#TallShips – A flotilla of Tallships are to descend along Dublin's North Wall Quay as part of the first ever Dublin Port River Festival, writes Jehan Ashmore.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the capitals newest premier 'riverfest' was officially launched today to mark the three-day festival this June Bank Holiday Weekend (Saturday 1 June to Monday 3 June).

Sail Training Ireland and the Dublin Port Compnay has promoted sailing for all ages to those on board the flotilla which is a combination of A & B class traditional tallships.

The Dublin bound flotilla departed Belfast this week, having attended the Titanic Maritime Festival and they are due to arrive this Friday 31 May (in advance) of the long-weekend riverfest. The hope is to make this initiative an annual sail-training programme to Dublin Port.

According to the festival website, the tallships will be open to the public are Soteria, Gulden Leeuw, Pelican of London, Johanna Lucretia and Irene. The latter pair recently took part in the 'Sail Home to Your Roots' project which culminated with an arrival at the Poolbeg YBC & Marina.

Joining in the festival fun are the Howth 17's which will race 'Between the Bridges' on the Liffey. Also not to be missed is the 'Parade of Sail' again on the river, where up to 60 traditional Old Gaffers sailing craft which will be celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the Old Gaffers Association.

The festival is not exclusively all matters maritime but also jammed packed for family entertainment with shore-side stalls, events and activities. For full details of the festival programme visit: www.dublinriverfest.com

#RiverFestival – The new Dublin Port River Festival as previously reported on Afloat.ie is approaching ever closer when it is to take place over the June Bank Holiday (1-4 June).

The event is part of an active summer season of tall ships gatherings and particularly a journey of a lifetime awaits those on board five Tall Ships which are to sail from Belfast to Dublin for the inaugural festival on the River Liffey.

To those who got bitten by The Tall Ships bug last summer when The Tall Ships Races culminated in Dublin, here's some good news. Once you are over 16, and equipped with a sense of adventure, you can sign up for the 4 day voyage on one of these Tall Ships from Belfast to Dublin.

These splendid vessels will take part in the New Dublin Port River Festival along with Currachs and 'Old Gaffers', with races happening on the river Liffey and in Dublin Bay – again all of which are to take place over the June bank holiday.

Speaking this week of her voyage from Liverpool to Drogheda on the Johanna Leucretia, Mel Gibney said 'This whole thing has been a brilliant experience, Highly recommended.'

As previously reported, last weekend Drogheda hosted The Fringe Festival and Maritime Festival which incorporated 16 local youth joining 'The Prolific' Tall Ship crew in a voyage from Liverpool to Drogheda.

Speaking as the ships sailed up the River Boyne, Minister Fergus O'Dowd TD commented 'These Sail Training Voyages can prove hugely important in personal development and in ones' personal sense of achievement - We're thrilled to hear the great stories from the 16 locals, who participated in this voyage.

Sail Training can be a truly life changing experience, so don't miss your opportunity to participate this summer. The five ships will leave Belfast on the 28 May and arrive in Dublin Port on 1 June.

There are berths still available on board the ships during this voyage for anyone that would like to experience life at sea on a traditional Tall Ship.

Age group from 16-99 years are accepted and 'No experience needed!...

If you cannot make these dates Ocean Youth Trust Scotland and The European Organisation 'Youth in Action' are also running sail training voyages in July and August around Ireland – So log on to www.sailtrainingireland.com for further information.

 

#Currachs&Tallships – Three events are scheduled to take by place in Dublin Bay over the June Bank Holiday, writes Jehan Ashmore

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, Coliemore Harbour in Dalkey is where a pair of racing currachs for the Begnet's Boat Project are to be launched on Saturday (1 June) and rowed if not raced! across the sound to Dalkey Island.

The currachs are to be constructed locally with the support of the community which is to foster and strengthen creative, spiritual and maritime links between the town (the former medieval port for Dublin) and Dalkey Island.

In addition the community are invited to take part in accompanying projects, one in which includes a 'St. Begnet's Cookbook' which features seafaring recipes by Elaine Flood which are to be put to good use in feeding the boat-building team during the month-long currach construction.

Currently there is a fundraiser campaign with a reward scheme, noting a countdown of only three days remain before closing date. To learn more about this project and to help in funding, click HERE.

The Old Gaffers Association (OGA) which as previously reported on Afloat.ie are to celebrate their Golden Jubilee, where also on Saturday (1 June) larger craft are to participate for the RMS Leinster Trophy from Dun Laoghaire Harbour and surrounding islands and buoys to Poolbeg Y & BC Ringsend.

On Sunday (2 June), the Howth 17's are also to join in the action on the Liffey with a 'race between the bridges' having set off from Poolbeg, where most of the Dublin OGA branch members are based.

On the following Monday, (3 June) is the race for the new OGA Asgard Trophy. The trophy is made from a variety of spare timbers saved by John Kearon, conservator of Erskine Childers' Asgard.

All being well, the gathering of the OGA's one design class of classically gaff-rigged boats should present a glorious sight in Dublin Bay, with fellow Old gaffers fleets joining in from the Isle of Man, Scotland and England as part of the Golden Jubilee's clockwise cruise circuit of the UK.

The third event is the arrival of six tallships from Belfast which are to descend in the capital port on Friday (31 May). They will remain in port over the four-day long inaugural Dublin Port River Festival, an initiative of Sail Training Ireland.

This can only add to a sea of masts, albeit not like last year's Tall Ships Festival, yet however is still something to look forward... during those early days of June.