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Displaying items by tag: Sculling Ladder

#ROWING: The challenges on the Cork Sculling Ladder gained some traction on Saturday after a week with postponements and withdrawals. Henrik Merz of Shandon had a busy week: he won on Thursday but was beaten on Saturday.

Results.

Tuesday 22.03.2016.

(4) Dan Begley  -  Shandon Boat Club  v  (3) Jack Casey  -  UCC Rowing Club. Race postponed due to Casey not well. Begley informed. Race now on Thursday 24.03.2016 at 06.20pm..

Wednesday. 23.03.2016.

(5) Stephen O’Sullivan  -  Shandon Boat Club  v  (3) Jack Casey  -  UCC Rowing Club.  Non race.

Casey (UCC Rowing Club) led well at  the half way stage from O’Sullivan (Shandon BC), but had to stop due to illness. Both scullers to re row at a later date.

Re row on Friday 25.03.2016 at 06.20pm or on Saturday 26.03.2016 at 08.20am.

Starter / Umpire : Finbarr Desmond / Kieran O’Sullivan.  

(FC)(72) Anne O’Farrell  -  Cork Boat Club  v  (69) Jennifer Crowley  -  Shandon Boat Club.  Postponed to Thursday 24.03.2016 at 06.10pm.

Thursday 24.03.2916.

 (19) Henrik Merz  -  Shandon Boat Club bt  (FC)(35) Brian O’Keeffe  -  Shandon Boat Club.  5 L.

(FC)(72) Anne O’Farrell  -  Cork Boat Club  bt (69) Jennifer Crowley  -  Shandon Boat Club.  5 L.

(4) Dan Begley  -  Shandon Boat Club  v  (3) Jack Casey  -  UCC Rowing Club.   No race.  Casey ill.

 (29) Shane Crean  -  Lee Rowing Club bt  (40) Cian O’Sullivan  -  Cork Boat Club.  5 L.

Umpires :  Finbarr Desmond and Kieran Hughes.

                   (10) Liam O’Connell  -  Cork Boat Club  v  (7) Darragh Larkin  -  Lee Rowing Club.   ---------   O’Connell withdrew challenge  ----  cancelled.

                    (21) Cormac Corkery  -  Cork Boat Club  v  (18) Hugh Sutton  -  Lee Rowing Club.  ---------   Corkery withdrew challenge  ----  cancelled.

                    (13) Barry Connolly  -  Cork Boat Club  v  (8) Barry O’Flynn  -  Cork Boat Club.  ---------   Connolly withdrew challenge   -----   cancelled.    

Friday. 25.03.2016.

                   (FC)(107) Hannah Cummins  -  Lee Rowing Club  v  (82) Sophie Grey  -  Lee Rowing Club.  --- postponed until Saturday.

                   (59) Kieran White  -  Cork Boat Club  v  (57) Noel Carey  -  Shandon Boat Club.  Cancelled, White withdrew challenge.

                   (8) Barry O’Flynn  -  Cork Boat Club  v  (6) Sean Lonergan  -  Shandon Boat Club. Cancelled,  O’Flynn withdrew challenge. .

                   (4) Dan Begley  -  Shandon Boat Club  v  (3) Jack Casey  -  UCC Rowing Club.  Cancelled.

Saturday 26.03.2016.

 (22) Evan Curtin  -  Cork Boat Club.  bt (16) David Higgins  -  Presentation College Rowing Club.   4L.

 (50) Conor Twohig  -  Cork Boat Club bt  (45) Patrick Kenneally  -  Presentation College Rowing Club.   1 1/4L.

 (25) Donal Smith  -  Shandon Boat Club bt   (20) Henrik Merz  -  Shandon Boat Club.  1 3/4L.                   

 (47) Tim Buckley  -  Lee Rowing Club bt  (48) David Cosgrave  -  Shandon Boat Club.  5L.

 (82) Sophie Grey  -  Lee Rowing Club bt  (FC) (107) Hannah Cummins  -  Lee Rowing Club.  5L.

 (10) Liam O’Connell  -  Cork Boat Club.  bt (11) Cathal Merz  -  Shandon Boat Club.  5L.

Starter / Umpires : Finbarr Desmond, Kieran O’Sullivan and Pat Hickey.

  

Challenges :

Sunday.

09.00am.  (FC)(91) Marie Kidney  -  Lee Rowing Club  v  (82) Sophie Grey  -  Lee Rowing Club.

