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.