Displaying items by tag: Dalkey Lobster Festival

14th August 2013

I Love Dalkey’s Lobster, Crab & All That Jazz Festival

#LobsterFestival – Dalkey's Lobster Festival (23,24 and 25 August) is for the second time, to welcome visitors to experience and enjoy the crab and all that Jazz!, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The south Dublin Bay coastal town, once the principle port for Dublin during medieval times, is to be a fusion of local seafood and a gathering of the best of current global jazz musicians, plus fun free events for all the family.

Among the musicians will be Sharon Shannon who performs on the opening day of the festival (23 August). For details on how to win a pair of tickets, check out the festival's facebook page below.

Local resident, Pat Kenny will be presenting 'Celebrity Ready Steady Cook' in aid of LauraLynn, Ireland's First Children's Hospice. There will also be seafood cookery demonstrations, market-stalls, street-buskers as well as a Boat Ballet!

Not forgetting!... the King of Dalkey... long live the King! who is making a comeback.

For non subjects!... let it be known, His majesty's title is: "King of Dalkey, Emperor of the Muglins, Prince of the Holy Island of Magee, Baron of Bulloch, Seigneur of Sandycove, Defender of the Faith and Respector of All Others, Elector of Lambay and Ireland's Eye, and Sovereign of the Most Illustrious Order of the lobster and the periwinkle.

Amazingly, there's also a chance to win an Aston Martin V8 Vantage!... kindly donated by Fastway Couriers. The terrific prize is in aid of badly needed funds for a new orthopaedic unit in Crumlin Children's Hospital. For further details, also visit the festival's facebook below and www.thankyoucrumlin.com/

As the slogan say's, come along for the lobster, crab and all that jazz. For information visit the Dalkey Lobster Festival's facebook page and for more about the Heritage town of Dalkey visit.www.ilovedalkey.com

Published in Coastal Notes

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Ireland & La Solitaire du Figaro

The Solitaire du Figaro, was originally called the course de l’Aurore until 1980, was created in 1970 by Jean-Louis Guillemard and Jean-Michel Barrault.

Half a decade later, the race has created some of France's top offshore sailors, and it celebrated its 50th anniversary with a new boat equipped with foils and almost 50 skippers Including novices, aficionados and six former winners.

The solo multi-stage offshore sailing race is one of the most cherished races in French sailing and one that has had Irish interest stretching back over 20 years due to the number of Irish stopovers, usually the only foreign leg of the French race.

What Irish ports have hosted The Solitaire du Figaro?

The race has previously called to Ireland to the following ports; Dingle, Kinsale, Crosshaven, Howth and Dun Laoghaire.

What Irish sailors have raced The Solitaire du Figaro?

So far there have been seven Irish skippers to participate in La Solitaire du Figaro.

In 1997, County Kerry's Damian Foxall first tackled the Figaro from Ireland. His win in the Rookie division in DHL gave him the budget to compete again the following year with Barlo Plastics where he won the final leg of the race from Gijon to Concarneau. That same year a second Irish sailor Marcus Hutchinson sailing Bergamotte completed the course in 26th place and third Rookie.

In 2000, Hutchinson of Howth Yacht Club completed the course again with IMPACT, again finishing in the twenties.

In 2006, Paul O’Riain became the third Irish skipper to complete the course.

In 2013, Royal Cork's David Kenefick raised the bar by becoming a top rookie sailor in the race.

In 2018, for the first time, Ireland had two Irish boats in the offshore race thanks to Tom Dolan and Joan Mulloy who joined the rookie ranks and kept the Irish tricolour flying high in France. Mulloy became the first Irish female to take on the race.

Tom Dolan in Smurfit Kappa competed for his third year in 2020 after a 25th place finish in 2019. Dolan sailed a remarkably consistent series in 2020 and took fifth overall, the best finish by a non-French skipper since 1997 when Switzerland’s Dominique Wavre finished runner up. Dolan wins the VIVI Trophy.

Dolan finished 10th on the first stage, 11th on the second and seventh into Saint Nazaire at the end of the third stage. Stage four was abandoned due to lack of wind.

Also in 2020, Dun Laoghaire’s Kenneth Rumball became the eleventh Irish sailor to sail the Figaro.

At A Glance – Figaro Race

It starts in June or July from a French port.
The race is split into four stages varying from year to year, from the length of the French coast and making up a total of around 1,500 to 2,000 nautical miles (1,700 to 2,300 mi; 2,800 to 3,700 km) on average.
Over the years the race has lasted between 10 and 13 days at sea.
The competitor is alone in the boat, participation is mixed.
Since 1990, all boats are of one design.