09.10am.  (4) Dan Begley  -  Shandon Boat Club  v  (1) Ronan Byrne  -  Shandon Boat Club.

Monday. 28.03.2016.

06.00pm.   (FC)(86) Claragh O’Sullivan  -  Cork Boat Club  v  winner of 09.00am race on Sun. 27.03.2016. {(FC)(91) Marie Kidney  - Lee RC  v (82) Sophie Grey  -  Lee RC.

Published in Rowing

#Rowing: The Cork Sculling Ladder 2015/2016 entered its final week with a raft of challenges. Saturday and Sunday featured three races on each day, and there are challenges fixed for each day until the close on Easter Sunday. The continuing trials at the National Rowing Centre has resulted in some changes of schedule.  

Results.

Saturday. 19.03.2016.

 (119) Emma Breen  -  Lee Rowing Club bt   (115) Neasa Coleman  -  Lee Rowing Club.     2L.

(131) Jennifer Forde  -  Shandon Boat Club. bt   (FC)(144) Robyn Smith  -  Lee Rowing Club.   5L.  

 (128) Aoife Coleman  -  Lee Rowing Club. bt   (127) Abbie Cummins  -  Lee Rowing Club.   Cummins did not finish – injury.

Starter / Umpire : Finbarr Desmond, Kieran O’Sullivan and Kieran Hughes.

Sunday. 20.03.2016.

 (56) Ross Cudmore  -  Cork Boat Club. bt   (50) Luke Guerin  -  Presentation College Rowing Club.    1½L.  

(78) Harry Scannell  -  Presentation College Rowing Club.  r/o.   (79) Eoin Power  -  Cork Boat Club.  

  

 (53) Tim Buckley  -  Lee Rowing Club.  bt  (46)  David Cosgrove  -  Shandon Boat Club.  4L.

Starter / umpire  :  Finbarr Desmond, Kieran O’Sullivan and Kieran Hughes.

Challenges

                           

                 

Monday 21.03.2016.

06.40pm. (59) Kieran White  -  Cork Boat Club  v  (57) Noel Carey  -  Shandon Boat Club.    

                   

Tuesday. 22.03.2016.

06.30pm.  (4) Dan Begley  -  Shandon Boat Club  v  (3) Jack Casey  -  UCC Rowing Club.

                   (22) Evan Curtin  - Cork Boat Club  v  (16) David Higgins  -  Presentation College Rowing Club.   Time tbc.

                   (30) Conor McCarthy  -  Cork Boat Club  v  (28) Alan O’Keeffe  -  Presentation College Rowing Club.  Time tbc.

                   (49) Conor Twohig  -  Cork Boat Club  v  (45) Patrick Kenneally  -  Presentation College Rowing Club. Time tbc. 

Wednesday. 23.03.2016.

06.30pm.  (5) Stephen O’Sullivan  -  Shandon Boat Club  v  (3) Jack Casey  -  UCC Rowing Club.

06.40pm.  (FC)(72) Anne O’Farrell  -  Cork Boat Club  v  (69) Jennifer Crowley  -  Shandon Boat Club.  tbc,

Thursday 24.03.2916.

06.30pm.  (40) Cian O’Sullivan  -  Cork Boat Club  v  (29) Shane Crean  -  Lee Rowing Club.

06.40pm.  (10) Liam O’Connell  -  Cork Boat Club  v  (7) Darragh Larkin  -  Lee Rowing Club.

06.50pm.  (21) Cormac Corkery  -  Cork Boat Club  v  (18) Hugh Sutton  -  Lee Rowing Club.

07.00pm.  (13) Barry Connolly  -  Cork Boat Club  v  (8) Barry O’Flynn  -  Cork Boat Club.  Time tbc.

07.10pm.  (FC)(14) Fergal O’Sullivan  -  Cork Boat Club  v  (5) Stephen O’Sullivan  -  Shandon Boat Club.  Time tbc.

    

Friday. 25.03.2016.

09.00am.  (FC)(107) Hannah Cummins  -  Lee Rowing Club  v  (82) Sophie Grey  -  Lee Rowing Club.

Evening.    (8) Barry O’Flynn  -  Cork Boat Club  v  (6) Sean Lonergan  -  Shandon Boat Club.  Race and time tbc.

Saturday 26.03.2016.

08.50am. (47) David Cosgrave  -  Shandon Boat Club  v  (46) Tim Buckley  -  Lee Rowing Club.  tbc.

