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New hope for €1.86m conversion of disused CIÉ ferry into floating hostel/brewery

It’s hoped the former Aran Islands ferry can be restored to her former glory and docked in Galway as a floating hostel/restaurant/micro-brewery.

Artist’s impression of the finished refurbishment [Irish Ship & Barge Fabrication Company]

PLANS FOR A large-scale restoration of former CIÉ ferry the Naomh Éanna remain on track, for the moment at least. The investment group hoping to turn the heritage ship into a tourist attraction docked in Galway Harbour is being allowed on board to carry out a detailed survey next week.

Built in the Liffey Dock in 1956 and once used to carry passengers and supplies between Galway and the Aran Islands, the ferry has been berthed in Dublin’s Grand Canal Dock since the late 1980s — where she has since fallen into disrepair.

Waterways Ireland, which manages the dock, had been planning to scrap the vessel; safety concerns were raised in a hull inspection, and the ship couldn’t be moved from the waterway under her own power.

Businessman Sam Field Corbett, whose company also restored Dublin landmark the Cill Áirne (‘The Boat’), has been scrambling to put together a business plan since Heritage Minister Jimmy Deenihan announced a temporary stay-of-execution for the ship earlier this year.

His team met with the Minister last month, and sufficient funds to dry-dock the vessel and determine her true condition were raised through a ‘Save Our Ship’ social media campaign.

The Naomh Éanna, pictured recently [Naomh Éanna Trust]

It’s planned experts will pump the water out of the ‘Graving Dock’ where the ship is moored in the coming days, so surveyors can access the hull of the vessel.

“Should the frames and keel be wasted to the extent that they need replacing then the vessel would be deemed uneconomic to restore — unless supported by the state as is common in most developed countries,” Field Corbett said.

If the former ferry is deemed salvageable, Field Corbett’s team hope to negotiate her transfer to a holding company to work on arranging private finance to restore and refit the ship in Dublin, in line with a business plan presented to the Minister last month.

Gaelgoirí wait for the Naomh Éanna on Inis Óirr in the 1970s [John Carlos]

Following repairs, it’s hoped she’ll be able to sail to be sailed to Galway under her own steam for the work to be completed.

The proposed €1.86 million revamp would include an 82 bed hostel, a 46 seat restaurant, a museum, a micro-brewery and a café.

It’s planned 45 people would be employed aboard the new business. Galway Port Company have already offered a berth for the heritage vessel.

[Note: More photos of the Naomh Éanna can be viewed in photographer John Carlos's new book 'Ireland's Western Islands']

Photos: This man’s been documenting life on Ireland’s Wild Western Islands for over 50 years… 

Read: Scramble to save heritage ship after Minister grants stay-of-execution

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22 Comments
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    Mute Aoife McMahon
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    May 1st 2014, 7:09 AM

    I like the idea, it’s different. Hope all goes well with the inspections, sounds like a great idea for a tourist attraction

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    Mute scaldbag
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    May 1st 2014, 7:47 AM

    Just what this country needs…..a floating vomitorium .

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    Mute Gerard Mooney
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    May 1st 2014, 9:34 AM

    Floating hostel / brewery? That will go down well.

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    Mute Graham Cowley
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    May 1st 2014, 7:34 AM

    There is a massive chunk of its timeline missing in this article, from 1998 to 2013 there was three businesses based onboard, and none of the save the ship group cares then when she could have been restored or updated. Having worked on board during that time I’ll be interested to see how the hell they will squeeze all of that on the boat as it wasn’t that spacious, shame it wasn’t all done years ago

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    Mute John Dunne
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    May 1st 2014, 7:42 AM

    Worked on this in the 80′s through FAS scheme in Ringsend. Rember jumping from the ship into the Basin on particularly hot days. Would be a shame if it where scrapped.

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    Mute Massimo Osti
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    May 1st 2014, 6:56 AM

    A floating hostel? Lovely.

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    Mute liam lally
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    May 1st 2014, 7:44 AM

    My Grand Uncle,Captain Mescall, was the captain of the Naom Eanna ,circa 1940/50,

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    Mute Julia Mundt
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    May 1st 2014, 8:37 AM

    Hi Liam. This ship was only build in 1956… Don’t where your great uncle worked as a captain unless this lady is the NAOHM EANNA II. Please see if you can find old pictures for our campaign….

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    Mute liam lally
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    May 1st 2014, 9:16 AM

    My dates were wrong,My Grand Uncle, Captain Mescall was the Captain on the Naom Eanna in the 50s,it would appear he was the first Captain.

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    Mute liam lally
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    May 1st 2014, 9:18 AM

    My dates were wrong,I am sure it can be confirmed that he was the first Captain

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    Mute Anthony Quinn
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    May 1st 2014, 7:25 AM

    Me likey..its got potential..think it should stay in dublin though

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    Mute Eamonn Maloney
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    May 1st 2014, 7:52 AM

    Why? Most people associate it with Galway Bay & Aran Islands.

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    Mute John Dunne
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    May 1st 2014, 8:10 AM

    In fairness in been in Grand Canal Basin for as long as it served the Arann Islands if not longer.

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    Mute Eamonn Maloney
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    May 1st 2014, 1:11 PM

    Almost John but not quite.People remember her for her trips between Galway and the Aran Islands not for being left to rust in Grand Canal Dock.

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    Mute John Dunne
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    May 1st 2014, 1:17 PM

    No objection to her being berthed in Galway at all. Would probably get more use in Galway
    as the hostel/bar/restaurant.

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    Mute johngahan
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    May 1st 2014, 7:49 AM

    You’d think a well known businessman would sponsor this sort of thing to get the public used to the idea of his getting to purchase our transport system when it is privatised.

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    Mute John Moylan
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    May 1st 2014, 1:32 PM

    if Sam Field (?) Corbett can rescue it, let him. But with his own money. However, not with public money. Remember the financial black hole that is, was, the Jeanie Johnston ? No thanks to a re-run of that saga !!

    When I see the phrase “Should the frames and keel be wasted to the extent that they need replacing then the vessel would be deemed uneconomic to restore — unless supported by the state as is common in most developed countries,” Field Corbett said ” I see someone spotting a potential State-backed gravy train.

    Thanks, but, er, no thanks.

    It’s either economic to do (with your own money), or it isn’t.

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    Mute Paul Murphy
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    May 1st 2014, 8:05 AM

    Preserving ships is only part of the issue. They need to be maintained after preservation and thats not cheap. If not managed properly they become hazardous and yhe state dosen’t need to take on a nice idea that will cost the taxpayer in the long term. If she is viable so be it , sell her. If not bite the bullet and cut her up

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    Mute Julia Mundt
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    May 1st 2014, 8:34 AM

    Hi Paul. It’s like maintaining your house or your vintage car. You either like or you dont. You can be very sure that we never neglect the ship again. It’s our job to keep ships and barges up and running like a baker bakes bread and a mechanic repairs cars. The campaign never asked for any funds coming out of the tax payers pockets.

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    Mute Paul Roche
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    May 1st 2014, 11:53 AM

    It’s ugly, rotting and should be scrapped. Looking for State funds to invest in a sinking ship is like another bank bailout…

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    Mute ed w
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    May 1st 2014, 10:11 AM

    Floating brewery. what could possibly go wrong

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    Mute The Polar Bear
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    May 1st 2014, 9:00 AM

    Has the ownersgip dispute been resolved?

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