W.B. Yeats | A Look Inside | Irish Ferries

By: Steven Tarbox
Date:
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Irish Ferries W. B. YEATS arrives in Dublin at around 13:30 on 14 March 2019. This was her final sailing from Holyhead before switching to the Dublin to Cherbourg route for the Spring/Summer season and had been delayed about 2 hours due to adverse weather (Storm Gareth). Copyright © Robbie Cox.
Irish Ferries' W. B. YEATS arrives in Dublin at around 13:30 on 14 March 2019. This was her final sailing from Holyhead before switching to the Dublin to Cherbourg route for the Spring/Summer season and had been delayed about 2 hours due to adverse weather (Storm Gareth). Copyright © Robbie Cox.

A detailed look at the passenger facilities onboard the Irish Ferries Dublin to Holyhead and Dublin to Cherbourg ferry W.B. YEATS.

This is the ‘Look Inside’ interior feature on W.B. YEATS. For the vessel profile including a summary of the build process, vessel history, technical information, etc please see the W.B. YEATS vessel profile on NI Ferry Site here.

The following photographs were taken onboard while the vessel was in service, apart from images credited to Irish Ferries.  

NI Ferry Site would like to thank Scott Mackey, David Faerder and Gordon Hislip for the use of their images, without which this feature would not have been possible. Our friends over at Ferry Shipping News also have an alternative presentation of W.B YEAT’s interior which can be viewed here.

About W.B. Yeats

W.B. YEATS is an Irish Ferries ferry which was completed in late 2018 and entered service during January 2019.  She is named after the Irish poet William Butler Yeats (1865 – 1939), a name chosen after a public competition. Although she was designed primarily for the Dublin to Cherbourg service, W.B. YEATS has spent the first few months of her operational life on the shorter Dublin to Holyhead route.  From mid-March 2019 she joined the French route, swapping places with the Visentini Ro-Pax EPSILON until the autumn when the ships will swap back over.

The passenger facilities on W.B. YEATS are spread over decks 8 to 11, with the public facilities all housed on deck 10 and 11.  Cabin accommodation is spread out over decks  8, 9, and 10.  There is a copy of the official deck plan further down this page.

Irish Ferries W. B. YEATS arrives in Rosslare for the first time on 19th December 2018 for berthing trials. Copyright © Brian Boyce.
Irish Ferries W. B. YEATS makes an impressive sight as she arrives in Rosslare for the first time on 19th December 2018 for berthing trials. Copyright © Brian Boyce.

This feature is broken up with a separate page for each area to aid navigation and can be navigated either using the menu near the top of the pages or the next/previous links at the bottom of each page. Due to the number of images used in this feature it is recommended to view it either on a computer monitor or tablet.

W.B. Yeats deck plan

Official Irish Ferries deck plan for W. B. YEATS, 2019. © Irish Ferries.
Official Irish Ferries deck plan for W. B. YEATS, 2019. © Irish Ferries.

The full pdf version of this deck plan along with the official descriptions of the facilities can be downloaded from the Irish Ferries website here.

The W.B Yeats trail

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[nextpage title=”Deck 11 – The Maud Gonne Bar & Lounge and Crazy Janes Games Room”]

The Maud Gonne Bar and Lounge is the main bar space on W.B. YEATS, and is located forward on Deck 11 overlooking the bow of the vessel.  It is named after Maud Gonne MacBride (1866–1953), an English born Irish revolutionary, suffragette, and actress raised in France as the daughter of a British Army officer of Irish descent.  Maud Gonne was either the subject of or inspiration for many of William Butler Yeats’ poems.  Yeats proposed to Maud Gonne at least 4 times as well as once to her daughter, Iseult.  Both women turned him down before Yeats married Georgie Hyde-Less with whom he had two children. It is said his heart was always with Maud Gonne however.

The “Maud Gonne” Bar and Lounge onboard W.B. YEATS. Irish Ferries

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Crazy Janes Games Room

Crazy Jane’s is located to the side of “The Maude Gonne” Bar and Lounge on the starboard side of the vessel.

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[nextpage title=”Deck 11 – The Shop”]

“The Shop” is located midships on Deck 11.

“The Shop”, Deck 11, W.B. YEATS. Copyright © Scott Mackey.

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[nextpage title=”Deck 11 – The Drumcliff Promenade Deck”]

Drumcliff (or Drumcliffe) is a village in County Sligo which is the final resting place of William Butler Yeats.  Although Yeats died in France, his remains were brought back to Ireland by the Irish Naval Service and re-interred at Drumcliff in 1948 almost a decade after his death.  He is now buried in the Graveyard of St Columba’s Church of Ireland in the village.

Entrance to “The Maud Gonne” Bar and Lounge and “The Drumcliffe Promenade” on Deck 11 of W.B. YEATS. Copyright © Scott Mackey.

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[nextpage title=”Deck 10 – The Innisfree Club Class Lounge”]

Innisfree is a small uninhabited Island located in Lough Gill, County Sligo.  It is the subject of the 12-line W.B. Yeats poem “The Lake Isle of Innisfree”.  The Interislander ferry KAITAKI was originally named ISLE OF INNISFREE when she was originally constructed for Irish Ferries.

