LEAD IN:

With Brexit looming, fears are growing that border controls between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic could become a reality.  

If that happens among the worst affected industries in the border areas will be tourism which relies heavily on ease of travel between the two jurisdictions.   

STORY-LINE:

Just four kilometres (2.5 miles) south of the border with Northern Ireland, Belturbet in Co. Cavan in the Irish Republic is on the front line of the Brexit crisis.  

Tourism, in particular fishing and boat cruising, is the town's biggest industry, drawing in visitors from Europe and from all around Ireland both north and south.

During the Troubles, tourism in Belturbet was in decline, but since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement which ended the conflict, things have been looking up.  

Investment in tourism infrastructure rose - including the construction of a new marina - drawing in visitors keen to explore the region known for its scenic lakes and rivers.  

But with Brexit looming locals are worried that the tourism industry could be badly affected.  

Cruising company ABC Boats has a base at Belturbet and another one over the border at Aghinver in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.

Just outside Belturbet, the Erne River marks the border itself, with one river bank in Northern Ireland and the other in the Republic of Ireland, illustrating the complexity of the issue which has stalled Brexit.

ABC's Sean Greenan, who manages the Belturbet Marina, says he's worried that European visitors in particular will stay away if Brexit results in new border controls.

"Our…majority of our customers come from…from Europe. So you have, you have German, eh Austrian, Switzerland, you know that's…that's ninety percent of our customers em, what way are they going to react? This is what we need to ask ourselves. What way are they going to react looking at coming to Ireland after Brexit?"  

The removal of the militarised border in 1998 increased cross border trade and fuelled economic growth which has benefited people both north and south.

The Senator George Mitchell Peace Bridge marking the border just outside the town has become a potent symbol of north/south co-operation.

Opened in 1999 as a replacement for another bridge which was blown up during the Troubles, today cars and trucks travel across the border without hindrance.

The only way to tell that you have crossed the border is road markings which change on the bridge from white in Northern Ireland to yellow in the Republic of Ireland.

If a new border is constructed this marks the spot where locals fear security infrastructure will reappear stifling cross border co-operation.   

35 kilometres up river from Belturbet is Enniskillen in Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland,  which is also heavily reliant on tourism.   

Most visitors to Enniskillen travel up from the Republic of Ireland and locals are concerned that that could be jeopardised by Brexit.

Terry McCartney is the Managing Director of the Belmore Court & Motel, one of the largest hotels in the town.

"People flying into Ireland mostly fly into Dublin. Eh once they get into Dublin if they want to come north they have to hire a car. Will there be a border? Will there not be a border? Will they be able to bring their car across the border? Will they need a visa to come across the border? So those are all issues in terms of guests and residents em. But on top of that then we also have the issue of workers em. We have a number of jobs which are filled mainly by people who work…or who come from outside the UK and Ireland. After Brexit will those people be able to stay? Will be be able to get additional people to do those important jobs in in the accommodation sector? So em those are big issues for us and definitely very uncertain."

Back on the River Erne linking Belturbet and Enniskillen, life continues on at its leisurely pace, at least for now.

It's the years of uncertainty surrounding Brexit that have been the the biggest problem facing businesses like ABC Boats, says manager Sean Greenan.

"What we need as a company here, and what our clients need - knowledge. We need to know what's going to happen next year. We're going to want to need to know what's going to happen the following year. And at the end of the day we've got to deal with whatever that is. But we've got to know. You can't deal with anything until you know about it."

Protecting the many gains made under the Good Friday Agreement and avoiding the return of a hard border are the most important things going forward, says Brendan Fey a local politician and pub owner.

"I believed that we were going to be an economic island - cross border, health, electricity, phones, everything. It has thrown everything up now, we have to get back to that. People talk about a united Ireland - I would just park that, that's not important just at the moment. The important thing is that we don't have borders anywhere on this island."   

The UK is due to leave the European Union on October 31st.  The British government is currently still trying to thrash out a deal with the European Union ahead or the EU summit on October 17-18.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Belturbet, Co. Cavan, Ireland, October 9th 2019.

1. Wide aerial of town. ++MUTE++

2. Wide aerial of town and boats on river. ++MUTE++

3. Wide low-level aerial of boats on river. ++MUTE++

4. Close up zoom in of engraved plaque reading (English): "This project has been part financed by the EU special support programme for Peace and Reconciliation."  

5. Wide pan of passing cruise boat.

6. Wide tilt from water turbulence at back of boat to river.

7. Wide frontal view of cruise boat.

8. Close up of boat driver's face seen through windscreen.

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Greenan, ABC Boats Marina Manager, The Marina Belturbet.

"Our…majority of our customers come from…from Europe. So you have, you have German, eh Austrian, Switzerland, you know that's…that's ninety percent of our customers em, what way are they going to react? This is what we need to ask ourselves. What way are they going to react looking at coming to Ireland after Brexit?"  

