Expert advice on strategic advice and an economic plan for Dun Laoghaire harbour on Dublin Bay is being sought by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown county council writes Lorna Siggins

The search for a guaranteed revenue source for the harbour comes over four years after Stena Line withdrew its ferry service to and from Holyhead in Wales – ending a sea link dating back to 1835.

Independent senator Victor Boyhan, who has welcomed the move to inform a new masterplan, says he believes an international diaspora centre as suggested by the former Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company could be a “catalyst”.

The loss of the ferry link has been a major blow to Dun Laoghaire, where the former harbour company was unsuccessful in initial efforts to provide an alternative sea link provider.

The harbour company focused efforts on developing a cruise ship berth, and a 20 million euro digital hub at the former ferry terminal.

Developer Philip Gannon secured planning permission for the hub, but then withdrew from the scheme when it emerged that the harbour company had not been able to secure a foreshore license.

Last year, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown council took over the running of the harbour, after the harbour company was dissolved, and several other plans including a €5 million urban beach and a €51 million diaspora centre were put on the back burner due to funding shortfalls.

Three months ago, the council withdrew the planning application for a 30 million euro cruise berth facility.

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown council management confirmed that it had secured Government funding under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund to draw up a “spatial and economic action study”.

It said this would make recommendations in relation to “potential economic opportunities for the town of Dún Laoghaire, including the harbour”.

As Afloat reported earlier, a tender seeking consultancy advice has been advertised with a closing date of mid-September.

The tender states that Dún Laoghaire is a” suburban coastal town.... about 12 km south of Dublin city centre and is the county town of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown”.

“The town has a mix of residential, retail and office space and enjoys valuable seafront access at Dún Laoghaire harbour,” it says, stating that the council is now also “seeking expert advice on the development of the harbour for the benefit of its citizens”.

The move has been welcomed by independent senator Victor Boyhan a former Dun Laoghaire Rathdown county councillor and former director of Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company.

He said that a draft harbour masterplan, prepared during his time as director of the harbour company, had identified strengthening the links between the town and the harbour; improving public access to the water; and positioning the harbour as a marine, leisure and tourism centre, he said.

The draft masterplan also sought to re-imagine Carlisle pier as a centre for the international diaspora, and Senator Boyhan said he believed this could serve as” a catalyst” for the “integration of the diaspora in the economic, cultural and tourism development of town and county”.

“Any new plan for the harbour needs to be developed in conjunction with a statutory local area plan for Dun Laoghaire town, and ultimately fully incorporated into the county development plan, Senator Boyhan said.

Development company Bartra Capital has recently secured planning permission for the largest co-living apartment complex in the State on Dun Laoghaire’s Eblana Avenue.

People Before Profit TD for Dún Laoghaire Richard Boyd Barrett has compared the development to a “modern tenement” and said the move was “shocking and disgraceful”.

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is inviting tenders for expert economic and strategic advice for Dun Laoghaire Harbour, which came under its control late last year.

The request for tenders (RFT), which is open until Tuesday 17 September, says the local authority is “seeing expert advice on the development of the harbour for the benefit of its citizens”.

The move comes three months after the authority withdrew controversial plans for a €30 million berth for cruise liners in the harbour, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

A separate RFT also seeks “expert economic, spatial and strategic advice” for Dun Laoghaire’s town centre adjacent to the harbour.

“In recent times, development in the town has been largely focused on increasing residential capacity with a consequential decrease in the amount of small-scale commercial office floor space available for employment uses locally and a reduction in the overall number of jobs located within the town,” the local authority says.

It adds that the Government’s Urban Regeneration and Development Fund “provided an opportunity for Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council through a Category B application to carry out a study of the economic profile of the town, examine the changing nature of office-based development, make recommendations in relation to future potential economic opportunities and identify infrastructure deficits that exist in the town”.

Relevant documents for each RFT are available to download from the official links above (login required).

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council’s decision to withdraw plans for a €30 million berth for cruise liners in Dun Laoghaire “represents a victory for those who want to resist any significant future commercial role for the harbour and for the town”, according to one reader of The Irish Times.

In his letter to the newspaper published last Thursday (30 May), Dónal Denham of Dalkey says the move is “without doubt, a death-knell for this community which is already in serious difficulty”.

