WATCH: Supercars and rugby fans ferried to Spain in first direct route from Ireland

An army of Leinster rugby fans set sail from deep in Munster territory yesterday on the inaugural voyage of the first direct ferry link between Ireland and Spain.

The fans, who are travelling to watch the European Rugby Champions Cup final in Bilbao on Saturday, helped ensure that the first sailing of the new Brittany Ferries’ service from Cork to Santander, just west of Bilbao on Spain’s northern coast, was sold out.

Also on board were several million euro worth of supercars, and their drivers, including Grafton Barbers supremo Hugh McAllister, his dad Hugh Sr, and Niall Russell, who were able to relax on board after staff at the Port of Cork’s Ringaskiddy terminal expertly loaded their Lamborghinis, McClarens, Bentleys, and BMW M4s onto the MV Connemara.