09.00am.  (FC)(86) Claragh O’Sullivan  -  Cork Boat Club v winner of Fri. 25.03.2016 race.{(107) H. Cummins  -   Lee RC  v (82) S. Grey  -  Lee RC.}

09.10am.  (11) Cathal Merz  -  Shandon Boat club  v  (10) Liam O’Connell  -  Cork Boat Club.

                   (25) Donal smith  -  Shandon Boat Club  v  (19) Henrik Merz  -  Shandon Boat Club.  Time tbc.

Sunday. 27.03.2016.  ( last day of the 2015 – 2016 Cork Sculling ladder ).

(FC)(91) Marie Kidney  -  Lee Rowing Club  v  (82) Sophie Grey  -  Lee Rowing Club.

Notes :

Rescheduled race timetable. 

This due to some of the ladder competitors still involved at the camp at the National Rowing Centre.

Published in Rowing
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#Rowing: Alan O’Keeffe of Presentation College had less than a length to spare over Conor McCarthy of Cork Boat Club in one of the two Cork Sculling Ladder challenges held at the weekend. Kieran White of Cork beat Jack O’Donovan in the other race. The Ladder continues until Sunday, March 28th

Cork Sculling Ladder Challenges, Saturday, March 5th.

Race 1.   (29) Alan O’Keeffe,  Presentation College Rowing Club bt  (31) Conor McCarthy,  Cork Boat Club  4 feet.

Race 2.   (46) Patrick Kennelly,  Presentation College Rowing Club  r/o.   (50) Conor Twohig  -  Cork Boat Club.  Did not race. Ill.

Race 3.   (77) Kieran White,  Cork Boat Club bt (60) Jack O’Donovan,  Presentation College Rowing Club  5 lengths.

Challenges :

Sunday, March 13th 

09.00am.  (41) Cian O’Sullivan  -  Cork Boat Club  v  (33) Eoin Gaffney  -  Shandon Boat Club.

Date and times to be arranged for the following :

(8) Barry O’Flynn  -  Cork Boat Club  v  (6) Sean Lonergan  -  Shandon Boat Club.

(12) Liam O’Connell  -  Cork Boat Club  v  (10) Cathal Merz  -  Shandon Boat Club.

(13) Barry Connolly  -  Cork Boat Club  v  (11) Thomas Murphy  -  Lee Rowing Club.

(21) Cormac Corkery  -  Cork Boat Club  v  (18) Hugh Sutton  -  Lee Rowing Club.

(23) Evan Curtin  -  Cork Boat Club  v  (22) Luke Guerin  -  Lee Rowing Club.

(59) Ross Cudmore  -  Cork Boat Club  v  (57) Noel Carey  -  Shandon Boat Club.

(88) Conor O’Callaghan  -  Cork Boat Club  v  (81) Jack Aherne  -  Cork Boat Club.

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#Rowing: A number of races were held as part of the Cork Sculling Ladder at the Marina in Cork today. The conditions were rated as fair. Illness ruled out some of the proposed competitors and their challenges were postponed until the middle of this month.  

Results from the 2015 – 2016 Cork Sculling Ladder Challenges as on Sunday 31.01.2016 held at the Marina course, Cork.

1. (84) Luke Lee  -  Lee Rowing Club.  2. (89) Conor O’Callaghan  -  Cork Boat Club.   5 lenghts.

Umpire : Kieran Hughes.   Starter : Finbarr Desmond.

(13) Barry Connolly  -  Cork Boat Club  v  (11) Thomas Murphy  -  Lee Rowing Club. Postponed until mid-February. Connolly ill.

1.(22) Cormac Corkery  -  Cork Boat Club.  2. (21) Luke Guerin  -  Lee Rowing Club.  5 lengths.

Umpire : Kieran Hughes.  Starter : Finbarr Desmond.

1. (15) Feargal O’Sullivan  -  Cork Boat Club.  2. (14) David Breen  -  Lee Rowing Club.  5 lengths.

Umpire : Pat Hickey.  Starter : Finbarr Desmond.

(FC)(31) Liam O’Connell  -  Cork Boat Club  v  (12) Hugh Deasy  -  Lee Rowing Club. Postponed until mid-February.  O’Connell ill.

(FC)(30) Evan Curtin  -  Cork Boat Club  v  (23) Peter Jackson  -  Lee Rowing Club. Postponed until mid-February. Jackson ill.

1. (39) Ray Fitzgerald  -  Lee Rowing Club.  2. (FC)(52) Conor Twohig  -  Cork Boat Club.  5 lengths. 

