Business

Carlingford Ferry service 'will start in June' say developers

Work is continuing on building the terminals at Greencastle and Greenore ahead of the planned Carlingford Ferry launch in June
Work is continuing on building the terminals at Greencastle and Greenore ahead of the planned Carlingford Ferry launch in June Work is continuing on building the terminals at Greencastle and Greenore ahead of the planned Carlingford Ferry launch in June

CONSTRUCTION work is nearing completion on terminals at Greencastle in Co Down and Greenore in Co Louth ahead of the proposed summer launch of a car and passenger ferry service across Carlingford Lough linking the two villages.

Developers Frazer Ferries Group, who are pumping close to €10 million (£8.5m) of private finance into the project, which has taken almost 10 years to bring to fruition, insist the hourly service will launch in June.

But it's still not all plain sailing, as objectors are still challenging the scheme in the courts amid claims the developers have failed to meet all the terms and conditions of their planning application.

However, Frazer Ferries managing director Paul O'Sullivan says the service will go ahead as scheduled, adding: “We're delighted to have arrived at this stage after a long and exhaustive permitting process in two jurisdictions.

"The outstandingly beautiful South Down and coastal regions of the Mournes and the Cooley Peninsula have intrinsic natural attractions but restricted access to the areas is a significant problem.

"We're confident the ferry service across the mouth of Carlingford Lough will be a major attraction and will allow both regions to be marketed holistically as a single destination.”

Boats have been ferrying passengers across the lough since 1185AD, but this will be the first vehicular service, with the 44-car vessel taking just 15 minutes to traverse one of the most scenic stretches of water in Ireland.

Frazer Ferries has described its proposed service as "a new stimulant for economic growth", and Mr O’Sullivan adds: “The service will be transformational for the local tourism sectors and open up a new access route into the Mourne area and put Dublin just an hour from the majestic Mountains of Mourne.

"It will also reduce the travel time from Greencastle to Greenore from 60-90 minute journey to just 15 minutes."

The scenic Carlingford Ferry will operate from 7am to 7.30pm from November to March and 7am to 9.30pm from April to October. It will operate from Greencastle on the hour from Greenore on the half hour.

Road widening works on the Greencastle Pier Road have now been completed and the piles which anchor the piers in place are being inserted at a depth of at least 18m deep.

But objections are still being made on the northern side by the Greencastle Area Residents Group (Garg), whose interventions have stalled the scheme for a number of years, while Christine Gibson, who is behind the Greencastle: Keep It Green campaign, is currently appealing a High Court decision not to have a judicial review into the project.