Project opposition linked to legacy of land seizures

Posted by Jim on August 30, 2026

The stance of powerful landowners in the north of Ireland and its origins in the 17th century settler-colonisation of the island have come into focus this week.

The opposition to the upgrade of the key A5 primary route through the northwest of the island has been directly linked to the historical position of landowners along the route.

The £1.7 billion A5 scheme would upgrade around 58 miles of road from Derry to Aughnacloy. More significantly, it would open a key route and boost economic activity between the deprived northwest of the island and Dublin.

The route, much of which remains single carriageway, is the most dangerous road in Ireland, with almost 60 people killed in collisions since the project was first announced in 2007.

The project has faced repeated legal challenges.

Asked why the project of the A5 and Casement Park had not been delivered, former local Sinn Féin MP said: “In the A5 you have an obstruction from the landowners, the people who have got this land originally under strange circumstances in some cases, they’re the people who are now blocking any development.”

He made the remarks during an appearance on the BBC’s Stephen Nolan programme. Asked to explain, Mr Molloy said:

“Remember this all goes back to the Plantation of Ulster if you want to go back into the history of it.”

The Plantation redrew the map of land ownership in Ireland following the British confiscation of large areas of land from the Gaelic population and their redistribution among English and Scottish settlers, Crown officials, and others.

Native Irish people were fully dispossessed and many forced to take to the roads; others remained on the land, but as ‘tenants’ rather than legally recognised owners.

When Mr Molloy was accused by broadcaster Nolan, known for his efforts to generate controversy, that he was making a sectarian statement, he replied:

“It’s not a sectarian statement at all. It’s a statement that actually was given to me by a DUP member at one stage.”

However, unionists seized on both the question and response, including TUV leader Jim Allister, who claimed that “Sinn Féin’s sectarian mask slipped”.

Former DUP First Minister Arlene Foster said: “Sinn Féin likes to blame the DUP, the Brits, securocrats, the institutions, etc etc for their own failures, but this is a new one.”

Sinn Féin distanced itself from the comments. “Francie Molloy does not represent Sinn Féin,” a spokesperson said.