Holyhead ferries set to resume after six-week port closure

Holyhead: After a tough six weeks, Holyhead port is finally getting back to business. Starting Thursday, they’ll partially reopen, which is a big relief for many.

This port is super important, linking north Wales to Dublin. It was completely shut down after Storm Darragh caused some serious damage back in December. That closure really messed things up for travelers and local businesses, especially during the busy Christmas season.

Only one of the two damaged berths will be back in action for now. So, Stena Line and Irish Ferries will have to juggle their usual four daily services from just that one berth. It’s a bit of a squeeze, but at least it’s a start.

Local traders have felt the pinch hard. They’ve seen a big drop in customers and sales since the port closed. Jeff Evans, a councillor, mentioned that they’re missing out on all the foot traffic from Ireland.

Claudia Howard, who runs the Boathouse Hotel, shared that she’s lost a ton of bookings—147 to be exact. That’s a huge hit to her business, not to mention the extra costs from storm damage.

She’s hopeful that with the ferries running again, things will pick up. But she’s also worried that if there are more ferries, people might not stick around in Holyhead as much.

Anglesey council’s leader is calling for a hardship fund to help local businesses get back on their feet. The Welsh government is looking into the situation and gathering evidence to see how they can assist.

The Irish government is also on board, seeing the resumption of services as great news for everyone involved. They’re planning to review the impact of the closure, so fingers crossed for a smooth recovery ahead.