The
Irish Sea (
Irish Muir Éireann or
Muir Meann,
Scottish Gaelic Muir Eireann or
Muir Mheann,
Manx Mooir Vannin,
Welsh Môr Iwerddon) also known as the
Mann Sea or
Manx Sea, separates the
islands of
Ireland and
Britain. It is connected to the
Atlantic Ocean in the south by
St George's Channel, and in the north by the
North Channel.
Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the
Isle of Man.
The sea is of significant economic importance to regional trade, shipping and transport, fishing and power generation in the form of wind power and nuclear plants. Annual traffic between the two islands amounts to over 12 million passengers and 17 million tonnes of traded goods.
Unlike Britain, Ireland has no tunnel or bridge connection to mainland Europe. Thus the vast majority of heavy goods trade is done by sea. Northern Ireland ports handle 10 million tonnes of goods trade with Britain annually, while ports in the Republic of Ireland handle 7.6 million tonnes, representing 50% and 40% respectively of total trade by weight.
The Port of Liverpool handles 32 million tonnes of cargo and 734 thousand passengers a year.[1] Holyhead port handles most of the passenger traffic from Dublin and Dún Laoghaire ports, as well as 3.3 million tonnes of freight.[2]
