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Lough Foyle Ferry Resumes Service

Linking the Wild Atlantic Way to the Causeway Coast

 

Lough Foyle Ferry

 

The Lough Foyle Ferry between Magilligan Point on the Causeway Coast and Greencastle on the Wild Atlantic Way began full service on Saturday, July 9th under the new management of Frazer Ferries. The new operators have made a number of improvements to the service including:

 

  • 20% price reduction on 2015 fares. Car prices are €12/£10 single and €16/£13 return. Afull pricelist is attached.
  • Continuous roll on/roll off shuttle service with non-stop sailings back and forth.
  • Expanded hours for July and August. The first sailing will leave Greencastle at 7am Mon-Sat and 9am on Sunday, running until the last sailing from Magilligan at 9.45pm.

 

The cross border service provides vital infrastructure linking two of the world’s great coastal drives, the Causeway Coast and the Wild Atlantic Way. The Wild Atlantic Way is a picturesque 2,500km coastal route, known for its outstanding natural beauty and rugged coastline. The Causeway Coastal Route is a kaleidoscope of natural landscapes, imposing cliffs, bubbling mountain streams and gushing waterfalls, through the gorgeous Glens of Antrim towards the world famous Giant’s Causeway.

 

The 15-minute sail replaces a 75-minute (45 mile/72km) drive from point to point and also significantly reduces driving time between Belfast/Dublin and Inishowen. The crossing is a destination in its own right with spectacular views of the Antrim cliffs, Binevenagh Mountain, the Inishowen hills and coastline and outlines of Rathlin Island and Scotland in the distance.

 

The service is projected to increase tourism on either side and generate increased traffic for local business. The Foyle Ferry, which will create 15 direct jobs initially, is facilitated by Donegal County Council and the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council with technical assistance provided by Foyle Port.

 

Frazer Ferries Director, Paul O’Sullivan, said that “we are very optimistic about the service, and we are very keen to promote this important conduit between the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coast. Improved relationships intra-island in recent years have created vastly improved mobility and a new positivity toward this linking infrastructure. We believe that the world class destinations on either side of Lough Foyle, if marketed holistically, can create a major destination for UK, Irish and other overseas visitors and be a new stimulant for economic growth in the jobs rich tourism sector. We see the ferry as having a great future and we feel that by providing a reliable and continuous service, expanded hours and reduced prices that it has considerable potential to grow”.

 

Director John Driscoll, who is based in Boston but has spent the past month in the area helping to get the service up and running, said that "everyone has worked very hard, long hours to get to this point and we are very excited to get going. The boat is in great condition and we look forward to welcoming passengers aboard. We intend to run an efficient, reliable and friendly service that is used by tourists and locals alike. We are very grateful for the welcome and support we have received from the Magilligan and Greencastle Communities as well as Donegal County Council, the Causeway Coast and Glens Council and Foyle Port and we look forward to being a staple of the local community."

 

In addition to the Lough Foyle service, Frazer Ferries own and operate Passage East Ferries on the River Suir, linking counties Waterford and Wexford. Frazer is also developing a cross border ferry service across the mouth of Carlingford Lough linking counties Louth and Down that is scheduled to commence operations in March 2017. Frazer Ferries is owned by investors from Limerick and Boston, MA (USA).

 

 

For further information please contact Foyle Ferries at

 

Tel: +353 (0) 74 938 1901,

 

Email [email protected]

 

Web: www.loughfoyleferry.com

 

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