Irish Examiner View: Improved connections to Spain welcome

Jim Meade, chief executive Iarnrod Eireann, Brittany Ferries chief executive, Christophe Mathieu, Glenn Carr, general manager Rosslare Europort and Brittany Ferries president Jean-Marc Roué at the announcement by Brittany Ferries has confirmed the introduction of a more tourism-oriented ship "Galicia" on to their Rosslare - Bilbao route from November. Picture: Mary Browne

The news this week of a new, more sophisticated, ferry service between Rosslare and Bilbao in Spain is to be welcomed on several fronts.

For far too long this country depended largely on the so-called land bridge across the UK to get its Europe-bound traffic to its destination. Brexit largely redefined what Ireland needs in terms of connectivity to Europe and, to a greater or lesser degree, the Irish authorities along with numerous commercial partners have largely overcome the land-bridge issue.