Paddy Malone on Dundalk: "Some people just don't see the potential this town has"
This week we chat with Treasurer of Dundalk Chamber of Commerce, Paddy Malone
What’s your favourite thing about Dundalk?
Its size - not too big and not too small, it's just right. Therefore it has a full range of facilities here or within a short trip.
What’s good about Dundalk?
We are an ideal location for everything, but we have kept it a secret. We have the fastest broadband in the country. The fastest motorway to Dublin and Belfast with three airports. Access to three deepwater ports. Access to seven third level colleges. Magnificent heritage from Cu Chulainn to Edward De Bruce, O’Neill and our industrial history. Carlingford Lough with Gullion, Cooley and Mourne mountains. The most successful provincial side in League of Ireland (and we are catching Rovers) - there's lots!
What would your perfect day in the local area be?
A morning walk looking at the Cooley mountains from The Blackrock shore with the tide in.
An afternoon with family and friends and then Oriel to see Cork, or Rovers being hammered.
What would you like to change about Dundalk?
We need significant manufacturing industries in the new growth areas such as pharma.
Those jobs pay well and in turn more money is spent locally. Another WuXi is needed.
We need to see ourselves as part of the linear city of Drogheda/Dundalk/Newry, an area capable of competing with and beating Dublin.
That is the Chamber’s long-term strategy.
What annoys you about the town?
Some people just don’t see the potential this town has, from tourism to industry to quality of life. There has been some very bad long-term planning.
The public pool is one of the very few eight-lane pools in the country. However it is 6cm too shallow to hold national (32 county) events. The spectator accommodation was also reduced at planning, to save on costs.
The council have a ‘park and stride’ scheme for people dropping off children to schools in the town. It needs a bit of amending, but above all it needs to be publicised as I have met very few people who know anything about it.
How would you describe Dundalk people?
Proud of their birthright, self-starters and at times insular.
What local amenities could Dundalk do with?
We need a modern sports facility capable of staging Group matches in the UEFA Europa League and for All-Ireland matches too.
The DKIT proposal should be put back on the table. But we need to plan properly, e.g. the Velodrome, if possible.
The new Omeath Greenway is an example where the council have got it spot on.
Their future plans to extend it are exciting.
The old Greenore/Dundalk railway line offers a long-term opportunity so I would like to see that next.
What’s your first memory of Dundalk?
I had to give this a lot of thought as the town has always been in me. Being from Blackrock, my early memories would be of Oriel Park (around the time of the change) and going from Blackrock National School to the Marist in 3rd class - it was the first time I saw (and felt) central heating.
What's your favourite Dundalk phrase?
C’mon de town (not ‘the’), as loud as possible!
Where's the best place to go for a walk in the local area?
My wife would say the Navvy Bank, which is very underused, but my preference is still DE ROCK!