Carlingford Lough Greenway

Louth County Council (LCC), in association with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (NMD), are developing the Carlingford Lough Greenway—a world-class, cross-border route linking existing sections of greenway infrastructure. Once complete, it will connect Carlingford in the Republic of Ireland to Newry City in Northern Ireland.

The scheme builds on previously completed stretches: from Carlingford Marina to Omeath Pier (2013), and from Victoria Lock Amenity Site along the Middle Bank to the Albert Basin (2018).
The current phase comprises three key sections:
1.Carlingford Town to Carlingford Marina
2.Omeath Pier to the NI/RoI Border
3.NI/RoI Border to Victoria Lock Amenity Site

At the heart of the scheme is a 1,025-metre-long, 4-metre-wide elevated boardwalk. This structure includes 570 steel piles, a galvanized steel substructure, GRP decking, and a D70 (Ekki) timber handrail—all designed to seamlessly integrate with the existing greenway network and withstand a challenging marine environment.

Smyth Steel Limited was proud to supply the fabricated galvanized steel substructure for the boardwalk, along with steel detailing support. This was delivered in close collaboration with AG Wilson Civil Engineering and their galvanizing team.
Galvanized steel was chosen for four key reasons:
• Superior structural strength compared to alternative materials such as timber
• Cost-efficiency in comparison to stainless steel
• Proven durability in marine environments, with a design life of 30 years
• Shorter lead times and ease of bespoke fabrication

The use of galvanizing allowed for efficient manufacturing while ensuring the structure’s resilience and long-term performance, in an aggressive coastal environment.

Photographs © Kyle Maré, Bertie Wilson