As the Ireland Wales Programme comes to a close, an event was held in Portmarnock, County Dublin on 23 June 2023, to celebrate the achievements of the Programme and to reflect on the great work and impact the projects have made over its 30-year lifetime.  Since 1994, the Ireland Wales Programme has brought €382.1m of cross border investment in 320 extraordinary and innovative projects. 

The Programme supported solutions to the shared challenges on both sides of the Irish sea.  To improve the economic and sustainable development of Ireland and Wales in areas such as transport, environmental protection, community development, enterprise support, education, training, culture, heritage, and tourism.  Connecting organisations, businesses, communities and academia on the west coast of Wales with the eastern and southern coasts of Ireland.

The Welsh Government is currently managing the 2014-2020 programme with partners, the Southern Regional Assembly and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform with the final projects closing in September 2023. 

The Southern Regional Assembly places great value on its relationship with Wales.  Developed over 30 years and built on shared vision, a spirit of co-operation and trust.  As the nature of the Ireland Wales Programme evolved over the years, the nature of our collaborations across the Irish sea will also evolve and hopefully continue to grow in the future.  Ireland and Wales have a common bond.  We are connected through the Irish Sea.  Our histories are closely connected.  We share a Celtic heritage, our language and traditions and our Sense of Place.  The Ireland Wales Programme has brought research, innovation, created jobs and built business. It has fostered close ties between our communities.  We look to future cooperation and collaboration with confidence and optimism.