Ahern Welcomed North As Assembly Minister Greeted In Dublin

The pace of cross-border political activities increased today with a visit from the Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern to Northern Ireland.

The Irish Cabinet Minister met with heritage and business groups in County Down.

His trip included a visit to the St Patrick Centre in Downpatrick, which tells the history of Ireland's Patron Saint and his close connections with the town.

Then, in the afternoon, he met with Warrenpoint Chamber of Commerce at Warrenpoint Town Hall and later with Newry Chamber of Commerce to discuss infrastructural investment priorities for the Newry and Mourne border region.

Speaking before setting off, he said: "I am looking forward to the opportunity to visit the St Patrick Centre in Downpatrick and meet with business leaders in Newry and Warrenpoint.

"These towns have forged excellent relationships with Dundalk in recent years and the region is now one of the most dynamic on the island.

"In Newry and Warrenpoint we will be focusing our discussions on strategic investment priorities for the coming years, and on further boosting links between County Louth and County Down."

Meanwhile, earlier this week another piece of cross-border politics slotted into place with a Stormont Assembly Minister travelling to some of Dublin's most notorious neighbourhoods to learn more about its multi-billion euro renewal.

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie joined Irish Junior Housing Minister Batt O'Keefe in Ballymun - an area which came to symbolise poverty and deprivation during the 1970s - in the Irish Republic but which is now undergoing regeneration.

The SDLP minister hopes to apply lessons from Ballymun to areas in Belfast such as the Lower Falls, Lower Shankill and Crumlin Road.

Famous for its tower blocks, Ballymun suffered for many years without basic amenities such as shops.

However it is now undergoing a multibillion-euro renewal, with a renovated village centre, surrounded by estates of houses and apartments, with several sub-districts such as Sillogue and Poppintree.

(BMcC)