Galway City to Ballyvaughan boat link starts two-week trial
THE new boat link between Galway City and the North Clare village of Ballyvaughan began its two week trial run yesterday morning with nine passengers on board.
Shortly after 7.45am on Monday the hard cabin rib with a capacity for 12 passengers set sail from the New Pier slipway at Ballyvaughan and arrived at the Galway Docks pontoon short before 8.30am. The evening sailing to Ballyvaughan from the Docks is at 6pm.
The community based company behind the project are hoping that the ‘bay hop’ can come into regular use next year for both regular commuters between North Clare and for tourists.
With favourable weather conditions, the 11 mile boat trip can be completed in about half an hour – by road the journey is just over 30 miles and can take up to 90 minutes, depending on city traffic and hold-ups at pinch points like Clarinbridge.
Gwen Ryan, secretary of the Ballyvaughan Bay Hop company, told the Sentinel that the two week trial – using the boat of Liam O’Brien of O’Brien Line – would be an important information provider as to the possibility of putting a regular service in place next year.
“We believe that there has to be potential for the far shorter sea trip across the bay to Galway as compared to the road journey. An added bonus is that up to six bicycles can be carried on the rib for passengers who want to travel on to their place of work in town,” said Gwen Ryan.
A single fare on the rib is €12 with a return ticket costing €20
Read more in today’s Connacht Sentinel.