Irish holidaymakers flock to France on the ferry this summer

Ferry operator Brittany Ferries has reported a "significant increase" in bookings for its ferry routes to France this summer, as Irish holidaymakers seek out the sun and soccer fans seek to support their team at Euro 2016.

According to the ferry operator, which starts its new season on April 2nd, early bookings are up by 19 per cent on the same period last year, driven in part by both Ireland, and Northern Ireland’s, participation in the Euro 2016 championships, which will take place in France in June.

Brittany Ferries has weekly sailings from Cork to Roscoff and last year 84,000 passengers travelled on the route; and the traffic isn’t all one way, as more than half of all passengers last year, at 55 per cent, were French.

"We have experienced strong passenger growth over the last few years and, based on the significant increase in early bookings, it looks set to continue in 2016," said Hugh Bruton of Brittany Ferries.