Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company

Michael Hanahoe steps down

The Harbour Company was formally established in March 1997 under the Harbours Act of 1996 and Michael Hanahoe became its first Chief Executive later that year. Michael was recruited from pharmaceutical company Warner Lambert based at Pottery Road, Dun Laoghaire and is a Dun Laoghaire native, educated at the Presentation Brothers school in Glasthule.

Reflecting on his 11 year tenure at the head of the Company, Michael takes pride in the creation of a profitable State company which balances its commercial responsibilities with its mandate to maintain the historic Harbour. He says: "While some people were sceptical at the time, the Company's decision to build a new marina in the Harbour has made a major contribution to the town and its surroundings as well as positioning Dun Laoghaire as a premier yachting and boating centre with an international reputation."

Michael was also pleased in 2004 to reach an agreement with Stena Line that commits the ferry

company to the Harbour until 2011, continuing a ferry link with Wales that has existed since 1826. Revenue from commercial activities has been used to fund restoration and repair work at the Harbour and Michael is happy that both levels of the East Pier have been resurfaced in recent years as well as having the Victoria Fountain restored as a millennium project. One regret, however, is that the planned development of the Carlisle Pier fell victim to the economic downturn.

Looking back, Michael says: "I was very fortunate to work with so many outstanding people in the Company and on its Board. I owe them all a great debt of gratitude. I also hugely enjoyed working with the diverse range of stakeholders in the Harbour."

Reflecting on the future, Michael says with tongue in cheek that he hopes to use his retirement "to do as little as possible for as long as possible!"

South Rock Lightfloat

The South Rock Lightfloat was permanently withdrawn from station and replaced by a superbuoy on February 25th 2009. The South Rock Lightfloat was the last lightfloat in service and is now moored at No 4 Berth alongside the Carlisle Pier.

A lightship was first established at the South Rock (off the County Down coast) on the 1st April 1877, replacing the lighthouse which had been established in 1797. The lightship was automated and redesignated as a lightfloat, and the crew was withdrawn on 31 March 1982. More information about the South Rock Lighthouse is at: www.cil.ie/sh615x4036.html

The ship, named Gannet, is the last of three automated lightships (officially called lightfloats because they are automated) which were rotated between two lightfloat stations at South Rock and Coningbeg (off the south County Wexford coast). The third was a spare awaiting or undergoing refit. The other two vessels,

In the 1960s the Commissioners of Irish Lights had a fleet of 15 lightvessels. Each had to be drydocked, refitted and overhauled every two years so they were rotated between stations as refitting took place. The Gannet is now for sale. Further details are available at: www.cil.ie

Dun Laoghaire Tourism Award

The Dun Laoghaire Tourist Office, based in the Ferry Terminal building received an Optimus award for service excellence from Fáilte Ireland at the end of 2008. Service excellence is part of the Optimus programme developed by Fáilte Ireland and is a national quality standard and business improvement tool for the irish tourism industry which specifically measures customer service. The Dun Laoghaire office was audited by the Centre for Competitiveness and the assessment focused on customer service. The award-winning Dun Laoghaire office is staffed by Danaë Maguire, Isobel Somers, Jean Monahan and Carmel Shelley.