Ambitious Bid to get Swansea-Cork ferry up and running again

seamus789

The tourism Industry across the South-West could potentially get a welcome boost in 2009 and for the next 5 years. There is an ambitious plan afoot to get the Cork Swansea Ferry up and running again. Over 70% of the funding is in place and West Cork Tourism have launched an innovative cooperative style approach to fill the gap. Under the scheme, people involved in the tourism industry in the Southwest are being asked to contribute €10,000 towards the purchase of the ship. The returns to the industry would be huge (and far greater than the investment) and if the project is successful, they'll get their money back after the 5 years.

Will be interesting to see how it goes!

adrianglass

Hi All

It's worth pointing out that the Co-op investment scheme welcomes businesses, individuals, or groups of people who wish to purchase the €10k shares (sports clubs, villages, local groups etc)

The scheme has been put together in response to the many people who have asked if they can help to restore this vital service by their own investment...
and we have never been closer to getting the ferry back!

There's an operator lined up, there's a choice of modern ships at reasonable prices, and there's a ready supply of freight companies and passengers who want to use the service...

Please visit www.bringbacktheswanseacorkferry.com for all the latest info!

Thanks
Adrian - Campaign Co-organiser

seamus789

The co-op set up to get the Cork Swansea Ferry back up and running has already raised €2m from local people and businesses according to the Irish Times this morning with just €1m left to raise has secured 90% of the total €10million required to purchase the ship and relaunch the service.

Over 300 people attended a meeting in Skibbereen on Tuesday night at which over 200 pledges of €10,000 each were secured.

If successful, the initiative will translate to hundreds of jobs for the region and will have the potential to unleash a €250 million dividend over the next five years.

The momentum since launching the initiative less than a week ago is a ray of light in these troubled times and testament to the power of people taking the destiny of their community in their own hands.

adrianglass

There's been a great response to our Investment Pledge scheme - and you may have read in the press that we've now been pledged nearly €2.5m euro - which leaves us only €0.5m to find.

Catch is - we _must_ have it within the next week. The Finnish Bank who currently own the ship we want have extended our deadline for us - but, if we can't secure the additional investment the ship will go to auction and will probably sell for more than we can afford.

To make it easier for people to invest (and we're talking investment here - not donation) - we've set up a new Online Pledge page at

http://www.bringbacktheswanseacorkferry.com/html/pledgepage.html

where you can pledge from €1,000 to €10k euro.

Your investment is guaranteed by the value of the ship - and investors will benefit from discounted fares....

Now really is crunch time - if you want there to be a direct, comfortable link between Swansea and Cork (starting in April), now is the time to join in.

If you are a member of a team, club etc - why not organise your own syndicate to pledge a combined €10k ?

Thanks
Adrian - Campaign Co-ordinator

berireland

What amazing work is being done in the southwest!!

I hear there will be announcement soon.

Lets all travel "the Innisfallen Way"

http://www.bringbacktheswanseacorkferry.com

adrianglass

berireland wrote: »

What amazing work is being done in the southwest!!

I hear there will be announcement soon.

Lets all travel "the Innisfallen Way"

http://www.bringbacktheswanseacorkferry.com

Hi
Yes - expect an announcement this coming week...

..there's still time to support the campaign - sign our e-petition and pledge your investment!

Thanks
Adrian - Campaign co-organiser