Our Story

About Irish Ferries — Connecting Ireland to the World

Since 1965, Irish Ferries has proudly served millions of passengers, delivering safe, comfortable, and memorable ferry travel experiences across the Irish Sea and beyond.

Irish Ferries vessel sailing on the Irish Sea

Passengers enjoying comfortable ferry travel with Irish Ferries

60+ Years

Our Story

Born on the Water, Built on Trust

Irish Ferries was founded in 1965 with a single vision: to make travel between Ireland and Great Britain, as well as continental Europe, accessible, reliable and enjoyable for everyone. What began as a modest fleet of two vessels operating from Howth, Dublin, has grown into one of Ireland's most recognised and trusted travel brands.

Over six decades, we have welcomed aboard millions of passengers — families heading on holiday, students exploring new horizons, businesses connecting across borders, and solo adventurers charting their own course. Each journey we operate is guided by the same core belief: that the voyage itself is part of the experience, not just a means to an end.

Today, irishferries operates modern, purpose-built vessels fitted with all the comforts of a contemporary hotel at sea — from premium cabin accommodation and award-winning dining to cinemas, children's play areas, and panoramic ocean-view lounges.

"The sea is not a barrier — it is a bridge." This has been our founding philosophy since the very first crossing, and it remains the spirit that drives every decision we make at Irish Ferries today.

60+ Years of Service

4M+ Passengers Annually

12 Routes Served

98% On-Time Departures

What Drives Us

Our Mission & Core Values

Every decision at Irish Ferries is rooted in a clear mission and a set of values that have guided us for over six decades of travel excellence.

Our Mission

To connect people, places and cultures through safe, comfortable and environmentally responsible ferry travel — making every crossing a memorable part of the journey.

Our Vision

To be Europe's most trusted and innovative passenger ferry operator, setting the standard for on-board comfort, sustainable operations and customer care in Irish sea travel.

Our Promise

We pledge transparency in pricing, punctuality in our schedules, and genuine warmth in our service — so every passenger travels with confidence and arrives with a smile.

What We Stand For

The Values Behind Every Voyage

Our values are not just words on a wall — they are the standards our crew lives by every single day, from the bridge to the boarding gate.

Safety First, Always Passenger safety is non-negotiable. We operate to the highest maritime safety standards and regularly exceed regulatory requirements.
Environmental Responsibility We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint through fleet modernisation, shore power technology and sustainable fuel programmes.
Exceptional Passenger Experience From seamless check-in to on-board dining, we obsess over the details that make travel feel effortless and enjoyable.
Community & Inclusion We celebrate the diversity of our passengers and crew, and actively support the communities on both sides of the Irish Sea.
Continuous Innovation We invest in new technology, vessel design and digital services to keep our travel experience ahead of passenger expectations.

Irish Ferries crew delivering exceptional passenger service on board

Our Journey

A History of Irish Ferries

Six decades of milestones, from our very first crossing to becoming a modern leader in European passenger ferry travel.

1965

Founded in Howth, Dublin

Irish Ferries was established with two vessels, launching its first service between Dublin and Holyhead, Wales, carrying passengers and vehicles across the Irish Sea.

1972

Expansion to Rosslare Route

We launched our second major route connecting Rosslare Europort to Pembroke, opening up new travel options for passengers in the south of Ireland.

1981

First Drive-On/Drive-Off Vessel

We introduced Ireland's first purpose-built ro-ro passenger and freight ferry, revolutionising the ease and speed of vehicle transport across the Irish Sea.

1995

Continental Europe Routes Launch

Irish Ferries expanded to France, opening the Rosslare to Cherbourg and Roscoff routes, connecting Ireland directly to continental Europe for the first time.

2001

MV Ulysses — World's Largest Car Ferry

The MV Ulysses joined the fleet, holding the record as the world's largest car ferry at the time, capable of carrying 1,342 passengers and 1,342 vehicles.

2011

Online Booking Revolution

We launched our fully integrated digital booking platform, allowing passengers to plan, customise and book their entire ferry journey online — the first Irish ferry operator to do so.

2018

Green Seas Sustainability Programme

Irish Ferries launched its landmark Green Seas initiative, investing in LNG-capable engines, hull optimisation technology and on-board waste reduction systems.

2025

Next Generation Fleet Arrives

Our newest vessel, the MV Éire Spirit, enters service — featuring hybrid propulsion, panoramic ocean lounges, and Ireland's first fully accessible cabin suite at sea.

The People Behind the Journey

Meet Our Leadership Team

Behind every smooth crossing and every satisfied passenger is a dedicated team of maritime professionals committed to excellence at sea.

Chief Executive

Seán O'Brien

With over 28 years in maritime operations, Seán has steered Irish Ferries through its most ambitious era of fleet expansion and digital transformation.

Chief Operations Officer

Aoife Brennan

Aoife oversees fleet scheduling, port operations and passenger services across all 12 routes, ensuring every departure runs safely and on time.

Head of Sustainability

Ciarán Murphy

Ciarán leads our Green Seas programme, driving the initiatives that will see Irish Ferries achieve net-zero emissions across our fleet by 2040.

Head of Customer Experience

Niamh Gallagher

Niamh champions every passenger touchpoint, from digital booking flows to on-board hospitality, ensuring irishferries delivers an outstanding travel experience.

Ready to experience the Irish Ferries difference for yourself?

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