Fastnet service - No sense in ending route

The collapse of the Fastnet ferry is a devastating blow for the South-West, a region that relies heavily on tourism and can ill afford to forfeit a service worth €30m a year to the local economy and €20m to Wales.

The loss of a vital sea link which has carried tens of thousands of tourists between Britain and Ireland will have severe repercussions for hotels, B&Bs, pubs, restaurants and other sectors of the tourism industry in Cork, Kerry and neighbouring counties. Its collapse also means the loss of 78 jobs.

Commercial difficulties have dogged car ferry operations on the Cork-Swansea route for years and the closure of the latest venture is a major disappointment. Enterprise Ireland’s failure to contribute €400,000 to keep the 2012 service going makes a mockery of costly marketing campaigns to attract visitors.

Owned by a co-operative and largely funded by local authorities, it was aptly known as “the people’s ship”. At a time when every euro coming into Ireland has psychological as well as fiscal value, it is incredible that a business worth over €50m a year to the local economies of two countries has failed for the sake of €1m. That beggars belief.