Umpire : Pat Hickey.  Starter : Finbarr Desmond.

1.       (19) Conor Cudden  -  Shandon Boat Club.  2. (17) Hugh Sutton  -  Lee Rowing Club.  2 lengths.

 Umpire : Kieran Hughes.  Starter : Finbarr Desmond.

Published in Rowing

#Rowing: The Cork Sculling Ladder had a set of races on Sunday, December 20th at the Marina. In springlike conditions of showers and sunshine, water conditions were suprisingly good. Luke Guerin, who was late for his race with Conor Twohig, eventually came out on top. Twohig accepted a race, but suffered an injury.

Cork Sculling Ladder Results, December 20th

Race 1.   (FC)(55) Cormac Corkery  -  Cork Boat Club bt (22) Peter Jackson  -  Lee Rowing Club.   5 Lengths.

Race 2.  (14) Barry Connolly  -  Cork Boat Club bt (13) David Breen  Lee Rowing Club.   6 Lengths.

Race 3.  (7) Darragh Larkin  -  Lee Rowing Club bt (10) Barry O’Flynn  -  Cork Boat Club.   6 Lengths.

Race 4.  (52) Conor Twohig  -  Cork Boat Club  Row over (51) Luke Guerin  -  Presentation College Rowing Club, failed to turn up at start on time.

Race 5.  (52) Luke Guerin  -  Presentation College Rowing Club bt  (51) Conor Twohig  -  Cork Boat Club, DNF (Did not finish). Injured his back.

Race 6. (24) Eoin Larkin  -  Lee Rowing Club bt (27) Sam O’Neill  -  Shandon Boat Club, DNF, capsized at 900 metres.

Race 7.  (49) Alex Byrne  -  Shandon Boat Club bt (43) bt Morgan O’Hara  -  Lee Rowing Club.   5 Lengths.

Race 8. (32) Liam O’Connell  -  Cork Boat Club bt (31) Conor McCarthy  -  Cork Boat Club.   6 Lengths.

Race between (33) Eoin Gaffney  -  Shandon Boat Club and (29) Shane Crean  -  Lee Rowing Club.  Cancelled.

Starter : Finbarr Desmond.   Umpires : Kieran Hughes and Pat Hickey.

Rearranged challenges for Sunday 27.12.2015.

(84) Kieran White  -  Cork Boat Club  v  (78) Cormac O’Connell  -  Presentation College Rowing Club. Time TBC.

(FC)(124) Eoin Power  - Cork Boat Club  v  (80) Jack Aherne  -  Cork Boat Club. Time TBC.

Challenges. Dates and Times TBA.

(17) Feargal O’Sullivan  -  Cork Boat Club  v  (15) David Higgins  -  Presentation College Rowing Club.

(33) Eoin Gaffney  -  Shandon Boat Club  v  (29) Shane Crean  -  Lee Rowing Club.

(45) Emmett Hickey  -  Shandon Boat Club  v  (42) David Collins  -  Cork Boat Club.

(27) Sam O’Neill  -  Shandon Boat Club  v  (26) Neil McCarthy  -  Cork Boat Club

Note :  Racing depends on weather conditions.

Published in Rowing

#Rowing: Ronan Byrne of Shandon Boat Club and Margaret Cremin of Lee Rowing Club lead the Cork Sculling Ladder. The two leaders both placed well in the single sculls tests at the Ireland trial at the National Rowing Centre on Sunday. Below is the ladder, with section leaders listed.

Leaders :
Men : (1) Ronan Byrne …… Shandon Boat Club. (Time Trial Winner).
Women : (47) Margaret Cremen ….. Lee Rowing Club. (Women’s Time Trial Winner).
 
Section Leaders.
 
Men.
 