10. Wide of road with passing traffic.

11. Medium of sign: 'Reject Brexit - Hard Border, Job Losses, Food Shortages.'

12. Medium of sign: 'Hard Border? Soft Border? No Border !'

13. Wide of bridge with passing traffic.

14. Close up of engraved plaque: 'Senator George Mitchell Peace Bridge, Aghalane" - which sits on the border

15. Close up pan from white line on road to yellow line on road marking 'border' between Ireland and Northern Ireland

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland - October 10th 2019.

16. Wide aerial of town. ++MUTE++

17. Wide of town main street with traffic.

18. Medium of pedestrians.

19. Wide of hotel and cars on road.

20. Close up of British flag.

21. Medium of sign: 'Belmore Court & Motel'.

22. Medium pan of man entering hotel reception.

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Terry McCartney, Managing Director, Belmore Court & Motel.  

"People flying into Ireland mostly fly into Dublin. Eh once they get into Dublin if they want to come north they have to hire a car. Will there be a border ? Will there not be a border? Will they be able to bring their car across the border? Will they need a visa to come across the border? So those are all issues in terms of guests and residents em. But on top of that then we also have the issue of workers em. We have a number of jobs which are filled mainly by people who work…or who come from outside the UK and Ireland. After Brexit will those people be able to stay? Will be be able to get additional people to do those important jobs in in the accommodation sector? So em those are big issues for us and definitely very uncertain."

24. Wide pan of cruise boats.

25. Medium of fisherman.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Belturbet, Co. Cavan, Ireland, October 9th 2019.

26. Wide frontal view of cruise boat.

27. Medium of boat driver seen from below.

28. Close up of speedometer.

29. Close up pan of man's face.

30. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Greenan, ABC Boats Marina Manager, The Marina Belturbet.

"What we need as a company here, and what our clients need - knowledge. We need to know what's going to happen next year. We're going to want to need to know what's going to happen the following year. And at the end of the day we've got to deal with whatever that is. But we've got to know. You can't deal with anything until you know about it."

31. Medium of Brendan Fey standing on riverbank jetty.

32. SOUNDBITE (English), Brendan Fey, Cavan Country Councillor and pub owner.     

"I believed that we were going to be an economic island - cross border, health, electricity, phones, everything. It has thrown everything up now, we have to get back to that. People talk about a united Ireland - I would just park that, that's not important just at the moment. The important thing is that we don't have borders anywhere on this island."   

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Archive  : Lough Erne, Enniskillen - 28 May 2013

33. Various of lake with cruise boats

34. Sunshine reflected on water

35. Cruiser on the water

36. Police speed boat on patrol

POOL

Archive : Lough Erne, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland - June 2013

37. Aerial tilt down of area around Lough Erne to Lough Erne Resort Hotel

LEAD IN:

With Brexit looming, fears are growing that border controls between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic could become a reality.  

If that happens among the worst affected industries in the border areas will be tourism which relies heavily on ease of travel between the two jurisdictions.   

STORY-LINE:

Just four kilometres (2.5 miles) south of the border with Northern Ireland, Belturbet in Co. Cavan in the Irish Republic is on the front line of the Brexit crisis.  

Tourism, in particular fishing and boat cruising, is the town's biggest industry, drawing in visitors from Europe and from all around Ireland both north and south.

During the Troubles, tourism in Belturbet was in decline, but since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement which ended the conflict, things have been looking up.  

Investment in tourism infrastructure rose - including the construction of a new marina - drawing in visitors keen to explore the region known for its scenic lakes and rivers.  

But with Brexit looming locals are worried that the tourism industry could be badly affected.  

Cruising company ABC Boats has a base at Belturbet and another one over the border at Aghinver in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.

Just outside Belturbet, the Erne River marks the border itself, with one river bank in Northern Ireland and the other in the Republic of Ireland, illustrating the complexity of the issue which has stalled Brexit.

ABC's Sean Greenan, who manages the Belturbet Marina, says he's worried that European visitors in particular will stay away if Brexit results in new border controls.

"Our…majority of our customers come from…from Europe. So you have, you have German, eh Austrian, Switzerland, you know that's…that's ninety percent of our customers em, what way are they going to react? This is what we need to ask ourselves. What way are they going to react looking at coming to Ireland after Brexit?"  

The removal of the militarised border in 1998 increased cross border trade and fuelled economic growth which has benefited people both north and south.

The Senator George Mitchell Peace Bridge marking the border just outside the town has become a potent symbol of north/south co-operation.

Opened in 1999 as a replacement for another bridge which was blown up during the Troubles, today cars and trucks travel across the border without hindrance.

The only way to tell that you have crossed the border is road markings which change on the bridge from white in Northern Ireland to yellow in the Republic of Ireland.

If a new border is constructed this marks the spot where locals fear security infrastructure will reappear stifling cross border co-operation.   

35 kilometres up river from Belturbet is Enniskillen in Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland,  which is also heavily reliant on tourism.   

Most visitors to Enniskillen travel up from the Republic of Ireland and locals are concerned that that could be jeopardised by Brexit.

Terry McCartney is the Managing Director of the Belmore Court & Motel, one of the largest hotels in the town.

