Posted online: Oct 4th, 2011

Efforts are frantically under way to find a solution to the Foyle Ferry crisis after the service was suspended indefinitely at the weekend.
The last ferry from Magilligan docked at Greencastle on Sunday evening leaving Inishowen without a ferry service for the winter months.
Twelve full-time and six part-time jobs have been lost as a result, however it is hoped the suspension will be only temporary with the ferry returning in January.
Managing director of Lough Foyle Ferry Company, Jim McClenaghan, said: “We’re very, very disappointed.
“It’s very sad for the crew and for our customers who travel on the ferry that it had to come to this stage.”
He added, though, that the service shall return: “Hopefully, sometime early in the New Year the councils (Donegal and Limavady) will be in a position to get it up and running again.”
It is believed Donegal County Council and Limavady Borough Council, who have supported the ferry since it began in 2002, can no longer afford to contribute funds from their own budgets.
However, calls have now been made for governments in Dublin and Belfast to intervene to save the service.
Donegal North East TD, Joe McHugh, revealed he had met with Mr McClenaghan on Friday last and was in “ongoing discussions” with the Minister for Transport and Tourism and with Donegal County Council.
Deputy McHugh said: “Cllr Mickey Doherty and I are in ongoing dialogue with Donegal County Council and Minister Leo Varadkar on the Lough Foyle Ferry funding challenge.
“A number of revenue streams are being explored, and Cllr Doherty and I are working step-by-step with the relevant officials in this process.”
Deputy Charlie McConalogue has asked councillors on both sides of the border to work with their national governments to resolve the issue, while fellow
The Foyle Ferry began operating in 2002 and has ferried over two million passengers. In a notice displayed at in Greencastle and Magilligan as well as on the their website. operators thanked their customers: “The company wishes to thank the very many passengers that have supported the service from commencement on the 14 June 2002.
“The directors of the company sincerely hope that the suspension of the service will be temporary and look forward to re-commencing operations in early 2012.”