And he describes opposition to the proposals — including by the waterfront yacht clubs — as a “Luddite approach”.

Denham cites as a case study Helsinki, which he says takes in a combined €60 million in cruise liner revenue from its two adjacent ports, as an indication that investment in Dun Laoghaire would be quickly recouped — and provide a boon to the locality.

DLRCoCo confirmed to Afloat last month that its cruise berth planning application was withdrawn on 14 May, based on a report which “advised of the significant commercial, technical and environmental risk associated with this project”.

Local residents recently made calls to the council to open up Dun Laoghaire Harbour to more medium-sized cruise ships, in the wake of Dublin Port reducing its number of cruise berthings going forward.

Red Bull’s official media partners have shared some specular footage of the action from this past weekend’s Cliff Diving World Series stop in Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

Crowds numbering some 145,000 were in attendance over Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 May, amounting to the highest ever spectator turnout in the event’s 10-year history.

And they were thrilled by a dazzling performance by reigning women’s champion Rhiannan Iffland as she continued her dominance.

Meanwhile, in the men’s division, Romania’s Constantin Popovici scored victory in only his second event, after placing second in his debut at April’s opening leg in the Philippines.

The first-ever Red Bull Cliff Diving event in the Irish Capital saw divers leap from 27m at Dún Laoghaire Harbour, in front of the highest-ever spectator turnout in the World Series’ 10-year history. The Irish stop saw a new name on the top step of the men’s podium, whilst reigning women’s champion, Rhiannan Iffland continued her winning streak on the Irish shores.

Here is everything you need to know:

Romania’s Constantin Popovici won in only his second event. He had placed second in his debut event at the 2019 season opener in El Nido in the Philippines.

Popovici’s victory ends Gary Hunt’s five-event winning streak. He beat the British seven-time champion by just 1.85 points; one of the closest winning margins in World Series history.

American David Colturi placed third in the men’s competition, over 75 points behind Hunt.

There was a more predictable result in the women’s event, with reigning champion Rhiannan Iffland of Australia claiming the win by a dominant 30-point margin.

Canada’s Lysanne Richard placed second, with Mexico’s Adriana Jimenez a further 30 point back in third.

Constantin Popovici (ROU), winning men’s diver said: “I was hoping for a podium place, and wanted to come first, but I wasn’t sure I was going to get it. Some of the athletes went for easier dives today because of the windy conditions, but I went full on and managed to perform better than everyone. Gary [Hunt] is one of the best divers in the world, so I’m really happy with my result.”

Rhiannan Iffland (AUS), winning women’s diver: “Each competition brings new challenges,” she said. “There are always ups and downs. Today went really well. I was scoring straight nines, which is what we all hope for. I went in cold [with no practice dive] to save my body a bit from the cold water and that really worked for me.”

RESULTS – STOP #2, DUBLIN, IRL

Men

1. Constantin Popovici ROU – 454.95pts

2. Gary Hunt GBR – 453.10
3. David Colturi USA – 374.50
4. Alessandro De Rose (W) ITA – 373.00

5. Blake Aldridge GBR – 365.10

Women

1. Rhiannan Iffland AUS – 341.50pts

2. Lysanne Richard CAN – 310.60
3. Adriana Jimenez MEX – 280.60
4. Iris Schmidbauer (W) GER – 275.60

5. Yana Nestsiarava BLR – 262.90

Only 10 days to go until 24 of the world’s best cliff divers will return to Ireland for the 2nd stop of the 2019 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Dún Laoghaire Harbour on the 12th of May.

Following on from the domination of the reigning champions, Gary Hunt (GBR) and Rhiannan Iffland (AUS) at the opening stop in the Philippines in April, the World Series now travels to Europe for the most northerly stop of the year in Dublin.

Following three events at the near-rectangular natural pool at Inis Mór on the rugged Aran Islands, the World Series will be hosted in Ireland’s capital city for the first time. Located on Carlisle Pier, the divers will have a panoramic view over Dublin Bay from the platforms, with Poolbeg Lighthouse, Howth Head, Dalkey Island and the whole of Dún Laoghaire in the immediate vicinity.

