Holyhead Port will partially reopen on January 16th after damage caused by Storm Darragh forced the port to close over Christmas.

The ferry company Stena Line has said the Terminal 5 berth will be re-opened, subject to reasonable weather conditions.

All ferry services between Dublin and Holyhead have been cancelled over recent weeks, affecting the transport of goods and the movement of thousands of people travelling between Ireland and the UK over the festive period.

Great start

Junior Transport Minister James Lawless said Stena has pulled out all the stops over Christmas - and if this date for reopening can be achieved, it is a great start.

“My team and my department have been working through the holidays as of course have the ferry companies and all the stakeholders in the haulage industry,” he said.

“Stena Line have confirmed this morning that they hope to have terminal five reopened at Holyhead on the 16th of January.

“That was always the goal, but there were doubts as to whether that timeline could be met.

“But Stena's update as of today is that progress has been made over Christmas.”

Fully operational

The closure of Holyhead Port before Christmas caused flights prices from the UK to Ireland to skyrocket, as well as mass fear over Christmas presents not being received before the big day.

It is estimated that the port will not be fully operational until well into the new year.

Boarding ferry at Holyhead Port, North Wales, UK. Image: Alamy