The final voyage for the Princess Maud on the Holyhead to Dún Laoghaire route before she sets sail for the Mediterranean.
The TSS Princess Maud was a familiar site on the Holyhead to Dún Laoghaire route for almost 20 years.
The time has come for the Princess Maud to take her final bow on the ferry lines in the Irish sea.
Princess Maud, owned by British Railways' makes its final official run between Ireland and Wales. The steamer is reputed to be the last steamer to leave Dunkirk at the evacuation of the Allied forces in 1941.
The 31 year old vessel was converted from coal to oil burning in 1951. It was originally used on the Larne to Stranraer route and was used as a troopship during World War II.
Dermot Mullane speaks to some of the passengers and crew on board about the ship's retirement on the route between Holyhead and Dún Laoghaire. While some will miss the old boat, others are less sentimental and look forward to travelling the route on a more modern liner.
Whatever the weather, the Princess Maud always got in on time.
Mr Griffiths is the chief steward of the Princess Maud and believes people should be less critical of the ship. However, its critics say that it was a bad ship to travel on in rough seas.
Captain George Daly says that 'The Maud’ like all ships has its own peculiarities and describes the ship as "lively". He believes that the ship will do better on the calmer seas of the Mediterranean. While Captain Daly will miss the ship, he is not sentimental about it and is happy to see progress in the world of shipping.
She’s a very reliable ship, she never breaks down.
The ship has now been purchased by Greek shipping company Lefkosia Compania and is being renamed as 'Venus'. The newly named vessel is setting sail for the Mediterranean and will be readapted as a luxury cruise liner under Captain Gregorios Avdelas and a Greek crew.
This episode of ‘Newsbeat’ was broadcast on 3 September 1965. The reporter is Dermot Mullane.
