Displaying items by tag: Galway Chamber

9th September 2023

Aran Island Ferries Celebrate 40th Year With Galway Chamber Cruise

Western seaboard operator, Aran Island Ferries with a five-strong fleet, hosted a Galway Chamber ‘Connect Series’ event last week.

The event took place during a cruise on Galway Bay which gave members of the Chamber to network while also enjoying a pleasurable excursion.

This season Aran Island Ferries celebrated its 40 year and the people who have contributed to its success with operating the Rossaveal-Aran Island’s routes, Ireland’s longest and largest year-round ferry firm owned by O’Brien family of An Cheathrú Rua, Connemara.

In 2020 they opened a Galway-Inis Mór route (last served by Naomh Eanna until 1988) served by Ireland’s biggest domestic ferry Saoirse na Farraige for 392 passengers. The 20 knot ferry takes a passage time of 90 minutes.

The O’Brien’s first sailed with passengers using a traditional Galway Hooker, An Tonaí in the 1970’s which was followed with the purchase of a passenger ferry, the Dún Aengus, with 48-seats in 1983.

Currently, Aran Island Ferries five ferries have a total passenger capacity of 1,400 operating the two routes across Galway Bay.

Galway Advertiser has more on the celebratory Chamber cruise.

Asides the Saoirse na Farraige, custom built by Cheoy Lee Shipyards, Hong Kong, the rest of the fleet comprise of Banrion na Farraige, Ceol na Farraige, Draoicht na Farraige and Glor na Farraige which in 2015 was chartered for tender duties off Dun Laoghaire for to cruise ship Royal Princess.

Published in Ferry

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Minister's Decision on Port Welcomed by Galway Chamber

#Postponed- Minister for Transport and Tourism Paschal Donohoe TD, following cross party lobbying, on Wednesday announced he was to postpone signing the transfer of Port of Galway to Galway City Council for at least 18 months, which has been welcomed by Galway Chamber.

Speaking after the announcement President of Galway Chamber Frank Greene said that this will give time for the completion of the planning process as previously reported on Afloat.ie

The Galway Independent has more on the port postponement.

Published in Galway Harbour

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Galway Businesses Urged to Leave Volvo Ocean Race Legacy

#VOLVO OCEAN RACE - Businesses in Galway "must not abuse their affiliation" with the Volvo Ocean Race when taking advantage of its visit to the city this summer, a meeting hosted by the organisers heard on Monday.

As the Galway Independent reports, Galway Chamber president Declan Dooley urged business community to ask what it can do to help the event, rather than expecting the event to do something for its business.

He added that it was “critically important” that businesses ensured the expected 600,000 visitors to Galway were treated with "friendly service" and not "ripped off".

Also at the meeting at the Meryck Hotel, Let’s Do It Global MD Micheline McNamara outlined plans for the the Global Village and Race Villages and explained how businesses could get involved.

She said: “We want to develop a business legacy, so that when the boats leave, there are trade relationships, and business relationships that stay on."

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, organisers of the Volvo Ocean Race stopover this July have promised the event will be "bigger and better" than the previous visit in 2009.

The Galway Independent has more on the story HERE.

Published in Ocean Race

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Offshore wind

ESB know the importance of offshore wind in tackling climate change and delivering net zero. Ireland has a unique capability given its prime location to take advantage of the potential of offshore wind. ESB are working hard to develop offshore wind projects for the benefit of everyone across society in Ireland and the UK. This includes ongoing engagement with marine users and local communities so ESB can deliver these significant projects.

Offshore wind will play a major role globally in our fight against climate change. It will help to replace energy generated by burning fossil fuels with that from a clean, safe and secure renewable energy source. Ireland’s geographic location on the exposed edge of the Atlantic presents us with a significant opportunity to generate electricity from wind – both offshore and onshore.

Power from onshore wind farms currently provide over one-third of Ireland’s electricity needs. But, whilst its marine area is many times the size of its landmass, Ireland’s offshore wind potential is only starting to be realised. ESB have a coastline stretching over 3,000km but only one operational offshore wind farm – Arklow Bank, with a capacity of 25 MW. In contrast, Belgium’s coastline is only 63km long, but it has already developed more than 2,000 MW of offshore wind. In Great Britain, with a coastline four times the length of ours, offshore wind generation now equates to over 440 Arklow Banks, with an installed capacity of 11,0000 MW as of late 2021.

The Irish Government's target to install 5,000 MW of offshore wind capacity in our maritime area by 2030 is set out in the Climate Action Plan 2021. It also has the objective to source 80% of Ireland’s electricity needs from renewables by the same year. In line with this, ESB is applying its professional and proven engineering expertise to the challenges set within the Climate Action Plan.

ESB are committed to playing a strong role in developing Ireland’s offshore wind potential for the benefit of the people of Ireland. This will be done in consultation with marine users and local communities, and with due care for the marine environment.