This month, saw the official closure of the cross-border RIVER project and Fresh Waters campaign – a project aimed at promoting economic regeneration in a number of towns along the Lower Bann and River Erne. Thanks to £1.29million of EU INTERREG IVA funding, the project has seen the regeneration of Portglenone marina, Kilrea town, and Drumaheglis marina on the Lower Bann; and Belturbet marina on the River Erne.
DARD Minister Michelle O’Neill, who also funded the initiative, congratulated those involved in bringing the project to its fruition, saying,
“I am pleased that my department has been able to support the RIVER project from its inception by providing £210,000 in funding and guidance over the past three years. RIVER will help to develop the rural tourism potential along the Rivers Bann and Erne and this will have a direct and positive impact on the rural communities in those areas. This project is a fine example of north-south cooperation in action and demonstrates that working together can deliver long-lasting and sustainable benefits for the rural economy.”
Caption: (L-R) Ciaran Hanna, Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), Managing Agent of EU INTERREG IVA Programme; Alderman PJ McAvoy, Chair of the North East Partnership and Ballymena Councillor; Joe Gillespie, Northern Regional Manager, Waterways Ireland; and Paul Donnelly, Rural Development Division, DARD (co-funder of EU INTERREG IVA programme)
Read about my visit to BelTurbet
Discover more from LoveBelfast
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
