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 1^st 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 2^nd July 2011.

The action begins on Thursday 30^th 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 2^nd 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.

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

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 10^th 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 14^th 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.”

I never got to go to the old Cardiff Arms Park but watched our biannual tussles with Wales in the then five nations championship avidly throughout the 1970s and 1980s. I never saw Ireland win in Cardiff until I was 20 years old when that fantastic triple crown winning team finally won in Wales for the first time since 1967 and did it in some style 21-9.

Memories of those days and reading the players names from those team sheets still brings goosebumps – Ringland, Crossan, Kiernan, Lenihan, Anderson against Titley, Holmes, Ackerman, Norster and Moriarty. Great memories of exciting hard fought games. Nowadays we have the fantastic Millennium Stadium to visit and may there isn’t as much singing as I remember but catch a chorus of “Bread of Heaven” or “Land of My Fathers” and it is an unforgettable sporting thrill.

The next edition of Wales v Ireland in the Six Nations Championship takes place on Saturday 12th March at 5 p.m. in the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Fastnet Line celebrates it’s first anniversary on the 10th March and we are bringing a special sailing to Wales to ring Irish rugby supporters to one of the best loved fixtures of any year.

Prices start from €60 per person without reserved accommodation, €78 per person with a reserved pullman seat and starting from €98 per person sharing return including a two berth inside cabin. So your return trip to the match (bus extra) and two nights accommodation for an incredible €98 per person.

Sailing on Friday night 11th March at 20.30 and arriving at 08.00 in Swansea on the morning of the game, Fastnet Line will provide bus transport for those travelling as foot passengers to Cardiff from 09.30. Supporters will then have plenty of time to soak up the pre-match atmosphere before the game which kicks off at 5 p.m.

Buses will again take supporters back after the game in plenty of time to check in for the departure of 23.50 and the ferry will arrive back in Cork at 12.00 noon on Sunday 13th March.

Let’s hope we have another memorable encounter between these to great teams and may the best team win!

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.

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.

Aerial photo of the Julia at sea

Unbelievable but true!  Only €29/£26 per person for a 24 hour return crossing as a foot passenger including a cabin? For a limited period until the end of January on selected dates take advantage of this amazing offer.

You can also give this as a Christmas gift to your loved ones by simply contacting Fastnet Line. We will send you our special Christmas voucher so that you can surprise someone you love with a great trip on the Julia.

This offer is valid for travel until the 31st January 2011 on selected dates and is subject to availability. You must book by the 15th December to avail of this great offer.

We recently got some great feedback from our neighbours in the National Maritime College of Ireland who had some recent participants in their BOSIET and offshore courses use the service and save some money.

“The Ferry is a great service and we are delighted to see some of our students using this mode of transport when  involved in our commercial courses“
Joanne, NMCI

L-R Niall Gibbons Tourism Ireland, Mike Wood Fastnet Line, Minister Mary Hanafin and Paul O'Brien Fastnet Line

The Irish Minister for Tourism Miss Mary Hanafin visited the Fastnet Line desk at the World Travel Market in London recently. General manager’s of the UK and Ireland Mike Wood and Paul O’Brien attended over three days meeting with tourism buyers, tour operators and travel agents  at the largest international tourism meeting in the world.

The minister who attended at the invitation of Tourism Ireland was in London promoting Irish tourism with a particular emphasis on the UK which still remains Irelands biggest market. The minister who visited the Julia in August at the invitation of the Co-Op which owns Fastnet Line was delighted to hear of the numbers which have travelled this year already. The government is making a special priority to win back our UK visitors and Fastnet Line aims to be a key part of that strategy in the medium and long term.

We are extremely grateful to the minister for her time and to Tourism Ireland for their support in 2010. We have agreed plans with Tourism Ireland for a jointly funded campaign for 2011 which will help us get our message out to even more people.

West Cork Suite

Fastnet Line has launched its 2011 schedule with great value fares available for anyone booking online from today.  Return trips now available over the Christmas and New Year period and get the best deals for next summer right now by going online and choosing your dates. We guarantee you our lowest prices for the most sought after dates when you book with us now!