Kimmins visits Downpatrick regeneration and railway heritage groups

Date published: 5 June 2025

In the first of the visits the Minister met representatives of the Regeneration Working Group for discussions including the Downpatrick Living High Streets Framework which the group has helped to create, the Department’s traffic progression and active travel plans as well as local regeneration work.

In a separate visit, the Minister met representatives of the Downpatrick & County Down Railway (DCDR) to view flood recovery work on the DCDR site and discuss the role of the heritage rail sector within the local economy.

The visit also included a trip on a heritage locomotive and a walk alongside the DCDR rail track.

Minister Kimmins said:  

“I was particularly impressed today by the work that is ongoing in Downpatrick to regenerate the town centre and promote our storied railway heritage.

“The Downpatrick Regeneration Working Group has carried out significant work in producing with other stakeholders their Living Streets Framework and their objective to ‘Activate and Connect Streets and Space’ which my Department is supporting through traffic management and enforcement, as well as local street improvement works.  I’m committed to my Department supporting their modern vision for the town, including through traffic progression plans and the exploration of new Active Travel routes, which my officials are currently developing.

“I also visited the Downpatrick and County Down Railway which brings to life the rich rail heritage of the area and the island of Ireland.  It was inspiring to see and hear how the volunteers and the local community responded to the Autumn 2023 flooding events.  A feasibility study which has been published has identified a preferred option providing the target standard of flood protection to approximately 106 properties including the railway facility.  I have also noted their continued work to preserve Railway Heritage, with the very recent transportation of two American-made locomotives, which first arrived in Ireland in the 1960s, to the DCDR site for storage and restoration.”