The long-awaited link between Clare and Kerry came to pass on the  29th of May 1969 with the official opening of the new ferry service. The opening ceremony was performed by the President

Dr. Patrick J. Hillery and the blessing of the ferry was performed by the late Bishop of Killaloe, Dr. Michael Harty.  The Ferry Boat, the m.v. Shannon Heather was designed and built specially for the service. It was built in the south of England by M/S Phillips and Co. of Dartmouth. The Shannon Heather had capacity for 30 cars and had a speed of 9 knots so as to ensure a round trip each hour.  With the steady expansion of the service, a second and larger vessel the M.V. Shannon Willow was built on the river Clyde  in 1978. The Shannon Willow carried 44 cars.  As more and more people travelled  by ferry, the Shannon Dolphin was introduced into the service. On Saturday 17th of July  2000 -the latest ferry boat the Shannon Breeze was launched. It has greater capacity than the earlier Ferry boats.  There was further development of the terminal in 2001, when a new pier was built. The ferryboats are berthed at night in Killimer.   It is now thirty-three years since the Killimer Tarbert Ferry went into operation. During the height of the tourist season, two ferryboats are in operation, thereby giving a much quicker and more efficient Service to the public.