#tallships – Drogheda hosted its very first Maritime Festival at the weekend. The Tall ships arrived on the 3rd of May and sailed on the 6th of May with over 30,000 people having visited the port and ships over the period and the event was hailed as a tremendous success.
The ships were welcomed by His Excellency Turkish Ambassador Mr Necip Egüz as well as the Mayor of Drogheda Mr Paul Bell.
In the welcoming ceremony each of the visiting captains was presented with a copy of 'Portraits', which is a historical collection of films about 19 European seaports including Drogheda Port by the CEO of Drogheda Port Mr Paul Fleming.
Each of the Captains in return presented the Mayor of the town with a symbolic cargo, representing the main trades in Drogheda Port during the Sail Era. Captain Rob Salvidge of the Irene of Bridgewater presented a ball of Yarn, which was manufactured and exported for many years from Drogheda. Cpt Chris Rose of the Prolific presented Barley, an export which was grown in the fields locally. Captain Chris Wren of the Soteria presented Flour another popular export. Captain Topsy Toner of the Ruth presented some fine Bordeaux wine and lastly Captain Rodger Barton of the Johanna Lucretia presented a typical french import from this Era, Soap.
The Prolific had on board 16 local trainees from schools in Drogheda which had receive bursaries organised by the Port and Sail Training Ireland in conjunction with a number of local companies. The trainees had participated in a 6 day voyage from Liverpool to Drogheda.
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