'People’s ship’ to revive Cork-Swansea route

THEY had their doubters – but a co-operative of ordinary people watched with pride yesterday as their new passenger ferry sailed in to the heart of Cork city.

Dubbed the “people’s ship”, the 154-metre MV Julia will revive the Cork to Swansea route from next March – injecting up to €50 million into the south-eastern economy and supporting an estimated 1,000 jobs.

Longer than Croke Park, she steamed past Roche’s Point just before 8am, sounded her horn as she passed Cobh and sailed up the River Lee to berth at Horgan’s Quay in the heart of the city just after 9am.