Operating times for Magilligan ferry announced

The ferry service will resume tomorrow, for St. Patrick’s weekend, and a week-end service will be available for the remaining duration of March, followed by a regular daily service, subject to weather conditions.

The service will run, from the period April 1 to September 30 as follows – sailing on the hour from Greencastle to Magilligan from 9.00am to 7.00 pm, with the return journey operating from Magilligan to Greencastle from 9.15am to 7.15 pm.

In the months of July and August, the ferry will be sailing on the hour from Greencastle to Magilligan from 9.00am to 8.00 pm and returning from Magilligan to Greencastle from 9.15am to 8.15pm. In September the ferry will be sailing on the hour from Greencastle to Magilligan from 9.00am to7.00 pm and sailing on the hour from Magilligan to Greencastle from 9.15am to 7.15 pm.

A continuous shuttle may operate at peak times during the above months at the discretion of the operator.

Speaking to the Sentinel, proprietor of the service Jim McLenaghan spoke of the difficulties in keeping the service operational without government support. He said: “We are getting no support, so the boat is going for sale. It is up for sale now.”

The cross-border ferry service was abandoned in September 2011 after joint funding from Donegal County Council and Limavady Borough Council was withdrawn.

However, Limavady Borough Council has now agreed to set aside €10,000 (£8,300) to match the contribution from Donegal.

The £16,600 will be used as a deficit fund in case of a loss of profit for operators, Jim McLenaghan of Foyle Ferry Company Ltd has said.