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honey bee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet’s wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart’s core.

The Lake Isle of Innisfree, W.B Yeats (1888)
Official Irish Ferries image of “The Innisfree Club Class Lounge” on W.B. YEATS. Irish Ferries

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[nextpage title=”Deck 10 – The Wild Swans Freight Drivers Lounge and Restaurant”]

“The Wild Swans” is located on the starboard side of decks 10 and 11 and accessed from Deck 10.  The restaurant is located on the lower level with the lounge above.

The Wild Swans takes its name from the lyric poem “The Wild Swans at Coole” which was published in 1917.  It was written when Yeats was staying with Lady Gregory at her home near Coole Park in Galway.

Lobby outside the “Wild Swans” freight drivers lounge and restaurant on Deck 10, W.B. YEATS. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
Lobby outside the “Wild Swans” freight drivers lounge and restaurant on Deck 10, W.B. YEATS. The door to the right leads to the “Innisfree Club Class Lounge”. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
Entrance to “The Wild Swans” freight drivers restaurant on Deck 10 of W.B. YEATS, showing the staircase to the lounge with the restaurant just visible to the left of the picture. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
The “Wild Swans” freight drivers restaurant on Deck 10, W.B. YEATS. Copyright © Gordon Hislip.

[nextpage title=”Deck 10 – Cafe Lafayette”]

Official Irish Ferries image of “Cafe Lafayette” on W.B. YEATS. Irish Ferries

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[nextpage title=”Deck 10 – The Lady Gregory À la carte restaurant”]

Lady Gregory was a friend of W.B. Yeats and his patron.  He wrote “The Wild Swans at Coole” while staying at her home in Galway.

Sign outside the “Lady Gregory” restaurant on Deck 10, W.B. YEATS. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
The Lady Gregory À la carte restaurant on Deck 10 of W.B. YEATS. Copyright © Gordon Hislip.
The “Lady Gregory” À la carte restaurant on Deck 10 of W.B. YEATS. Copyright © Gordon Hislip.
Official Irish Ferries image of “The Lady Gregory” à la carte restaurant on W.B. YEATS. Irish Ferries
Official Irish Ferries image of “The Lady Gregory” à la carte restaurant on W.B. YEATS. Irish Ferries
The 'Lady Gregory' a la carte Restaurant on Irish Ferries W.B. YEATS. Irish Ferries.
The ‘Lady Gregory’ a la carte Restaurant on Irish Ferries W.B. YEATS. Irish Ferries.

[nextpage title=”Deck 10 – Salley Gardens kids area”]

The “Salley Gardens” kids area is located on Deck 10 between “Cafe Lafayette” and “The Abbey and The Peacock”.  “Down by the Salley Gardens” is a well-known poem and folk song written by Yeats which was first published in 1889 as “An Old Song Re-sung” then again in 1895 as “Down by the Salley Gardens”.  Yeats originally named it “An Old Song Re-sung” as he had actually reconstructed it from a song he remembered an old woman signing in Ballysodare, County Sligo.  The song is also known as “The Maids of Mourne Shore” or “The Mourne Shore”.

The “Salley Gardens” kids room onboard W.B. YEATS. Irish Ferries
“Salley Gardens” kids area, Deck 10, W.B.YEATS. Copyright © David Faerder.
“Salley Gardens” kids area, Deck 10, W.B.YEATS. Copyright © David Faerder.

[nextpage title=”Deck 10 – Boylan’s Brasserie and reception area”]

Official Irish Ferries image of the animated William Butler Yeats quote in the reception area on W.B. YEATS. Seen from Boylan's Brasserie. Irish Ferries
Official Irish Ferries image of the animated William Butler Yeats quote in the reception area on W.B. YEATS. Seen from Boylan’s Brasserie. Irish Ferries

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[nextpage title=”Deck 10 – The Hazel Wood Quiet Lounge”]

“The Hazel Wood Quiet Lounge”, Deck 10, W.B. YEATS. Copyright © Scott Mackey.

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[nextpage title=”Deck 10 – The Abbey and The Peacock Cinemas (and Lounge)”]

One of the cinema's onboard Irish Ferries' W.B. YEATS. Copyright © David Faerder.
One of the cinema’s onboard Irish Ferries’ W.B. YEATS. Copyright © David Faerder.

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[nextpage title=”Deck 9 – The Bridge”]

The bridge on W.B. YEATS is located on Deck 9 forward of the cabin accommodation on the deck and below the two public decks on the vessel.

The Bridge onboard Irish Ferries' W.B. YEATS. Copyright © David Faerder.
The Bridge onboard Irish Ferries’ W.B. YEATS. Copyright © David Faerder.
The Bridge onboard Irish Ferries' W.B. YEATS. Copyright © David Faerder.
The Bridge onboard Irish Ferries’ W.B. YEATS. Copyright © David Faerder.

[nextpage title=”Deck 8 – Premium Suites”]

Official Irish Ferries image of the “Thoor Ballylee” premium suite on W.B. YEATS. Irish Ferries

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[nextpage title=”Miscellaneous and car deck”]Some pictures which didn’t fit in the other categories.

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Last Updated 09.03.19 (added official deck plan in place of photos)


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