A border crossing that was closed having been bombed on a number of occasions reopens with a new bridge linking Cavan and Fermanagh.
During the early years of 'the Troubles', the Aghalane bridge linking Belturbet in County Cavan and Aghalane in County Fermanagh was bombed repeatedly, until it was finally closed in 1972.
Local man Frank O’Reilly says the closure was,
A very sad occasion for the community and for, certainly the people on both sides, more so for the farmers who had land on both sides of the bridge.
The spirit of the Good Friday Agreement was clearly evident in the enthusiasm greeting the official opening of a new bridge on the Cavan Fermanagh border. The Senator George Mitchell Peace Bridge is named after the United States senator, who acted as chairman in peace process talks that led to the Good Friday Agreement. The bridge and road realignment project cost £10,000.
The ribbon cutting ceremony for the new bridge was carried out by Minister for the Environment and Local Government Noel Dempsey and Minister for the Environment Northern Ireland Lord Dubs.
Near the bridge is a specially commissioned sculpture 'Peace For All’ by Derek A Fitzsimons, also commemorating the peace process.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 1 April 1999. The reporter is Kevin Rafter.
