#Tall Ships – A 21-gun salute to say goodbye to the Tall Ships, which left Dublin's docklands yesterday morning in great winds and sunshine. Footage taken by Sgmn Terry Healy, from an Air Corps helicopter shows the Mexican Ship, Cuauhtemoc, join the other competitors in the Docklands under tow from Dublin's Harbourmaster yesterday and we have more photos of the ships in a parade of sail around Dublin Bay. Over a million people came to see the ships over their four-day visit to Dublin. Another 100,000 people are estimated to have watched today's Parade of Sail from the Dublin Bay shoreline.
As the four-day Tall Ships Races 2012-Dublin festival comes to a close, visitors saw the 40- strong fleet of spectacular Tall Ships sail out of Dublin Port with the sun shining down this morning led by the Naval Service LE Emer in the Parade of Sail. The ships sailed along a course to Dun Laoghaire Harbour and after a 21-gun salute sailed to Howth as hundreds of thousands gathered in both ports along with the city quays for the best views.
More than 1.15 million people visited the festival over the four days despite the weather and a further hundred thousand lined Dublin bay today for the parade of sail. Visitors to the festival toured the magnificent Tall Ships meeting captains and crew; attended live outdoor music events with Ash, Ryan Sheridan and Cathy Davey among others on the Bulmers Live Music Dock; took part in workshops and walking literary tours; enjoyed spectacular watersports; witnessed the action from the adrenaline-fuelled Kings of Concrete who wowed with skateboarding, parkour and beatboxing while enjoying the festival atmosphere along the North and South side of the quays.
Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar, who led the parade of sail today, along with the Lord Mayor of Dublin and Admiral of The Port Naoise O Muirí, on the LE Emer, commented "The festival has been a huge achievement and success and organisers have succeeded all expectations and the festival was orchestrated with Fáilte Ireland, Dublin Port and Dublin City Council along with 1,000 volunteers. The festival has been great for the city and tourism. Hotels and restaurants are reporting they were virtually full since Thursday."
The Tall Ships Races 2012-Dublin Festival Director Mary Weir commented, " The Tall Ships Races 2012-Dublin has been a resounding success for Dublin City and we are delighted we exceeded all expectations. Dublin City Council and Dublin Port along with thousands of workers, the support of our incredible sponsors, our wonderful volunteers and many suppliers have worked hard to bring this festival to the quays. We were delighted to see the docklands full of visitors both young and old enjoying themselves and visiting the magnificent Tall Ships who have been on an incredible journey. We wish them well on their next voyage and hope to see them return to our capital city in the near future."
