Swansea Sailing
Cork Sailing
Cork and Swansea Sailing
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Fastnet Line is delighted to be associated with the Fastnet Charity Cycle 2011 which will take place on the 1st and 2nd July 2011 in Wales and Ireland.
The event is in aid of three very deserving West Cork based charities, Palliative Care at Castletownbere Hospital, Co-action and Spiritual Care Ireland at the Dechen Shying Spiritual Care Centre also in Castletownbere. Fastnet Line will provide transport for the cyclists to and from Swansea where the first leg of the trip will take place on Friday 1st July.
Commenting on the event, Paul O’Brien General Manager (Ireland) said, “Fastnet Line is delighted to support these wonderful charities and applauds the fantastic efforts of the people of Beara in promoting these worthy causes as well as their local area. We hope everyone will enjoy their time with us and we look forward to helping in any way we can to promote both the charity event and Beara tourism at the same time.”
The return trip will happen overnight on the Friday night with the numbers added to by some Welsh visitors for the second leg from Ringaskiddy to Castletownbere on Saturday 2nd July 2011.
The action begins on Thursday 30th June with the cyclists heading off from Ringaskiddy on board the Julia heading to Swansea overnight. The cyclists will meet with up with their Welsh counterparts and cycle a special route of 100 km which will offer the best south Wales has to offer.
After a long day in the saddle the participants will relax on the Julia with a well deserved meal and who knows a drink or two before getting a good night’s sleep. On Saturday 2nd July the group will leave Ringaskiddy via Carrigaline, Bandon, Bantry and Glengarriff as they head on towards Castletownbere in West Cork. At the finish of this marathon event the cyclists will be welcomed back home to Castletownbere to a huge welcome.
Fastnet Line would like to remind passengers of its sailing schedule for the week ahead as the reported ash cloud crisis looks set to worsen over the UK in the coming days.
Cork to Swansea
Tuesday 24th May 20.30 hrs.
Thursday 26th May 21.00 hrs.
Saturday 28th May 20.30 hrs.
Swansea to Cork
Wednesday 25th May 20.30 hrs.
Friday 27th May 18.30 hrs.
Sunday 29th May 20.30 hrs.
Bookings can be made online at www.fastnetline.com or telephone reservations Ireland: 021 437 8892 UK 0844 576 8831
We have availability on all sailings at present.
24th May 2011 at 11.00
I’m writing this from Cork, Ireland’s second largest city and in true “second city syndrome” fashion proclaimed loudly by its citizens to be the the “real capital”. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth has just concluded her hugely successful and historic visit to Ireland with a few hours here in Cork.
It is safe to say that the visit to Cork capped what has been an incredible week in Anglo-Irish relations in the most fantastic way possible. Milions of viewers all over the world will have seen a spick and span Cork City Centre bathed in bright sunlight with its citizens loudly cheering the royal visitors at their every appearance.
The Queen and Prince Phillip visited “The English Market” in the heart of the city to see the best Cork has to offer in fresh artisanal food and it looked magnificent. The market which dates from 1788 has had a chequered past but in the past fifteen years has gone from strength to strength and is one of the most popular visitor attractions in the city. It is of course a mecca for foodies and repays repeated visits as you uncover the mouthwatering delights at every turn within the compact indoor market.
The greatest delight perhaps, at the end of a week heavy with ceremony and symbolism, was the unexpected brief walkabout of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip and their interaction with the crowds on the Grand Parade. A moment of unscripted delight for the citizens of Cork and the TV pictures most hoped for in the tourism business here in Ireland.
An unintended consequence of this politically important week may well be the new sense of purpose and self-confidence that this visit has engendered in the population of this country which has suffered more than its share of slings and arrows of outrageous fortune in recent years. For this and so much more we have much to be grateful for this week.
The Burren, Co. Clare
The title isn’t meant to refer to the anthem which the Irish rugby team sing before each international match. Personally, I can take it or leave it. Mostly leave it. No, what the title is meant to evoke is that indefineable something which keeps visitors returning to these shores. In my mind it’s a synthesis of the scenery, the places, the people, the atmosphere, whether it be on the street, in a cafe or the pub – all of those mixed together into one potent brew.
When we talk about why people visit Ireland we usually laugh when we mention the weather in a, “It’s definitely not for the weather”, kind of way. But, if you have sat watching the ever changing weather patterns which are so common in these latitudes, especially where there are mountains and sea; then you will know that even the weather can confer a kind of magic on the landscape. That combination of four seasons not just in one day, but frequently in one hour, which can mesmerise with its subtle changes of light.
Ireland is a small country, still a relatively underdeveloped country, something still slightly unusual for our European neighbours. We have a connection with the land which has not always been healthy, but it has evolved into a love of place and it has fostered a deep and real connection between the people and their landscape. The Irish language, long since lost to the majority of the population, still remains ingrained in the landscape through the Gaelic placenames which live on in their anglicised form for all.
Perhaps there is something of this heritage and history which visitors sense when they come here. Perhaps our visitors envy us that continuation of the connection to the land which yet survives. Whatever the reason, any visitor who spends time in Ireland cannot but be aware of the living culture which transcends all outward manifestations and survives as steadfast and immutable as the landscape itself.
MV Julia passing Cobh
Fastnet Line with it’s Cork to Swansea ferry route celebrates the first anniversary of operations on Thursday 10th March. The first sailing on the route since 2006 took place on this date in 2010 when the Julia set sail from Swansea to Cork.
