Maritime
Irish Ferries chooses 'W.
B. Yeats' as name for New
Cruise Ferry
I
rish Ferries has chosen W. B. Yeats as the name for its new
€144million cruise ferry now being built in Germany for service
on routes between Ireland, UK and France. The name was chosen
after it had drawn ‘strong support’ from the public in an online
competition that attracted nearly 100,000 entries.
According to a spokesman: ‘it was clear from the poll that
there is widespread public affection for W. B. Yeats, due in the
main to the magnificence of his writings and his contribution to
Irish society, theatre and the arts generally’.
Acclaimed as one of the greatest poets of the 20th century
and one of Ireland’s foremost literary figures, W. B. Yeats was born
in Dublin and educated in Ireland and London.
Recipient of a Nobel Prize for Literature, he helped to found Dublin’s
Abbey Theatre. Amongst the poems for which he is most fondly remembered
is ‘The Lake Isle of Innisfree’, a composition inspired by his many holiday visits
to Sligo, where, in a churchyard beneath Ben Bulben, his remains now rest.
The decision by Irish Ferries to name their new vessel W. B. Yeats is one
that continues the tradition adopted by the company of selecting names
drawn from the world of Irish literature.
Commenting, its managing director, Andrew Sheen said: “In choosing W.
B. Yeats from the many whose works are revered by Irish people and students
of literature the world over, we have selected one that will give the new
vessel its own distinct identity and stir memories of a poet who is held in high
esteem by so many, here and abroad”.
In addition to the weight of public support that W. B. Yeats received,
operational factors that influenced its choice included the importance of
picking a name that would have a high degree of public recognition and
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Credits: irishferries.com
appeal in those overseas markets into which the vessel will operate and from
which Ireland draws a significant volume of its tourism and trade.
Ships’ registration, regulation and other operational and legal aspects also
ranked amongst the factors that needed to be considered, as was the desire to
choose a name that would sit comfortably alongside those other great literary
figures whose names adorn other vessels in the Irish Ferries fleet.
Noting that W. B. Yeats is one that will need no introduction to people
across the world, Andrew Sheen said: “It is a name that will convey a sense of
the magnificence and grandeur that passengers can expect when travelling
on our new vessel, sailings of which are expected to commence on the Dublin
– Holyhead and Ireland – France routes from mid-Summer next year”.
When built, the W. B. Yeats will have space for 1,885 passengers and
crew, 1,200 cars and 440 cabins including luxury suites with their own
private balconies. Other facilities will include a Club Class lounge with direct
passenger access from the car decks, á la carte and self-service restaurants,
cinema, shopping mall, choice of bars and lounges and exclusive areas for
freight drivers. Pet owners will also be comforted in knowing that dedicated
facilities for pets are also being provided on board.
Noteworthy in the context is that Sandymount, where Yeats was born, is
located on the city’s southern coastline from where residents can look out
upon the shipping channel into Dublin port along which the vessel that will
bear his name will sail.
The choice of W. B. Yeats as the name for the new vessel has proven to be
a lucky link for Co. Leitrim woman, Lee Maxwell from Manorhamilton. Living
close to Yeats’ beloved Co. Sligo, Lee’s good fortune in being chosen from the
huge number of participants who suggested the poet’s name is said by Irish
Ferries to be proof of what a ‘magical’ choice the name W. B. Yeats is. Picked
from the thousands who shared her choice, Lee’s prize of free travel for life will
be presented to her shortly. irishferries.com