Almost 40% of island's population within an hour of Louth as region branded 'Ireland's sixth city'

A new university in Dundalk is described as a major change for County Louth and the cross-border region. Joint presentations from the chambers of commerce in Drogheda, Dundalk, and Newry highlighted infrastructure demands needed to support growth. Water services infrastructure, rail capacity, and parking at all three regional stations were identified as key challenges. The region is presented as a central economic area rather than a peripheral one, located within the Dublin-Belfast Economic Corridor. Nearly 40% of the island’s population, about 2.9 million people, live within one hour of Dundalk and Drogheda, creating a concentrated market. Dundalk and Drogheda are positioned as part of an interconnected urban region with Newry, promoted through a shared marketing platform and national planning lobbying.

"Water services infrastructure, rail capacity and parking at all three stations in the region were top of the list of challenges which must be overcome to ensure these towns "can unlock their full potential.""

"Almost 40% of the island's population - approximately 2.9 million people - live within one hour of Dundalk and Drogheda, creating a market concentration greater than that of Dublin itself"

"Louth is "not at the periphery of the 26 counties, but at the heart of one of the most dynamic economic regions on the island - the Dublin-Belfast Economic Corridor (DBEC).""

"He outlined how the Chamber successfully championed a new strategic vision that recognised Dundalk, Drogheda and Newry as a single interconnected urban region - "Ireland's sixth city." "This collaboration, supported by the three Chambers and LEO, led to the creation of the regional marketing platform M1Corridor.ie, which continues to promote the area as a premier investment location.""

Read at Irish Independent