#TallshipsBerthBoyne-This morning five beautiful tallships are arriving at the mouth of the Boyne for the second Irish Maritime Festival held along the town quays of Drogheda this weekend (13,14 and 15 June), writes Jehan Ashmore.
Once all these tallships are assembled alongside the quays, Drogheda can look forward to officially opening the festival where as previously reported, a special cargo of Scottish Whiskey is on board the classic West Country ketch Bessie Ellen. The 100 year-old built in Plymouth had sailed from Islay to include en route call to Peel on the Isle of Man.
The whiskey bottles are from the Bruichladdich Distillery on the Hebridean island, which are to be presented to the Chairman of the Port Company, the Mayor of Drogheda and the Captain of the Bessie Ellen.
The 'cargo' event is to symbolise and re-establish the historical trading links between Drogheda's town quays and Islay. For more than 500 years, the Louth port can trace the industry of distilling and trading links. Working sailing vessels such as Bessie Ellen would of shipped barley and grain to supply Scottish distilleries dotted along the western Isles.
Following the above launch, the celebration of the seafaring three-day maritime feast is to embark with events among them full-scale 'pirate ships' battling on the river, a coastal rowing race, show-stopping water-sports and the Boyne swim.
A Maritime Pavilion plus a host of cultural and family entertainment will accompany the tallships. Among them the 120-foot long grey-hulled Irene which is to berth on the town quays with the railway viaduct presenting a backdrop of an iconic local landmark.
Also throughout the weekend you can visit the Maritime Education, Enterprise and Careers Centre with the Naval Service represented, to learn more about our coast and environment and the interesting maritime careers available.
Very much keeping to the sea, there will be an urban beach offering the chance to create the ultimate sandcastle while expert sand-sculptors will be at hand working on their creations.