The re-establishment of the route was a boost to tourism on both sides of the Irish Sea last year and saw Fastnet Line exceed its targets for vehicles and passengers in a highly successful first season. More than 80,000 people travelled on the route between March and December 2010 in a year which saw the importance of access by sea emphasised during the now infamous “ash cloud crisis”.
Fastnet Line has also established a cost effective route for freight in and out of the south of Ireland and the UK and with Swansea directly connecting to the motorway network in the UK the miles saved for hauliers is becoming an increasingly important factor in these times of rising fuel prices.
Commenting on the prospects for 2011, Phil Jones CEO of Fastnet Line said, “We were delighted with our first year of operations and learned a lot but that is in the past now and we look forward to the challenges ahead. We are determined to build on the solid foundations we have created and with tight cost control and an aggressive strategy for marketing in the UK supported once again by our partners in Tourism Ireland we intend to do everything we can to increase numbers this year.”
A new range of value products including short breaks will go on sale from Monday 14th March and Fastnet Line also will continue its policy of targeting major sporting events on both sides of the water including Heineken Cup, Six Nations rugby, Cheltenham Racing Festival, the West Cork Rally and the Racing Home for Easter festival at Cork Racecourse.
Conor Buckley Chairman of West Cork Tourism Co-Op, the owners of Fastnet Line, said, “2011 promises to be a challenging year again for everyone in the tourist industry but the members of the Co-Op are determined to promote themselves strongly in our key market in the UK. We will also encourage everyone to use the route from Cork to Swansea in both directions as much as possible in order to ensure the viability of the business for the long term benefit of the whole community.”
Happy New Year to all our customers.
Julia will be in dry dock in Swansea from next week. Her schedule will be as follows.
The last sailing before annual dry dock will be on Thursday 13th January from Cork to Swansea departing at 20.30 hrs. Julia will remain in Swansea while undergoing annual maintenance up to and including Wednesday 9th February. Her first sailing will be at 20.30 hrs. from Swansea to Cork on Wednesday 9th February 20111.
Bookings can be made on www.fastnetline.com up to three hours prior to departure.
A sincere wish to all of our customers, suppliers, crew and staff for a happy, peaceful and safe Christmas. Thank you for your support in 2010 and we look forward to work with you throughout 2011 and to welcome you on board Julia during the year. It has been our pleasure and privilege to serve you.
Our biggest thanks, respect and admiration go to the people of the West Cork Tourism Co-Op whose courage and vision has made this dream a reality and has restored an important link between Ireland and the UK which has proved yet again to be of vital strategic importance in linking our two countries.
It has been our privilege to provide this service to people wanting to travel in times of crisis and gridlock at our airports whether it be due to volcanic ash clouds or snow and ice. Let us never underestimate the value of a ferry service to island nations.
Paul O'Brien, Mike Phillips and Tomas O'Leary
The ex-prop and the two world class scrum halves? As part of the publicity for the upcoming Ospreys v Munster Heineken Cup game in Swansea on Saturday 18th December. Fastnet Line General Manager Paul O’Brien got as close as he’s ever likely to get, to two world class scrum halves – Tomas O’Leary of Munster and Ireland and Mike Phillips the Ospreys, Wales and British and Irish Lions number nine.
O’Brien whose career as a rugby player “climaxed” in the South Munster U18 cup final of 1980 something (lost 4-3 since you ask) finally came close to greatness and realised a long time ambition to actually catch a scrum half. Something he singularly failed to do during his playing career.
All three were on hand after the match last Sunday in which Munster edged out Ospreys in a close, tense affair at Thomond Park, Limerick, to publicise the Fastnet Line special rugby sailing carrying Munster rugby supporters to Swansea for the Heineken Cup Pool Three clash with Ospreys on Saturday 18th December. Hundreds of Munster supporters are expected to travel bringing a much needed boost to Swansea in the run up to Christmas.
Munster rugby supporters are famously enthusiastic travellers and they are sure to bring colour, passion and lots of singing to the occasion. Fastnet Line will also provide coach transfers to get supporters from the ferry port to and from the game. The supporters will arrive early on Saturday morning and will spend the day in Swansea up to kick off which is set for 3.30 p.m. at Liberty Stadium.
Commenting on the special sailings, Paul O’Brien General Manager of Fastnet Line said; “Following Munster’s narrow victory over the Ospreys on Sunday it’s still all to play for in what is proving to be one of the most competitive pools in the Heineken Cup competition.
“Munster will want as much support as possible at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday and Fastnet Line is playing its part to make sure the red army will travel in style and comfort direct to Swansea for the big occasion.”
julia from the air
Recently Fastnet Line received a “Highly Commended” award from Swansea Bay Tourism at their annual awards ceremony held recently in Brangwyn Hall Swansea. The category was called “Co-operating to Compete” and recognises the efforts that Fastnet Line has gone to in connecting with local businesses in the South Wales area in an effort to promote them to Irish customers.
In June 2010, Fastnet Line hosted over eighty tourism businesses from the Swansea area on board the Julia under the banner “Working Together”. Following that initial contact it took varios business offerings from these providers and promoted them on its website www.fastnetline.com as well as making them part of its marketing message to the Irish consumer.
Fastnet Line will continue to work with Swansea Bay Tourism and other stakeholders in South Wales to continue to promote the area in the Irish market.
Also on the Irish side of the water, Cork Chamber of Commerce have just announced that Fastnet Line has been shortlisted for Cork Company of the Year. The winner will be announced at the gala dinner hosted by the Chamber on Friday 4th February 2011. We are extremely proud of all of our staff and crew who have worked so hard in 2010 and thank them for their terrific efforts which are being recognised in this way. Thank you.
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