STENA Line is no longer continuing its service between Dun Laoghaire and Holyhead, the company has announced.
Falling numbers have been blamed for the withdrawal of the service – which carried 1.7 million passengers in 1998 compared with less than 200,000 last year.
Despite removing the Dub Laoghaire to Holyhead service, the ferry company will continue to invest in its route to Dublin, which is still proving popular.
Ian Davies, Stena Line’s Route Manager for Irish Sea South, said: “With two services operating approximately 10 miles apart we needed to make a decision in relation to what operation best serves the needs of our customers now and in the years ahead, and that operation is Dublin Port.”
Dublin Port has grown in popularity, and has been the favoured route for British sailors with Stena Line since as far back in 2008, which added to the decision.
The removal of the route has been gradual. Since 2008, the daily crossings were cut from two to one and last year, there was no Christmas service at all – prompting rumours about the route’s future.
The voyage from Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire ran daily during the summer months and took about two hours with no delays.
Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company has said will seek another liner to provide service on the route.
