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It's all Ferry confusing
03.06.11
by Eamonn MacDermott, Inishowen Independent
NOT for the first time, confusion surrounds the
on-again off-again Lough Swilly summer car ferry.
Monday’s meeting of Donegal County Council approved
funding for operation of the ferry, but when
contacted by the Inishowen Independent on Tuesday,
service operator Jim McClenaghan said it was the
first he’d heard of it.
It was believed that the ferry was due to resume
operations shortly after Donegal County Council
agreed to subvent its operation.
The money, enabling the ferry to resume operations
for the summer, was agreed at Monday’s council
meeting and there were reports that the ferry
operator was due to meet council officials this week
to finalise plans to get the service up and running. |
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The Lough Swilly car ferry arriving
at Buncrana. |
Fianna Fáil councillor
Rena Donaghey said that the ferry provided a great
boost to the region and she welcomed the reports
that the service was about to resume.
She said: “While we haven’t been given an exact date
as to when the ferry will be up and running it
should be within the near future.
“The money was agreed this week and although we
don’t know how long the ferry will operate we hope
that we have it for a reasonable length of time.”
However, Mr McClenaghan said that he had heard
nothing about the ferry resuming operations.
Speaking on Tuesday, he said: “We haven’t heard
anything at all about the ferry resuming operations.
“The last thing I was told was that the ferry would
not be running and I haven’t heard anything
different since.
He said that even if the ferry was given the
go-ahead this week it could be some time before it
would be ready to operate.
He said: “Just how quick we could get the ferry up
and running would depend on dry docks and all that
sort of thing, so I couldn’t say when it would be up
and running.”
Cllr Donaghey said she felt the ferry’s benefit to
the area could not be measured solely in monetary
terms.
She said: “Unfortunately due to the confusion
surrounding the ferry this year we have not had a
chance to market it properly.
“The value to be placed on the ferry is not simply
monetary. There are great benefits to cafes and
shops throughout the area that benefit from the
visitors bring to the area.
“We would hope that we can market the ferry as part
of the north west tourism trail from the North
Antrim coast to Sliabh Liag.” |
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