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The Swansea-Cork Ferry Service
The first ferry service between Swansea and Cork in the Republic of Ireland was operated by the B&I Line from 1969 to 1979, and featured the company’s new purpose-built ship, the ‘Innisfallen’. Below is an invitation to a reception to be held aboard the new vessel on the 10th April 1969.
 



 



 

Map of the Ferryport and details of the development.
 

The Innisfallen entering the locks prior to her first sailing to Cork in 1969.
 

The  photo above is the Innisfallen,  the first Irish Ferry to run from Swansea. 


 Aerial view of the Innisfallen arriving at Swansea Ferry Terminal in 1969.


Ferry viewed from the freight yard. Fork trucks ready to be loaded.
 

The ‘Stena Germanica’ was chartered for part of B&I’s final season between Swansea and Cork
 due to mechanical problems with the ‘Innisfallen’
 

Swansea Cork Ferries Ltd. 1987-2006
The second company to operate a ferry link between Swansea and Cork was Swansea Cork Ferries Ltd., whose service began in 1987 with the ferry ‘Celtic Pride’. The ‘Celtic Pride’ returned for the 1988 season but was unavailable for charter the following year, so there was no service in 1989. The ‘Ionian Sun’ (formerly B&I’s ‘Leinster’) was chartered for the 1990 season, after which the refitted ‘Celtic Pride’ returned for seasons 1991 and 1992. The Japanese-built ‘Superferry’ was introduced in 1993 and operated through to the end of the service in 2006, other than during the 2001 season when the ‘City of Cork’ was chartered. Below is a selection of photographs of the ships operated by Swansea Cork Ferries Ltd:- 
 

The ‘Celtic Pride’ on her inaugural visit to Swansea in April 1987
 

A stern view of the ‘Celtic Pride’ on the Ferryport berth at Swansea
 

The ‘Celtic Pride’ at Swansea Ferryport
 

A close-up of the bow of the ‘Celtic Pride’ at Swansea
 

An overview of Swansea Ferryport with the ‘Celtic Pride’ alongside
 

Pictured in 1990 leaving Swansea Ferryport is the Strintzis Line ferry ‘Ionian Sun’, on charter to Swansea Cork Ferries. Built as the ‘Leinster’ for B&I Line’s Liverpool-Dublin service, she was later renamed the ‘Inisfallen’, but should not be confused with her sister ship, the original ‘Inisfallen’ which was built for B&I’s Swansea-Cork service which commenced in 1969.
 

M.v. ‘Superferry’ on the Ferryport berth at Swansea
 


The above photos of the interior of m.v. ‘Superferry’ were kindly provided by Peter O’Sullivan
 

The ‘City of Cork’ (a.k.a. ‘Egnatia II’) was chartered by Swansea Cork Ferries Ltd. for the 2001 season
 

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