Shannon Ferry Group
Company typeLimited Company
IndustryPassenger transportation
Vehicles transportation
Founded1969
HeadquartersKillimer, Ireland
Area served
River Shannon
Websitewww.shannonferries.com

Shannon Ferry Group (also known as Shannon Ferries) is an Irish private company that operates a ro-ro ferry crossing of the Shannon Estuary between counties Clare and Kerry. The company is based in Killimer County Clare, with the service operating between Killimer and Tarbert County Kerry. It currently operates two ro-ro ferries, Shannon Dolphin and Shannon Breeze. It is the longest domestic ferry service in Ireland.[1]

Services

The crossing takes about 20 minutes and departures are hourly all year round except Christmas Day, with the frequency doubled in summer.[2] There are toilets on the Tarbert side, and a gift shop, cafe and toilets on the Killimer side.[3]

History

Before the introduction of the service the quickest way to travel between the two locations was via Limerick city, a 137-kilometre (85 mi) journey.[1] The service therefore saves hours on the travel time between Kerry and West Clare. It is a popular tourist route as it is the fastest route between the popular tourist destinations of Kerry (i.e. Dingle, Killarney) and north to Clare (i.e. The Cliffs of Moher, The Burren) and Galway (i.e. Galway City, Connemara). The River Shannon is the largest and deepest river in the British Isles, so a bridge would be difficult and costly to build.

The service was inaugurated in 1969, with six families based on both sides of the crossing investing to create the company.[4] Vehicle traffic has increased since the promotion of the Wild Atlantic Way tourist route along west Ireland, which the crossing forms part of.[5]

Fleet

Shannon Dolphin seen from the deck of Shannon Breeze
Shannon Breeze

Shannon Ferry Group has had four ferries in its history. The service is currently provided by Shannon Dolphin and Shannon Breeze.[6]

Name Years Builder Cars Pax Note
Shannon Heather 1969-1997 Dartmouth[clarification needed] 30 250 Sold to Passage East Ferries
Shannon Willow 1979-2003 Scott & Sons, Bowling[7] 44 300 Sold to Lough Foyle Ferries
Shannon Dolphin 1995–present Appledore Shipbuilders[8] 52 350 Commissioned and built in Appledore, England[9]
Shannon Breeze 2000–present Appledore Shipbuilders[10] 60 350 Commissioned and built in Appledore, England[9]

References

  1. ^ a b "Discounted Ferry Fares across the Shannon". afloat.ie. 3 May 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Sailing schedules and timetables for Killimer and Tarbert Shannon Ferry". Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Archived 13 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Visit Shannon Ferries with Discover Ireland". Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  4. ^ Deegan, Gordon (7 August 2012). "Shannon ferry group goes into the red". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Wild Atlantic Way boosts Shannon ferry crossings by 20%". Irish Examiner. 11 June 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Shannon Ferries". Irish Ferries Enthusiasts. Archived from the original on 30 December 2011. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  7. ^ "Shannon Willow". Scottish Built Ships. Caledonian Maritime Research Trust. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  8. ^ "Shannon Dolphin". Shipping and Shipbuilding. Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Shannon Ferries. Our Ferries". www.shannonferries.com. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Shannon Breeze". Shipping and Shipbuilding. Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
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