Lough Foyle & Lough Swilly Ferry Service

Lough Swilly Ferry Service

Ferry between Rathmullan and Buncrana commences on Thursday, 14th June, 2007.

For further information please contact Lough Foyle Ferry Company on

(00353) (0)74 9381901


Detailed below are the activity levels of the ferry service for both 2004 and 2005.


Lough Swilly Ferry Service-Traffic Figures 2004

Cars Passengers Others
TOTALS 15606 8725 *1 344 *2

*1 Foot passengers only
*2 Others include all other vehicle types


Lough Swilly Ferry Service-Traffic Figures 2005

Cars Passengers Others
TOTALS 14423 7277 *1 340 *2

*1 Foot passengers only
*2 Others include all other vehicle types

Lough Foyle Ferry Service


Donegal County Council in conjunction with Limavady Borough Council agreed effective from 2002 to provide support for a year round Ferry Service serving Greencastle and Magilligan, Co. Derry. The basis of the contract signed in 2002 revolved around a targeted level of activity, which foresaw a shortfall in revenue generated from costs incurred of a figure in the region of €216,000 split equally between Councils, this equated to an annual contribution from Donegal County Council of some €108,000 per annum which is paid to the ferry company in arrears on a quarterly basis.

The service concluded its third full year in mid June 2005 and the summarised activity data for those 3 years are detailed below.

Description Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
P/E 13/06/03 P/E 13/6/04 P/E 13/06/05
Cars 91,593 107,597 98,352
Total Passengers 294,415 330,126 286,802
Minibus/Light Comm 1,180 1,666 1752
Motorcycles 1,695 1657
Coaches 77 125 128
Lorries 768 1,064
Coasters 92 130 142
Caravans 482 944  987



The ferry service for the winter months of 2007/08, which commenced in  October 2007, operates on a scheduled service as detailed on the attached appendix.

Atlantic Drift Marketing Initiative:

The INTERREG IIIA funded Atlantic Drift project, which saw a grant totalling €459,000 being awarded to the Development of a Cross Border Touring Route from the Causeway coast area to West Donegal, and using the two ferry services as a focal link point for the touring route. This project was funded at a rate of 75% by INTERREG IIIA, via the North West Region Cross Border Group, with matching funding being provided by partners including Údarás na Gaeltachta, Roinn na Gaeltachta, Limavady Borough Council and Donegal County Council itself. The project, inter alia, saw the putting in place of a branded touring route with detailed brochures and touring maps, substantial advertising in various newspapers and trade magazines, infrastructural investment in signage and on interpretive boards, route signage in the Limavady area and erection of a passenger shelter in Greencastle..

Further Information can be obtained by contacting,: 
Michelle McGill Tel. 074 91-72531