Holyhead to Dublin route gets third Irish Ferries ship

The chartered ferry ship will travel between Holyhead and Dublin twice a day

A ferry company is to launch a third ship to increase services between Anglesey and the Republic of Ireland.

Irish Ferries currently operates eight sailings a day between Holyhead and Dublin on its ferry the Ulysses and high speed craft Jonathan Swift.

The 500-passenger Epsilon is now being chartered to provide two additional departures per day each way.

Anglesey council said it hoped it would lead to local employment and other benefits.

'Vote of confidence'

The company said its investment will target the growing freight and tourism markets.

"Irish Ferries' decision to invest in additional capacity at this time is a major vote of confidence in the recovery of the country's economy," said the company's marketing director Tony Kelly.

"We believe that Ireland has turned the corner and we are prepared to invest in the provision of improved services for our valued freight and tourism customers who have shown fantastic loyalty throughout the last five difficult years."

Aled Morris Jones, Anglesey councillor responsible for economic development, said he hoped it would lead to local employment and other benefits.

"The Irish Ferries announcement also highlights the importance of the strategic transport hub currently being developed at Parc Cybi by the private sector," he added.