"People flying into Ireland mostly fly into Dublin. Eh once they get into Dublin if they want to come north they have to hire a car. Will there be a border? Will there not be a border? Will they be able to bring their car across the border? Will they need a visa to come across the border? So those are all issues in terms of guests and residents em. But on top of that then we also have the issue of workers em. We have a number of jobs which are filled mainly by people who work…or who come from outside the UK and Ireland. After Brexit will those people be able to stay? Will be be able to get additional people to do those important jobs in in the accommodation sector? So em those are big issues for us and definitely very uncertain."

Back on the River Erne linking Belturbet and Enniskillen, life continues on at its leisurely pace, at least for now.

It's the years of uncertainty surrounding Brexit that have been the the biggest problem facing businesses like ABC Boats, says manager Sean Greenan.

"What we need as a company here, and what our clients need - knowledge. We need to know what's going to happen next year. We're going to want to need to know what's going to happen the following year. And at the end of the day we've got to deal with whatever that is. But we've got to know. You can't deal with anything until you know about it."

Protecting the many gains made under the Good Friday Agreement and avoiding the return of a hard border are the most important things going forward, says Brendan Fey a local politician and pub owner.

"I believed that we were going to be an economic island - cross border, health, electricity, phones, everything. It has thrown everything up now, we have to get back to that. People talk about a united Ireland - I would just park that, that's not important just at the moment. The important thing is that we don't have borders anywhere on this island."   

The UK is due to leave the European Union on October 31st.  The British government is currently still trying to thrash out a deal with the European Union ahead or the EU summit on October 17-18.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Belturbet, Co. Cavan, Ireland, October 9th 2019.

1. Wide aerial of town. ++MUTE++

2. Wide aerial of town and boats on river. ++MUTE++

3. Wide low-level aerial of boats on river. ++MUTE++

4. Close up zoom in of engraved plaque reading (English): "This project has been part financed by the EU special support programme for Peace and Reconciliation."  

5. Wide pan of passing cruise boat.

6. Wide tilt from water turbulence at back of boat to river.

7. Wide frontal view of cruise boat.

8. Close up of boat driver's face seen through windscreen.

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Greenan, ABC Boats Marina Manager, The Marina Belturbet.

"Our…majority of our customers come from…from Europe. So you have, you have German, eh Austrian, Switzerland, you know that's…that's ninety percent of our customers em, what way are they going to react? This is what we need to ask ourselves. What way are they going to react looking at coming to Ireland after Brexit?"  

10. Wide of road with passing traffic.

11. Medium of sign: 'Reject Brexit - Hard Border, Job Losses, Food Shortages.'

12. Medium of sign: 'Hard Border? Soft Border? No Border !'

13. Wide of bridge with passing traffic.

14. Close up of engraved plaque: 'Senator George Mitchell Peace Bridge, Aghalane" - which sits on the border

15. Close up pan from white line on road to yellow line on road marking 'border' between Ireland and Northern Ireland

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland - October 10th 2019.

16. Wide aerial of town. ++MUTE++

17. Wide of town main street with traffic.

18. Medium of pedestrians.

19. Wide of hotel and cars on road.

20. Close up of British flag.

21. Medium of sign: 'Belmore Court & Motel'.

22. Medium pan of man entering hotel reception.

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Terry McCartney, Managing Director, Belmore Court & Motel.  

"People flying into Ireland mostly fly into Dublin. Eh once they get into Dublin if they want to come north they have to hire a car. Will there be a border ? Will there not be a border? Will they be able to bring their car across the border? Will they need a visa to come across the border? So those are all issues in terms of guests and residents em. But on top of that then we also have the issue of workers em. We have a number of jobs which are filled mainly by people who work…or who come from outside the UK and Ireland. After Brexit will those people be able to stay? Will be be able to get additional people to do those important jobs in in the accommodation sector? So em those are big issues for us and definitely very uncertain."

24. Wide pan of cruise boats.

25. Medium of fisherman.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Belturbet, Co. Cavan, Ireland, October 9th 2019.

26. Wide frontal view of cruise boat.

27. Medium of boat driver seen from below.

28. Close up of speedometer.

29. Close up pan of man's face.

30. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Greenan, ABC Boats Marina Manager, The Marina Belturbet.

"What we need as a company here, and what our clients need - knowledge. We need to know what's going to happen next year. We're going to want to need to know what's going to happen the following year. And at the end of the day we've got to deal with whatever that is. But we've got to know. You can't deal with anything until you know about it."

31. Medium of Brendan Fey standing on riverbank jetty.

32. SOUNDBITE (English), Brendan Fey, Cavan Country Councillor and pub owner.     

"I believed that we were going to be an economic island - cross border, health, electricity, phones, everything. It has thrown everything up now, we have to get back to that. People talk about a united Ireland - I would just park that, that's not important just at the moment. The important thing is that we don't have borders anywhere on this island."   

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Archive  : Lough Erne, Enniskillen - 28 May 2013

33. Various of lake with cruise boats

34. Sunshine reflected on water

35. Cruiser on the water

36. Police speed boat on patrol

POOL

Archive : Lough Erne, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland - June 2013

37. Aerial tilt down of area around Lough Erne to Lough Erne Resort Hotel