Irish Ferries

Onboard Services

The fleet of Irish Ferries is a combination of conventional and fast-ferries, all offering a comprehensive range of onboard services.

Holyhead to Dublin

You can travel onboard the world's largest car ferry, the Ulysses (named after the book by the famous author James Joyce), the enormous car decks of which can accommodate 1342 cars or 240 articulated trucks and up to 2000 passengers and crew. During a sailing time of 3 hours 15 min. you can enjoy the restaurant, café and pub, an entertainment centre, cinema, shopping arcade and a choice of comfortable cabins.

Alternatively you can cross on the Dublin Swift, a fast ferry boasting a wide choice of facilities, including bars, café and restaurant, entertainment stage, a gaming area, TV Lounge and a gift shop. The service operates all year round with up to two sailings per day. The average sailing time is 1 hours 49 min.

Rosslare to Pembroke

Onboard the Isle of Inishmore (named after the island Inishmore off the west coast of Ireland) there is a wide range of facilities including a restaurant, bar, café, children's play area, a shop and a choice of cabins. The service operates throughout the year with two sailings per day and takes 3 hours 45 min.

Rosslare to Cherbourg/Roscoff

The Oscar Wilde is the most luxurious ship to ever sail between Rosslare and France, bringing a new level of comfort to the overnight voyage. Onboard you will find 5-star to 2-star cabins, reservable seats, 3 restaurants, a café, a shop, cinema, hair and beauty salon, lounges and a piano bar.

Irish Ferries History

The company was founded in 1973 as a joint venture between Irish Shipping, Fearnley & Eger and Swedish company Lion Ferry A/B. Originally it was Irish Continental Line. It first operated ferries between Rosslare and Le Havre (France) with the ferry St. Patrick. When Irish Shipping went into liquidation in 1984 ICL was sold off in a management buyout and took on its current name Irish Ferries.

In 1992, Irish Ferries took over the British and Irish Steampacket Company Limited, a nationalised company which traded under the name B & I Line and operated ferry services between Dublin and Holyhead as well as Liverpool and Dublin.

Over the last number of years, Irish Ferries has invested over 450 million Euros in new fleet and port facilities. Irish ferries now have the most modern fleet in Europe including the Oscar Wilde (launched in 2008), Ulysses the world's largest car ferry and their Dublin Swift fast ferry.