The UK leaving the EU will come as a "huge blow" to the border region according to Dundalk chamber of commerce spokesperson Paddy Malone.

He expressed disappointment at the stance taken throughout the campaign by the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU), saying "they did not know where their bread was."

"Dairy farmers in particular are now facing into a very difficult time and this will come as a blow to processors who are in the north and south."

It will have a huge impact on beef exports

Farmer Lawrence McArdle also said it was unclear how processors would work if a hard border was to be brought back in.

Lawrence runs a dairy farm along the border in Hackballscross, Co Louth.

However, he said he believes the beef exports propose a bigger concern for Ireland in the future.

"It will have a huge impact on beef exports. Ireland has always been a massive exporter to the UK, but now they can purchase from wherever they want, and Britain wants food the cheaper the better."

"And as for the milk price - can it get any worse? Farmers are already producing below the cost of production and if it goes any lower people will just quit."

In the short term, I'm worried about the currency, but that will stabilise and in the long term I'm more concerned about funding

Both men said the news on Friday morning came as shock.

Paddy Malone said he was very disappointed and there was great uncertainty ahead.

"In the short term, I'm worried about the currency, but that will stabilise and in the long term I'm more concerned about funding, especially peace money which has been helping this region.

"The deprivation that was created through the conflict created a gap that will be slower to heal that would be our worry."

Almost 20,000 people travel across the 300 mile border every day, and with the potential of a hard border, Paddy says it would cause great difficulty in the people's everyday lives.

"Farmers will be one the groups most, and perhaps worst, affected. Britain wants cheap food but at the same time Britain realises Ireland produces premium, quality product and that there will still be a maket there."

For more comment from the border region, listen Odile Evans's interview with Co Down tractor dealer Arthur O'Neill and Co Cavan contractor Brian McGahern in our podcast below:

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