Galway Advertiser 2002/2002_08_01/GA_01082002_E1_012.pdf 

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N e w A r a n ferry c o m p a n y opens Galway
UUEEN OF

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A GROUP of fishermen from InLs Mar have begun operating a ferry service to and from the Aran Islands. Their company, Inis Mor Ferries, runs 40 minute sailings to the islands. The group began operating the service last year following the launch of their new vessel, the 30 meter Queen of Aran II. built in France at a cost of 1.8 million. The Queen of Aran II features t h e latest in seafaring navigational and safety technology and is capable of carrying 2 2 7 passengers. The Inis Mor Ferries offices in Forster St were opened by former mayor of Galway Donal Lyons last month in one of his last official engagements as mayor. Company chairman P a u r i c C o n n e e l y spent much of his life fishing around the c o a s t s of Ireland and France, and venturing up to the great h e r r i n g g r o u n d s of t h e M i n c h e s in S c o t l a n d . Conneely's fishing boat, the Girl Stephanie, is named after his daughter, who also works for Inis M6r Ferries. Thomas Conneely, Pauric's brother, fishes the west coast with occasional forays to the P o r c u p i n e banks in his 70 foot Ocean Harvester. Martin, another of the Conneely brothers, works aboard the Queen of Aran II. T h o m a s F l a h e r t y is a former crew m e m b e r of the ill-fated Andrea Gail -- the boat whose demise i n s p i r e d the film The Perfect Storm with George C l o o n e y at t h e h e l m -- during a 14-year fishing c a r e e r in US c o a s t a l w a t e r s . He n o w r u n s a successful quarry o p e r a t i o n on Inis M o r , w h e r e h i s wife r u n s a thriving bed and breakfast. Tommy Flaherty, another lifelong fisherman, operates mainly off the west coast in his 90 foot vessel, the Westward Isle. His daughter Melissa also works for Inis Mor Ferries. P a d r a i c W h e l a n , the company's general manager, has close family connections to the island and a background in hotel management.

A R A N II
H OPEN

Thomas Conneely, Pauric Conneely, former mayor CUr Donal Lyons, Thomas Flaherty, Tommy Flaherty, and Martin Mullen at the official opening of the Inis Mor Ferries offices in Forster St last month.

Dara Wylie from Rahoon at the Galway Races en Tuesday evening. Photo:- Mike Shaughnessy

Extensions t o Park H o u s e Hotel approved
KERNAN ANDREWS PARK HOUSE Hotel has been granted planning permission by the Galway City Council for an extensm to the hotel which includes 33 extra bedrooms. Eamon Doyle applied for permission for the extension of Park House Hotel, Forster Street, consisting of signage, external works, 11 car spaces at ground floor, and 33 new bedrooms, consisting of 27 new penthouse suites on the fourth floor which is set back from the north east facade. The building is a protected structure. Park College objected o n the grounds that the nature of the development and the noise level would lead to significant interference "with the smooth running o f our classes and supervised study". However the council granted full permission Before the development begins, the applicant must contribute to the council 41,800 towards the cost of providing public car parkins facilities and 19,194 towards the cost providing of public services in the area which will facilitate the development. Details of uV water supply shall be agreed with the planning authonf* in the interests of health and orderly development-

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