STRATEGIC OVERVIEW NATIONAL CONTEXT Louth is strategically located on the East The spatial implications of the 2000 Coast of Ireland mid-point between Belfast National Development Plan are currently and Dublin. Key transport links traverse being developed under the National Spatial Louth, with the EO1 Euroroute / M1 motor- Plan, due for completion at the end of way, the N2 to Derry / Donegal, and the 2002. Dublin-Belfast rail-line all impacting on the form and development of the County. The Euroroute will connect Larne to Rosslare Derry A6 and is thus pivotal in efficiently connecting A15 Ireland as an island with the rest of Europe. The location of County Louth in the future Belfast development of the island as a whole, Enniskillen therefore requires consideration in dealing N2 with the growth and development of the County’s towns and villages. Sligo Newry M1 Omeath STRATEGIC OVERVIEW STRATEGIC Westport N3 Dundalk Carlingford N5 Roscommon Dunleer 2.1 N4 Newry N17 Drogheda Omeath Mullingar M1 Carlingford Galway N6 Athlone Carrickmacross Kildare Dublin Dundalk Portlaoise M1 N18 N11 Wicklow N7 Carlow Dunleer N10 Arklow Ardee Kilkenny Limerick N9 Enniscorthy N21 Cashel Drogheda N5 Wexford Navan Tralee N8 Waterford Rosslare Killarney Balbriggan N2 Cork N25 N3 M1 N22 Swords National Context Dublin NATIONAL ROAD AND AIR INFRASTRUCTURE DUBLIN-LOUTH ROAD AND RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE REGIONAL CONTEXT East Coast BMW Region Recent housing shortages, subsequent Louth is the eastern most county of the house price increases, and the expansion of Border Midland Western Region (BMW), a Dublin, have all had knock-on effects on region which has retained EU Objective County Louth, with all of Louth now falling One status. Despite the county’s strategic within the Dublin commuter belt for afford- location mid-way between the island’s two able housing options. largest cities, its position as a Border County has meant it has not benefited as it However, Omeath, located on the Cooley ought from the Dublin-Belfast corridor. peninsula, 10 kms south of Newry and 6 Because of this location, many of the Derry kms north of Carlingford is experiencing strategies emanating from the Border pressure particularly from north of the bor- Midland Western Development Strategy der. The present economic situation where 2000-2006, apply less to Louth than to Belfast the exchange rate with the Sterling Pound some of the more remote western coun- falls in favour of Sterling, is pushing hous- ties. ing development south of the border, for However, broad guidance for industrial Sligo both holiday homes and permanent resi- OVERVIEW STRATEGIC development, services and tourism can be Omeath dences, and in Omeath’s case, from Newry. adapted for Louth. 2.2 Westport Dundalk Carlingford Additionally, Dundalk, which is located 22 Dunleer kms from Dundalk, provides a pool of In industrial development, the BMW docu- BMW REGION Drogheda potential residents for an idyllically located ment stresses the necessity to develop small coastal town. and medium sized enterprises in the small- er towns throughout the region, to develop Galway Athlone Omeath is coming under pressure for a a local, sustainable base for employment Dublin number of reasons: which capitalises on local resources and complements existing major firms in the Portlaoise •Proximity to two major urban centres of Region. Dundalk and Newry • Advancement of the M1 motorway / In the development of services and tourism Euroroute with reduced travelling times the Strategy document outlines the impor- • Perceived development potential of as tant role urban renewal can play in devel- oping a town centre as an attractive retail Limerick yet, undeveloped land around the town • Sterling – Punt exchange rate centre, and the recognition of untapped Wexford • As a location for second homes / holi- potential for tourism in the economy of small towns. Waterford day homes Future initiatives for tourism in the BMW Cork region, as highlighted in the 2000 National Development Plan, centre on broadening the product base to encompass special interest holidays such as cycling, walking and marine activities. The importance of a cluster of attractions in one area or centre is also recognised as a key to increasing the tourism potential, while exploiting the growing weekend and conference market Regional Context which dramatically extends the length of BORDER MIDLAND WESTERN REGION (BMW) the tourist season. COUNTY AND LOCAL CONTEXT Omeath is located on the Cooley Peninsula, Industry on the southern shore of Carlingford In the development of the County’s indus- Lough, and as such is quite isolated from trial structure, Louth County Development the rest of Louth. It has a population of Plan indicates the development of appropri- approximately 300 (1996 Census) and lies ately scaled industry for urban centres, on the important Greenore-Newry Road, reflecting the workforce available and the the main coastal route around the economic impact of major industry on a Peninsula. The Cooley Mountains and small urban centre. Commercial activity in Slieve Foye form the western boundary to Omeath is centred on predominantly sum- the town and Carlingford Lough the east- mer-tourism trade, and fishing / agriculture OMEATH ern boundary. with limited manufacturing in / around the town. Landscape In the 1997 Louth County Development Plan, Omeath is on a designated ‘Scenic Route’ and is surrounded to the north, south and west by an ‘Area of High Scenic AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY AROUND OMEATH STRATEGIC OVERVIEW STRATEGIC Quality’ on a coastline of ‘Special Scenic Quality’. From Greenore to the border 2.3 along the foreshore is designated an EU Newry Special Protection Area (SPA). The higher reaches of the Cooley Mountains are desig- nated an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’. Omeath M1 Development Centre Omeath has been proposed as a Carlingford Development Centre under the 1997 Louth County Development Plan. The aim of this Dundalk designation is primarily to focus residential development in these centres rather than Carrickmacross allowing more scattered ribbon-type devel- opment throughout the countryside. This allows for Louth to develop in a more sus- Castlebellingham tainable fashion, where optimum use of existing resources, both infrastructural and M1 community, can be gained, without over- Ardee dependence on the private motor car. Dunleer Severe development pressures currently Clogherhead being experienced are likely to impact sig- nificantly on Omeath’s population size over the next five years. N2 Drogheda N3 Local Context Navan PROTECTED LANDSCAPE (LOUTH CO. DEVELOPMENT PLAN).