€6m pier at Doolin can double ferry visitors to 200k

A €6m pier at Doolin which will end an unacceptable boating practice that put lives at risk was officially opened yesterday.

At the Clare gateway to the Aran Islands, Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin declared he was “on sacred ground” when opening the amenity which is expected to double the number of passengers on the ferry route to 200,000.

Locals had been campaigning for a new pier for three decades and, until now, passengers heading to the Aran Islands at low tide had to be ‘trans-shipped’ off the existing small pier by currach to the larger ferry.