It's been two years since the River Foyle in Ireland's northwest hosted one of the country's biggest nautical celebrations. Traditionally held in July, the Derry festival was brought forward a month to coincide perfectly with the start of the school holidays, heralding the official start of summer.
Despite a weekend of sunshine and showers, the crowds turned out in their thousands to sample the delights of the event. After a damp start on Thursday, the sun decided to make an appearance on Friday bringing the fair-weather visitors with it in their droves to enjoy the packed programme of water taster sessions, boat tours, live music, LegenDerry Food, animation and entertainment over the four days until Sunday.
The festival is delivered by Derry City and Strabane District Council with support from Tourism N. Ireland and Ulster University and the event space was transformed this year to create a more accessible user-friendly experience for visitors.
The crowds turned out in their thousands to sample the delights of the Foyle Maritime Festival
Among the new highlights was the fabulous Carnival of Colours, which took place over the lower stretch of the quayside, bringing a vibrant array of high energy performance and street entertainment to the festival.
For the first time the Foyle Maritime Festival hosted the Get Up Street Art Festival – an edgy urban celebration of graffiti culture.
The Foyle Maritime Festival catered for all ages, from paddle boards and kayaks on the Pontoon to water sport taster sessions and a vintage funfair. There were six stunning Tall Ships berthed at the Quayside and visitors formed long queues to go aboard to find out more about their fascinating history and trips on the high seas.
In past years, the Festival has also included a stopover for the Clipper Yachts in the Round the World Race, but their absence this year hardly dented the electric atmosphere.
Saturday evening's Beyond Blue Showcase event drew the crowds to the quayside for a thrilling evening of illuminations, choral performance, synchronised lighting display and fireworks. A Parade of Sail brought some magic to the river as dusk set in and a flotilla of tall ships bedecked in lighting and pyrotechnic effects sparkled and shimmered in the darkness.
Saturday evening's Beyond Blue Showcase event at the Foyle Maritime Festival drew the crowds to the quayside for a thrilling evening of illuminations, choral performance, synchronised lighting display and fireworks
