Artifacts recovered from the wreck of Asgard II some 20 miles off the French coast last week were welcomed home in Ireland last night by campaigners who wants to see the national sail training programme reinstated.
Dive leader Eoin McGarry from Waterford said he had brought the ships wheel, a compass and the ships bell back for the Irish nation. "Coiste an Asgard will probably get them but I hope that in time they will be given to the National Maritime Museum." he said.
McGarry and his team also took extensive photographic stills and video footage of the wreck.
Since Asgard II sank in September 2008 the national sail training programme has been shelved.
Our photos over the fold show (left) Sail training campaigner Captain Gerry Burns and Eoin McGarry with the Asgard artifacts in Waterford.
Raise the Asgard - Afloat's 2008 online petition