Aran islanders have established their own ferry service for the first time on the State's busiest inshore sea route.
Five fishermen living and working on the Galway islands have invested £1.5 million in the new vessel, which can carry more than 200 passengers. The Queen of Aran II was constructed in France and is already being called "the islanders' own", because its schedule will be geared to wards the residents' commuter needs, rather than those of tourists alone.
It will, for instance, be much more suitable for secondary school students travelling to and from Galway.
The new ferry will compete with a number of vessels run by Galway and Clare companies on the Rossaveal and Doolin routes to the islands, and the air link provided by Aer Arann, but it won't be receiving State subsidies.
"We are doing it with the banks," Mr Tommy Flaherty, owner of the Westward Isle fishing vessel explained. "It is not so bad when there are five of us."
He and his four colleagues, Padraic Conneely, Thomas Conneely, Tom Flaherty and Mairtin Mullins, have appointed Locky O'Kelly to manage their new company, Inis Mor Ferries. "We'll be busy fishing," Mr Flaherty explained.
The first sailing was at the end of last week. There will be four return crossings daily, starting from Inis Mor at 8.30 a.m. and with last sailing out from Rossaveal at 7 p.m. It is planned to open offices this week in Galway city and in Rossaveal, and brochures will be available from the local tourist offices.