Open : (1) Ronan Byrne ….. Shandon Boat Club.
Intermediate : (1) Ronan Byrne ….. Shandon Boat Club.
Club 1 : (3) Jack Casey ….. UCC Rowing Club.
Club 2 :(6) Darragh Larkin ….. Lee Rowing Club.
Novice : (16) Hugh Sutton ….. Lee Rowing Club.
Junior 18 : (1) Ronan Byrne ….. Shandon Boat Club.
Junior 16 : (10) Barry O’Flynn …. Cork Boat Club.
Junior 15 : (11) Thomas Murphy ….. Lee Rowing Club.
Junior 14 : (46) David Cosgrave ….. Shandon Boat Club.
Junior 13 : (118) Sean McCalgon ….. Lee Rowing Club.
Junior 12 : (156) Peter Leonard ….. Cork Boat Club.
Masters A : (18) Henrik Merz ….. Shandon Boat Club.
Masters B : (18) Henrik Merz ….. Shandon Boat Club.
Masters C : (18) Henrik Merz ….. Shandon Boat Club.
Masters D : (57) Pat Peilow ….. Cork Boat Club.
Masters E : (57) Pat Peilow ….. Cork Boat Club.
Masters F : (66) Tony Corcoran ….. Lee Valley Rowing Club.
Masters G : (66) Tony Corcoran ….. Lee Valley Rowing Club.
Masters H : (171) Seamus Quain ….. Shandon Boat Club.
Masters I : (171) Seamus Quain ….. Shandon Boat Club.
 
Women.
 
Open : (47) Margaret Cremen ….. Lee Rowing Club.
Intermediate : (47) Margaret Cremen ….. Lee Rowing Club.
Club 1 : (47) Margaret Cremen …… Lee Rowing Club.
Club 2 : (47) Margaret Cremen ….. Lee Rowing Club.
Novice : (71) Chelsey Minihane ….. Shandon Boat Club.
Junior 18 : (47) Margaret Cremen ….. Lee Rowing Club.
Junior 16 : (47) Margaret Cremen ….. Lee Rowing Club.
Junior 15 : (68) Jennifer Crowley …..Shandon Boat Club.
Junior 14 : (85) Sophie Gray ….. Lee Rowing Club.
Junior 13 : (133) Jennifer Forde ….. Shandon Boat Club.
Junior 12 : (133) Jennifer Forde ….. Shandon Boat Club.
Masters A : (137) Karen Corcoran-O’Hare ….. Lee Valley Rowing Club.
Masters B : (137) Karen Corcoran-O’Hare ….. Lee Valley Rowing Club.
Masters C : (160) Karen McCarthy-Dunne ….. Cork Boat Club.
Masters D : (162) Mary O’Callaghan …… Lee Rowing Club.
Masters E : (162) Mary O’Callaghan ….. Lee Rowing Club.
Published in Rowing

#Rowing: Ronan Byrne of Shandon Boat Club won the Cork Sculling Ladder time trial in an excellent time of six minutes 20.2 seconds today. Byrne had been the joint winner last year. Margaret Cremin of Lee Rowing Club was the fastest woman, in a time of 7:10.5.

One hundred and sixty six scullers competed in 44th time trial, sponsored by Hanley Calibration Ltd, over the 1800 metre course at the Marina. Some scullers competed twice: most sculled on the early incoming tide until nearly 11 am, helped by an easterly wind. Conditions early on were good, but once the tide changed they deteriorated and the ladder finished at 12 noon.

 Cremin, winner of the novice championship of Ireland this year, easily won from her clubmates, Willow Littlewood and Eimear Cummins.

 The 2015-2016 Cork Sculling Ladder continues with challenge races until the 28th March.  Scullers can join at any stage.

Cork Sculling Ladder, time trial (Selected Results) 

Men

1. Ronan Byrne (Shandon Boat Club) 6 mins 20.2 seconds,  2. Colm Hennessey (Shandon Boat Club) 6:23.1,  3. Jack Casey (UCC Rowing Club) 6:23.6, 4. Stephen O’Sullivan (Shandon Boat Club) 6:24.9,  5. Sean Lonergan (Shandon Boat Club) 2:27.5, 6. Darragh Larkin (Lee Rowing Club) 6:27.6.

Women

53. Margaret Cremin (Lee Rowing Club) 7:10.5,  67. Willow Littlewood (Lee Rowing Club) 7:26.5,  73. Eimear Cummins (Lee Rowing Club) 7:34.4,  74. Jennifer Crowley (Shandon Boat Club) 7:35.8.    

Published in Rowing

#Rowing: The 2015-2016 Cork Sculling Ladder Time Trial, sponsored by Hanley Calibration Ltd., takes place on Sunday at the Marina course from 08.00am to 1.00pm. All the rowing clubs in Cork are due to participate in the 44th running of the event. Competitors are also due from Kerry and Tipperary. Last year, Shane O’Connell (Cork Boat Club) and Daniel O’Sullivan (Lee Rowing Club) were the joint winners. Claire Synnott (Lee Rowing Club) won the women’s event.  Ronan Byrne (Shandon Boat Club) won the Sculling Ladder outright six months later, as did Synnott. 

