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| Category: |
Travel & Transport |
| Title: |
Lough Foyle Ferry
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| Url: |
http://www.loughfoyleferry.com
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| Description: |
Greencastle to Magilligan ferry crossing. A continuous shuttle service from Greencatle to Magilligan, crossing approx 15 min. Out of normal hours sailings can be arranged by request.Sailings 7 days a week from 7.20am to 9.50pm in high season.
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| Details: |
The Lough Foyle Ferry Company is certainly the new kid on the block being set up as recently as 2002 with support from Limavady Borough Council and Donegal County Council. Their first vessel was the Carrigaloe ex Kyleakin of Caledonian MacBrayne’s Kyle of Lochalsh - Kyleakin Isle of Skye ferry service and taken on charter from Cross River Ferries of Cóbh. She inaugurated the Magilligan Point ( County Londonderry ) - Greencastle ( County Donegal ) service in 2002.
Traffic on the service blasted through all targets and quite rapidly overtook the 27 car capacity of Carrigaloe, which by the occasion of my first trip on her on 5/10/02 , was already swamped by demand. Trade was helped by extremely high tax rates on petrol in Northern Ireland compared to the Republic of Ireland so that even with having to pay the fare to cross on the ferry it was still cheaper for many people to fill their fuel tanks in the Republic.
A larger ferry to take over from Carrigaloe was duly obtained the following year when the 44 car capacity Foyle Venture replaced Carrigaloe on the crossing. Foyle Venture was formerly the Shannon Willow and previously had been employed on the River Shannon crossing between Kilmer ( County Clare ) and Tarbet ( County Kerry ). The arrival of the Sligo registered Foyle Venture in late May 2003 allowed the Carrigaloe to be returned to Cóbh after a hard year’s work getting the route up and running. Now in the safe hands of Foyle Venture the route and the ferry company continues on an upward spiral of success.
On the Greencastle route the Foyle Venture runs a continual shuttle service throughout the day on a turn up and go basis, with the crossing of the River Foyle taking roughly 10-15 minutes. The Northern Irish terminal departs from the sandy beach at Magilligan Point where a new slipway and pier was built for the service along with a terminal and toilet block. The access road to the pier is through bleak country with Magilligan Prison and an army firing range close by. Greencastle in the Republic of Ireland plays host to the Foyle pilot station and the Londonderry harbour Comissioners’ tug Otterbank as well as an extensive fishing fleet.
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| Contact: |
The Lough Foyle Ferry Company Limited,
The Pier,
Greencastle,
Co. Donegal.
(00353 74) 9381901
info@loughfoyleferry.com
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| Clicks: |
28 |
| Link added: |
Dec 19, 2006 |
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