a significant loss for tourism on both sides of the border, neighbouring business owners have warned.

The cross-border service carries foot passengers and vehicles between the villages of Greencastle in County Down and Greenore in County Louth.

The service began almost a decade ago but in recent days a brief notice on its website confirmed that the ferry will not operate "on any day in 2026".

Eavan Brady, who owns a cafe in Greenore, said the "whole Cooley peninsula will suffer as a result" but added she remained hopeful the service could be restored.

The ferry's operators did not provide an explanation for suspending their service, which usually runs from late spring until October each year.

But their website did state that the firm would extend the expiry dates of outstanding 2026 tickets "so they can be used when the ferry is back in service".

Brady, owner of the Coast and Co cafe, said the suspension was a setback for local businesses north and south during their peak summer season.

"At the moment it means that there won't be as much footfall in the area," she told the BBC's Evening Extra programme.

"Not just in Greenore but in Cooley; in Carlingford; in Omeath; in all of the outlying areas and the same on the other side of the lough - in Cranfield; Newcastle; Kilkeel; Rostrevor."

The cafe owner said it could mean fewer summer jobs for young students because businesses like hers would usually take on extra staff to cater for ferry passengers.

"Visitors would have come in - either getting off the ferry or going to get the ferry - maybe for a takeaway coffee, a sandwich, scone, whatever," she explained.

She said many passengers explored Greenore village who "may not have ever ventured in that direction before without the ferry bringing them to our doorstep".

Richard Lewis, who runs a bicycle hire company in Carlingford, said the ferry suspension "is a loss because it was such a great asset" for tourism.

"It's just one of the jewels of the crown of Carlingford Lough and the Cooley peninsula and over the Mournes," he said.

The crossing usually took about 15 to 20 minutes but it also saved passengers a road journey of about 30 miles (48km) as it bypassed the city of Newry.

"It cut down the journey significantly if you were coming from, say, Newcastle or Kilkeel... now you've got to go all round the lough," Lewis explained.

"So I think that can take - including getting through Newry - it could take 90 minutes, whereas reliably you could get from one point to the other in 30."

A new road bridge, connecting Warrenpoint in County Down to Omeath in County Louth, is expected to cut down journey times.

However, the Narrow Water Bridge is still under construction and is not expected to open until late 2027.

Diane Forsythe from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) said the suspension of the ferry for the remainder of 2026 is a "major blow to south Down tourism".

"The Carlingford Ferry was far more than simply a crossing service," she said in a statement issued last week.

"It became a tourism attraction in its own right and helped showcase Carlingford Lough to thousands of visitors."

The South Down assembly member said she had "raised concerns for some time about the lack of support being given to the ferry by tourism bodies".

She said she discussed the issue with officials from Tourism NI, Tourism Ireland and Stormont's Department for the Economy three months ago.

"I was disappointed by the lack of urgency shown towards the ferry as an important tourism asset," Forsythe said.

"With the progression of the Narrow Water Bridge project, it increasingly feels as though the ferry has been disregarded. I believe there is room for both."

Brady said businesses like hers "would have to adapt" and find other ways of attracting more visitors to their area.

The cafe owner added that it was possible the ferry service would resume in the future.

"I would be hopeful that it will come back again, particularly when they are saying that the tickets will... the expiry date is going to be extended," she said.

"That would give a little glimmer of hope."