 About 200 single scullers are expected to take part. All races are run on an 1800 metre course at the Marina. After the Time Trial, competitors will race each other until the ladder concludes on March 28th.

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#ROWING: The 2014-2015 Cork Sculling Ladder Time Trial, sponsored by Hanley Calibration Ltd., takes place at the Marina Course, Cork on this Sunday from 08.00am to 01.00pm. Last year from an entry of over 150 single scullers, John Mitchell (Lee Rowing Club) won the overall time trial and Marie O’Neill (Cork Boat Club) retained the women’s.
 A large entry is expected at the 43rd Sculling Ladder Time Trial especially with the sport in Cork on a high after major success at the Irish National Rowing Championships last July, with Cork Boat Club winning 7, Skibbereen Rowing Club 4, Lee Rowing Club, Presentation College Rowing Club, Shandon Boat Club and UCC Rowing Club, 1 apiece.  
 Competitors can launch only at Cork Boat Club and Shandon Boat Club as Lee Rowing Club do not have their new slip yet. Participants can also scull over the 1800 metre course as many times as they wish, but must have a different number each time if they are to have their time taken. The presentation to the two overall Time Trial winners (male and female) will take place at Cork Boat Club at 2.00pm.
 Once the Time Trial is over , the 2015-2015 Cork Sculling Ladder continues with two-boat racing until Sunday 29th March, 2015.

Published in Rowing

#ROWING: Colm Hennessy of Shandon Boat Club and Marie O’Neill of Cork Boat Club were the overall winners of the Cork Sculling Ladder for 2013-2014. O’Neill retained the title she had won in 2013. The presentation for all the winners of the Ladder will be made this evening by Judge Donagh McDonagh at Cork Constitution club at Temple Hill.

Published in Rowing
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Ferry & Car Ferry News The ferry industry on the Irish Sea, is just like any other sector of the shipping industry, in that it is made up of a myriad of ship operators, owners, managers, charterers all contributing to providing a network of routes carried out by a variety of ships designed for different albeit similar purposes.

All this ferry activity involves conventional ferry tonnage, 'ro-pax', where the vessel's primary design is to carry more freight capacity rather than passengers. This is in some cases though, is in complete variance to the fast ferry craft where they carry many more passengers and charging a premium.

In reporting the ferry scene, we examine the constantly changing trends of this sector, as rival ferry operators are competing in an intensive environment, battling out for market share following the fallout of the economic crisis. All this has consequences some immediately felt, while at times, the effects can be drawn out over time, leading to the expense of others, through reduced competition or takeover or even face complete removal from the marketplace, as witnessed in recent years.

Arising from these challenging times, there are of course winners and losers, as exemplified in the trend to run high-speed ferry craft only during the peak-season summer months and on shorter distance routes. In addition, where fastcraft had once dominated the ferry scene, during the heady days from the mid-90's onwards, they have been replaced by recent newcomers in the form of the 'fast ferry' and with increased levels of luxury, yet seeming to form as a cost-effective alternative.

Irish Sea Ferry Routes

Irrespective of the type of vessel deployed on Irish Sea routes (between 2-9 hours), it is the ferry companies that keep the wheels of industry moving as freight vehicles literally (roll-on and roll-off) ships coupled with motoring tourists and the humble 'foot' passenger transported 363 days a year.

As such the exclusive freight-only operators provide important trading routes between Ireland and the UK, where the freight haulage customer is 'king' to generating year-round revenue to the ferry operator. However, custom built tonnage entering service in recent years has exceeded the level of capacity of the Irish Sea in certain quarters of the freight market.

A prime example of the necessity for trade in which we consumers often expect daily, though arguably question how it reached our shores, is the delivery of just in time perishable products to fill our supermarket shelves.

A visual manifestation of this is the arrival every morning and evening into our main ports, where a combination of ferries, ro-pax vessels and fast-craft all descend at the same time. In essence this a marine version to our road-based rush hour traffic going in and out along the commuter belts.

Across the Celtic Sea, the ferry scene coverage is also about those overnight direct ferry routes from Ireland connecting the north-western French ports in Brittany and Normandy.

Due to the seasonality of these routes to Europe, the ferry scene may be in the majority running between February to November, however by no means does this lessen operator competition.

Noting there have been plans over the years to run a direct Irish –Iberian ferry service, which would open up existing and develop new freight markets. Should a direct service open, it would bring new opportunities also for holidaymakers, where Spain is the most visited country in the EU visited by Irish holidaymakers ... heading for the sun!