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The Future of Carlingford Lough depends on finding the right balance between economic development and bringing nature back to good health.
About the Citizens' Jury
The Citizens’ Jury on the Future of Carlingford Lough, launching in December 2025 and meeting in February 2026, will build on the relationships and shared understanding already developed through a project that has been happening since 2023 called Shifting Tides.
Local residents, fishers, businesses, environmental groups and public bodies have already begun discussing the challenges and opportunities the Lough faces because of climate change, coastal change and competing land–sea uses. The Jury will draw on this existing knowledge and trust, rather than starting again.
Local residents, fishers, businesses, environmental groups and public bodies have already begun discussing the challenges and opportunities the Lough faces because of climate change, coastal change and competing land–sea uses.
The Jury will draw on this existing knowledge and trust, rather than starting again.
It will bring together a diverse group of residents from both sides of the Lough to look at the key choices people have already raised, like balancing nature recovery with economic activity, access with protection, and tourism with local livelihoods. Participants will receive clear, balanced information based on what communities have already shared, keeping the discussion firmly rooted in local experience.
The aim is to move from exploring issues to building agreement. The Jury will identify shared ground and fair compromises. Its recommendations will offer decision-makers a clear, community-backed direction and help turn earlier engagement into practical action for the future of the Lough.
The Citizens' Jury on the Future of Carlingford Lough is an innovative and creative approach to a complex, transboundary environmental issue. Its membership will be made up of citizens living either side of an international border to consider together the future of a shared body of water.
You can sign up for project updates by clicking here or by emailing the project team at CarlingfordLough@involve.org.uk
info pack - Citizens' Jury on the Future of Carlingford Lough (1)_compressed (1).pdf📰Updates
Monday 23 February 2026
The Citizens’ Jury on the Future of Carlingford Lough met for a second time on Saturday 21 February in the Four Seasons Hotel in Carlingford. It brought together 13 citizen jurors who had been selected at random using a recruitment methodology known as democratic lottery.
The purpose of the meeting was to deepen citizen jurors' understanding of the issues impacting on Carlingford Lough.
They heard from 10 speakers across three thematic areas.
On the economy and local jobs, they heard from Conor Patterson Newry & Mourne Cooperative & Enterprise Agency (via video), David Holmes, Chief Executive of Warrenpoint Port, and Colleen Dowdall & Mark Cumming of Warrenpoint, Burren and Rostrevor Chamber of Commerce
On The Lough and its Catchment, they heard from Sarah McClean, Head Scientist at the Loughs Agency, Sandra Woods, a local resident and diver, and Heidi McIlvenny, a marine scientist from Queen’s University`Belfast
In the final panel of the day, on Community Stewardship, Access and Empowerment, they heard from Colum Sands of the group RARE, Francis Donnelly from Carlingford Sailing Club and Tiziana O’Hara of Co-operative Alternatives.
Members of the citizens' jury had time to relfect on the evidence and question speakers.
The day ended with a 'sense-making' process.
The citizens' jury meets again on Saturday 28 February in Rostrevor.
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