STRATEGIC OVERVIEW National Context 2.1 STRATEGIC OVERVIEW NATIONAL ROAD AND AIR INFRASTRUCTURE Westport Tralee Tralee Killarney Killarney N22 N17 N21 Galway Cork Limerick N18 N5 Sligo Roscommon N6 A15 N8 N8 Derry N25 Portlaoise Enniskillen Enniskillen N7 N7 Athlone Waterford N4 Cashel Cashel Kilkenny N3 Mullingar N10 N10 Kildare Dundalk N2 N9 Newry N5 Belfast Carlow M1 A6 Dunleer Omeath M1 Enniscorthy Wexford Drogheda Rosslare Carlingford N11 Dublin Arklow Wicklow County’s towns and villages. with the growth and development of the therefore requires consideration in dealing development of the island as a whole, The location of County Louth in the future Ireland as an island with the rest of Europe. and is thus pivotal in efficiently connecting Euroroute to Rosslare will connect Larne form and development of the County. The Dublin-Belfast rail-line all impacting on the way, the N2 to Derry / Donegal, and Louth, with the EO1 Euroroute / M1 motor- and Dublin. Key transport links traverse Coast of Ireland mid-point between Belfast Louth is strategically located on the East NATIONAL CONTEXT Carrickmacross DUBLIN-LOUTH ROAD AND RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE 2002. Plan, due for completion at the end of being developed under the National Spatial National Development Plan are currently The spatial implications of the 2000 Navan Ardee Dublin M1 N3 Dunleer N2 Dundalk Newry Omeath Drogheda Carlingford Swords M1 Balbriggan BORDER MIDLAND WESTERN REGION (BMW) Westport Galway Cork M REGION BMW Limerick Sligo Derry Portlaoise Athlone Waterford Dundalk Belfast Dunleer Drogheda Omeath Wexford Carlingford Dublin •P number of reasons: Omeath is coming under pressure for a coastal town. potential residents for an idyllically located kms from Dundalk, provides a pool of Additionally, Dundalk, which is located 22 dences, and in Omeath’s case, from Newry. both holiday homes and permanent resi- ing development south of the border, for falls in favour of Sterling, is pushing hous- the exchange rate with Sterling Pound der. The present economic situation where pressure particularly from north of the bor- kms north of Carlingford is experiencing peninsula, 10 kms south of Newry and 6 However, Omeath, located on the Cooley able housing options. within the Dublin commuter belt for afford- County Louth, with all of Louth now falling Dublin, have all had knock-on effects on house price increases, and the expansion of Recent housing shortages, subsequent East Coast REGIONAL CONTEXT • • • • day homes As a location for second homes / holi- Sterling – Punt exchange rate yet, undeveloped land around the town Perceived development potential of as Euroroute with reduced travelling times Advancement of the M1 motorway / Dundalk and Newry r oximity to two major urban centres of the tourist season. which dramatically extends the length of growing weekend and conference market tourism potential, while exploiting the is also recognised as a key to increasing the cluster of attractions in one area or centre and marine activities. The importance of a interest holidays such as cycling, walking the product base to encompass special Development Plan, centre on broadening r Future initiatives for tourism in the BMW small towns. potential for tourism in the economy of centre, and the recognition of untapped oping a town centre as an attractive retail tant role urban renewal can play in devel- the Strategy document outlines impor- In the development of services and tourism Region. complements existing major firms in the which capitalises on local resources and a local, sustainable base for employment er towns throughout the region, to develop and medium sized enterprises in the small- ment stresses the necessity to develop small In industrial development, the BMW docu- adapted for Louth. development, services and tourism can be However, broad guidance for industrial ties. some of the more coun- remote western 2000-2006, apply less to Louth than Development Strategy Midland Western strategies emanating from the Border Because of this location, many the ought from the Dublin-Belfast corridor. County has meant it not benefited as largest cities, its position as a Border location mid-way between the island’s two One status. Despite the county’s strategic r Border Region (BMW), a Midland Western most county of the Louth is the eastern BMW Region egion, as highlighted in the 2000 National egion which has retained EU Objective

2.2 STRATEGIC OVERVIEW Regional Context Local Context 2.3 STRATEGIC OVERVIEW the next five years. nificantly on Omeath’s population size over being experienced are likely to impact sig- Severe development pressures currently dependence on the private motor car. community, can be gained, without over- existing resources, both infrastructural and tainable fashion, where optimum use of allows for Louth to develop in a more sus- opment throughout the countryside. This allowing more scattered ribbon-type devel- development in these centres rather than designation is primarily to focus residential County Development Plan. The aim of this Development Centre under the 1997 Louth Omeath has been proposed as a Development Centre Beauty’. nated an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural reaches of the Cooley Mountains are desig- Special Protection Area (SPA). The higher along the foreshore is designated an EU Quality’. From Greenore to the border Quality’ on a coastline of ‘Special Scenic south and west by an ‘Area of High Scenic Route’ and is surrounded to the north, Plan, Omeath is on a designated ‘Scenic In the 1997 Louth County Development Landscape ern boundary. the town and Carlingford Lough east- Slieve Foye form the western boundary to Peninsula. The Cooley Mountains and the main coastal route around on the important Greenore-Newry Road, approximately 300 (1996 Census) and lies the rest of Louth. It has a population Lough, and as such is quite isolated from on the southern shore of Carlingford Omeath is located on the Cooley Peninsula, COUNTY AND LOCAL CONTEXT town. with limited manufacturing in / around the mer-tourism trade, and fishing / agriculture Omeath is centred on predominantly sum- small urban centre. Commercial activity in economic impact of major industry on a reflecting the workforce available and ately scaled industry for urban centres, Plan indicates the development of appropri- trial structure, Louth County Development In the development of County’s indus- Industry PROTECTED LANDSCAPE (LOUTH CO. DEVELOPMENT PLAN) AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY AROUND OMEATH N3 N3 Carrickmacross Navan Ardee N2 Dunleer M1 Drogheda Dundalk Castlebellingham M1 Newry OMEATH Carlingford Omeath Clogherhead