1973 Irish Continental Line re-open the French Service

While waiting for a new ferry that was ordered by I.C.L.,the company chartered a freight ship called the Grey Master this ship carried containers to and from the port of Rosslare Harbour to france. The containers were also loaded onto flat railwagons by crane on the pier and taken by train to parts of the country. The freight ship made three trips a week at the start of the year.

1973 Irish Continental line new ferry arrived at Rosslare

I.C.L., new car ro-ro ferry called the Saint Patrick arrived to the port of Rosslare Harbour under Captain Ivan Sheil. The St. Patrick was launched at Bremerhaven on January 18, 1973. The late Con O`Brien (RIP) who was port manager at that time, was at the ceremonies.

June 2, 1973 Le Havre ferry service open

The Rosslare to Le Havre ferry service was open with three round trips a week throughout the year, the ship used was the St. Patrick, The St. Patrick was 5,285 tons.

1978 second ferry bought by I.C.L

I.C.L second ro-ro car ferry ship to arrive to the port of Rosslare Harbour was the Saint Killian, she was the 7,118 tons Stena Scandanavica. The St. Killian arrived at Rosslare Harbour Port in April 1978 under Captain Jim O`Leary. This ferry sailed on the new Rosslare-Cherbourg route.

1982 St. Killian lengthened by 32.5 metres

The Saint Killian was lengthened by 32.5 metres in an Amsterdam ship yard, and at 10,265 tons the ship became the largest ro-ro car ferry ever used on an Irish route. and the ship was renamed the Saint Killian II.

1982 I.C.L

I.C.L purchased the Aurella and renamed the 7,984-ton ship the Saint Patrick II. The old St. Patrick left Rosslare Harbour and took up service on the Belfast Liverpool route. 1997 23.000-ton Isle of Inisfree came to Rosslare Port this ferry replaced the Isle of Inishmore (Leinster)