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13th June 2023

New Fast-Ferry Service to Inishturk off Co. Mayo is Launched

A new fast-ferry service to Inishturk Island off Co. Mayo has been launched.

The new Inishturk passenger ferry service writes Connacht Telegraph, has a journey time of 25 minutes that connects the mainland with the island that is 5km long and 2.5km wide.

At just a quarter of an hour's passage time, this is the fastest ever ferry service to Inishturk, which is now part of the subsidy service.

Running the faster service is the O'Grady family who are natives of Clare Island. Their new boat Whispering Hope operates on the route from Roonagh Pier outside Louisburgh to Inishturk.

The Whispering Hope with a 12 passenger capacity joined the route's well-known ferry the Pirate Queen with 96 passengers.

The Arklow Marine Services built ferry takes 48 minutes to travel the Roonagh Pier-Inishturk route where passengers can take in the views or use of a lounge below deck.

Last Thursday the first passengers boarded the Whispering Hope before setting out into the Atlantic to reach the island that has wall-like cliffs to the northwest.

The O'Grady owned Clare Island Ferry Co. service, likewise of Inishturk, is linked to Roonagh as well to using both a fast-ferry and a second ferry which at times is in cargo-only mode and is capable of carrying vehicles.

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About Conor O'Brien, Irish Circumnavigator

In 1923-25, Conor O'Brien became the first amateur skipper to circle the world south of the Great Capes. O'Brien's boat Saoirse was reputedly the first small boat (42-foot, 13 metres long) to sail around the world since Joshua Slocum completed his voyage in the 'Spray' during 1895 to 1898. It is a journey that O' Brien documented in his book Across Three Oceans. O'Brien's voyage began and ended at the Port of Foynes, County Limerick, Ireland, where he lived.

Saoirse, under O'Brien's command and with three crew, was the first yacht to circumnavigate the world by way of the three great capes: Cape Horn, Cape of Good Hope and Cape Leeuwin; and was the first boat flying the Irish tri-colour to enter many of the world's ports and harbours. He ran down his easting in the Roaring Forties and Furious Fifties between the years 1923 to 1925.

Up until O'Brien's circumnavigation, this route was the preserve of square-rigged grain ships taking part in the grain race from Australia to England via Cape Horn (also known as the clipper route).

At a Glance - Conor O'Brien's Circumnavigation

In June 1923, Limerick man Conor O’Brien set off on his yacht, the Saoirse — named after the then newly created Irish Free State — on the two-year voyage from Dun Laoghaire Harbour that was to make him the first Irish amateur to sail around the world.

June 1923 - Saoirse’s arrival in Madeira after her maiden passage out from Dublin Bay

2nd December 1924 - Saoirse crossed the longitude of Cape Horn

June 20th 1925 - O’Brien’s return to Dun Laoghaire Harbour