Storm Darragh prompts creation of Irish Sea Taskforce
A cross-governmental taskforce set up in the aftermath of Storm Darragh in December 2024 held its inaugural meeting on Thursday.
Irish and Welsh representatives gathered in Anglesey for the first meeting of the Irish Sea Resilience Taskforce as part of efforts to strengthen vital sea connections between the nations.
Holyhead, a key port linking Wales and Ireland, was closed after one of its ferry berths suffered damage during the storm on the evening of 6 December 2024.
Part of the structure of the terminal collapsed during Storm Darragh, which brought winds of more than 125 km/h to Irish Sea ports.
The closure caused significant disruption to freight and passenger transport between Wales and Ireland, impacting businesses and travellers.
Sailings resumed on January 16, 2025, after repairs to the damaged Terminal 3 berth were completed.
The taskforce’s core membership includes representatives from the Welsh, Irish, UK, Scottish and Northern Ireland governments, local authorities, port operators, ferry companies, and logistics industry representatives, and will call upon experts for input into specific themes.
Minister of State for Transport, Seán Canney said, “I was delighted to join Transport Secretary Ken Skates and Economy Secretary Rebecca Evans in person today to underline the Irish Government’s commitment to building resilience in sea connections and port facilities on both sides of the Irish Sea. This taskforce represents a meaningful opportunity to bring together stakeholders from across the spectrum to learn from recent events and plan effectively for the future.”
The taskforce will conclude its work in October 2025.
