A former Mayor of Wexford and Labour Party candidate in next May’s local authority election has described an email received on Christmas Eve from Irish Ferries to promote their new craft WB Yeats as ‘tactless’.
The email wished Mr Ryan and his family well and looked forward to welcoming him on board their new vessel WB Yeats in 2019.

Former Mayor of Wexford, Joe Ryan, is not impressed by Irish Ferries email.

But Mr Ryan is angry at Irish Ferries who indicated last week that “they are unlikely to sail between Rosslare and France and future sailings will depart from Dublin ending a service established in the early 1970’s and bringing longer sailing times to the route.”
To add insult to injury, Irish Ferries brought their brand new €147m ship into Rosslare Europort last Wednesday morning and commenced an intensive advertising service for the new service the following day.
Mr Ryan is wondering how many other people in Co. Wexford had received a similar email during Christmas.
“While the eventual delivery of the WB Yeats may have been exciting for management at Irish Ferries, they seem oblivious to the fact that there remains great concern in Co Wexford at the effective downgrading by Irish Ferries of Rosslare Europort and concern that the amount of money ring fenced by Minister Shane Ross for the harbour is inadequate when it comes to competing with Dublin or Cork,” said Mr Ryan, who added: “The promotional email is grossly insensitive to those of us in Co Wexford who in the past supported the company.”
Mr Ryan also said; “However, if Irish Ferries are genuine in their interest in me continuing to use their services they should re-consider their decision to concentrate their European services in Dublin. I have always used Rosslare Europort and will continue to support our local port when I go to either Britain or France. I have responded to the email by telling Irish Ferries that I won’t be in a position to use the vessel since it doesn’t sail from Rosslare.”
Mr Ryan is hopeful that “in 2019 Irish Ferries will change their mind about services from Rosslare and re-open the route to France.”
Mr Ryan who is a science teacher at Wexford CBS was first elected to Wexford Borough Council in 2004 and served a term as Mayor of Wexford in 2010-2011, however, he lost his seat after the town councils were abolished and replaced by the new municipal districts in 2014.