Welsh-Irish links key to helping keep countries’ businesses afloat (From Western Telegraph)

Welsh-Irish links key to helping keep countries’ businesses afloat

2:57pm Wednesday 13th June 2007 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

Better links between Pembrokeshire and Ireland will help keep businesses buoyant on both sides of the water, according to local managers.

Business leaders from south-east Ireland and Pembrokeshire enjoyed a mini-cruise and sushi supper aboard the Stena Lynx fast ferry last week.

The Lynx travelled as far as Arklow on a Business After Hours cruise, hosted by Stena for Wexford Chamber of Commerce.

Among the Pembrokeshire businesspeople at the event were senior management from Bluestone, including founder and chief executive William McNamara.

He said: "Ireland and Pembrokeshire are less than two hours apart, and it's essential that we really make the most of the business potential such closeness presents.

"At Bluestone, we're hoping to work closely with Stena and other partners to stimulate tourism business between the two regions, but stronger links between Pembrokeshire businesses and their Irish counterparts can't be anything but beneficial to us all."

Vic Goodwin, route director for Rosslare to Fishguard, believes that the return of the Stena Express service will be good news for tourism.

"We have seen an increasing number of people taking short-breaks and even day-trips to Britain each year. These fast crossing times mean that travel to Britain from Ireland is both easier and faster for Irish holidaymakers."

The ferry has now resumed summer sailings between between Fishguard and Rosslare.