Council moves to close ticket offices of rival ferry companies

A local authority has moved to shut down two ferry ticketing operations run by rival ferry companies at Doolin harbour in north Clare.

In the latest twist in the saga surrounding the ongoing tensions between Doolin Ferries Ltd and Aran Islands Fast Ferries Ltd, Clare County Council has issued Enforcement Notices to both parties ordering them to cease operating alleged illegal ticket offices at Doolin.

The council claims both offices are operating without planning permission and has given both parties until August 20th to comply with the notice.

If they do not remove the unauthorised structures by that date, both parties will face legal proceedings and substantial fines. The two companies reached a Circuit Court settlement last month in a bid to defuse tensions at the pier side. They agreed there would be no hustling of customers on their way to either ticket office, and that there would be no verbal abuse or threatening words or behaviour.

Yesterday both sides said they would be contesting the council's Enforcement Notices.