Funding of £26 million has been announced for the restoration of the Ulster Canal. The money comes from the Shared Island Fund, a cross-border initiative.

Sinn Féin MLA Áine Murphy welcomed the investment, saying it would restore the waterway from Clones to Upper Lough Erne. She noted the project would connect rural communities along the border, boost the local economy, and create new tourism opportunities for small towns and villages.

The funding was secured through cooperation between Northern Ireland's Infrastructure Minister and her counterpart in the Republic of Ireland, according to Ms Murphy. She described the canal project as a game changer for the area and called for its full and timely delivery.

The Ulster Canal restoration is a long-anticipated north-south project, with the Clones to Upper Lough Erne stretch seen as a key phase. No timeline for works was provided.