Drogheda Port Company in partnership with Louth County Council have announced the opening of Fiddle Case Pier, Drogheda’s first official berth for visiting yachts.
Designed to help promote and facilitate maritime tourism in Drogheda, Fiddle Case Pier will be able to facilitate visiting yachts and other small leisure craft and offer a safe overnight berth in the very heart of the town.
Fiddle Case Pier was officially opened on Saturday 10th June by world renowned fiddle player Steve Wickham. The historic name dates back to the 1850’s when the original Fiddle Case Pier was constructed on the north side of the river by Patrick Donor, port engineer, of Donors Green fame.
The new pier presents a fantastic beginning in terms of promoting maritime leisure in the town and has been designed to allow for the further expansion of a marina pontoon. It can currently cater for up to 8 boats and will be regulated by the port company.
Mary T Daly, of Louth County Council welcomed the joint venture project with the port Company and stated ‘it is very fitting to officially open the pier during the maritime festival, now in its fifth year. The new berth will be a draw to bring marine craft to the area and utilise the wonderful Boyne River as a gateway to the town and region.
Paul Fleming, of Drogheda Port Company, at the opening of the pier said ‘It was great and very fitting to have Steve Wickham here today at the opening of the Fiddle Case Pier. The pier is the first of its kind in Drogheda to specifically facilitate leisure craft and open a new maritime access to the entire Boyne Valley, but it is not the first Fiddle Case Pier on the Boyne. The original Fiddle Case Pier was constructed in the 1850’s. We are not sure on the origin of the name, most likely the name may have originated from the shape of the original pier or the engineer may have been a musician but no record remains except for the name.’
