SERIES: Political hopes and ambitions for 2023 - Louth's Cllr Antóin Watters
Louth's political representatives share hopes and ambitions for 2023
The Dundalk Democrat asked local TDs, councillors and senators from north and mid Louth to share their hopes, ambitions and predictions for the year ahead. In this article, Sinn Féin's Cllr Antóin Watters shares his thoughts on 2023
Looking back at 2022 it has been a busy and enjoyable year for me on Louth County Council. I will continue to work on road safety issues especially around our local schools and I hope to see further road safety measures in 2023 to address safety concerns raised by the local community.
During the year I was elected joint chair of the Strategic Alliance between Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and Louth County Council.
Funding was announced under the Shared Island unit for a cross border feasibility project to develop the Carlingford Lough as a tourism destination.
The whole North Louth area has massive potential. I look forward to working to develop this further in 2023 including the progress around the Narrow Water Bridge Project. It is great to see the progress on it and I expect the project to make massive strides in 2023.
The development of Greenways in the area is also continuing and the Newry to Omeath greenway is due to go to tender in early Q1 2023. I look forward to the prospect of a Greenway from Newry to Dundalk. I hope to see a Greenway Ranger to help with the maintenance and upkeep of the greenways.
Following on from the success of the joint fireworks between Omeath and Warrenpoint at Halloween I am working with my colleagues in NMD district council to run a joint festival in 2023. This has the potential to be a fantastic annual event for the area.
In 2023 I hope to see the establishment of a Citizens Assembly on Irish Unity. This decade will be a turning point in our history with the aim of reunification of our island. We need the Irish Government to step up to the mark and start the process. The time for Irish Unity is now upon us.
I commend the local residents associations, community groups and local tidy town groups who have done tremendous work in 2022 and won many awards. They are a credit to the area and look forward to working with them again in 2023.
Finally, I want to thank my wife Fionnghuala for her continued help and support during the year. It makes my life as a Councillor possible.