Holyhead Port to partially reopen next week

One of Holyhead Port’s damaged piers is to reopen to ferry traffic from next Thursday, it has been confirmed.

Ferry services at the port have been suspended after strong winds during Storm Darragh caused damage at the start of December.

Port owner Stena Line said the opening would provide access for both Stena Line and Irish Ferries ships which operate on the route between Holyhead and Dublin, meaning normal capacity will be available.

Taoiseach Simon Harris spoke with the First Minister of Wales, Eluned Morgan, on Friday about the ongoing impact of the closure of the port.

Both leaders welcomed the confirmation of a partial reopening of the port on January 16th.

In a statement, Mr Harris said the partial reopening was "good news for the freight industry and for passengers" on one of the most important routes.

"The First Minister and I acknowledged the intensive engagement between ministers, port and ferry operators and by industry on both sides over recent weeks to develop contingency arrangements to facilitate the movement of people and freight between Ireland and Great Britain following the widescale disruption caused by Storm Darragh.

"We discussed the importance in the longer term of continuing to work together to ensure resilience of sea connectivity between Wales and Ireland.

"I welcomed the establishment by the Welsh Government of a task force to ensure that the Port of Holyhead meets the future needs of both Ireland and Wales, and the confirmation by the First Minister that she would ensure the representation of Irish interests on that task force."