Diving at the iconic Northbank Lighthouse in Dublin Bay this morning to celebrate the return of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series to Ireland Photo Morgan Treacy/INPHO

The 2nd stop of the World Series event will be a FREE family event and tickets will not be required. Anyone and everyone is welcome to come along and enjoy the show! Both the Saturday and Sunday events will kick off at 5 pm. The Sunday event will feature the Irish finals and will be broadcasted live on our RedBull.ie/CliffDiving, Youtube and Facebook from 7 pm.

Whilst Gary Hunt can advance his winning streak of six consecutive victories across various seasons from 2015 with yet another first place in Ireland, Romania’s Constantin Popovici proved he has the potential to rival Hunt from the 27m platform. His impressive armstand dive earned the 30-year-old Olympic diver, who is striving for qualification for Tokyo 2020, the highest score of the day in the Philippines and his first-ever World Series podium behind defending seven-time champion, Gary Hunt. Title hopefuls such as Mexico’s Jonathan Paredes and Steven LoBue from the United States will have to make a move in order to not let the King Kahekili Trophy move out of reach at this early stage of the season.

In the women’s championship, Australian Iffland continues to be the acme of perfection when it comes to acrobatically launching from 21 metres. The 27-year-old secured her 12th victory in 18 competitions during the season opener in Asia and seems to be facing the strongest competition from Belarusian Yana Nestsiarava and Canada’s Lysanne Richard. Contrary to the 2018 runner-up Adriana Jimenez from Mexico, who finished a disappointing 5th place in the Philippines, the duo managed to keep up with the triple champion.

Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series

Since 2009, the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series has provided a platform for aesthetic free-falls and dives of ever growing complexity, spotlighting the sport’s finest athletes as well as the most promising talents and in 2014 it introduced a Women’s World Series. In its 11th season, the sport's best athletes will once again leap, twist and somersault from breath-taking heights with no protection, except their concentration, skill and physical control during seven demanding competitions around the world. Between April and September, this pure extreme sport will hit waters in natural and urban environments as well as remote and iconic venues at oceans and rivers across Asia, Europe and the Middle East to crown two new champions.

2019 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series

April 13 – El Nido, Palawaan, Philippines - NEW

May 12 – Dún Laoghaire Harbour, Co. Dublin, Ireland - NEW

June 02 – Polignano a Mare, Italy

June 22 – São Miguel, Azores, Portugal

July 14 – Beirut, Lebanon - NEW

August 24 – Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

September 14 – Bilbao, Spain

Dun Laoghaire Harbour is set for seven cruise liner calls this summer over the period from May to September. 

The first caller will be the Norwegian Pearl that is scheduled to anchor next Monday off the Harbour Mouth on her maiden voyage to Dun Laoghaire as Afloat previously reported here. The ship has 2,394 passengers and 1,087 crew.

The next liner into Dun Laoghaire will be another to anchor off the Harbour and that is the 292.5m Costa Mediterranea, ten days later on May 15.

Cruise visitors will only miss the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta sailing activity in the harbour by a week when the Star Pride arrives on June 20th but passengers on board the Star Breeze that arrives on September 7th will see the spectacle of the Flying Fifteen World Championships that is being hosted by the National Yacht Club from 2-13th.

The full list is below:

Cruise Calls to Dun Laoghaire Harbour 2019

• Mon  06/05/2019              Norwegian Pearl - (Tender Call)
• Wed 15/05/2019              Costa Mediterianea - (Tender Call)
• Mon 20/05/2019               Ocean Atlantic
• Wed 22/05/2019               Ocean Atlantic
• Thurs 20/06/2019             Star Pride
• Sat 07/09/2019                  Star Breeze
• Sat 21/09/2019                  Star Breeze

There's something for everyone at Dun Laoghaire Harbour this Summer with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council kicking off ten events with both the Irish Drifting Championships and the Red Bull Diving Series this month on the same weekend (May 11 and 12) in the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Campus.

It's followed by the Irish Beer Festival on May 18th located in the former marshalling area of the ferry terminal, referred to below as 'the compound'. 

The boating highlight, however, will be the biennial Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta where 500 boats compete for four days from July 9.

Of course, as well as the events below there also ten cruise liner visits to the harbour in 2019 and these are listed here.

The events scheduled for 2019:

Dun Laoghaire Harbour Events Schedule 2019

• Children’s Easter Funfair – 19th April to 6th May 2019. 31st May – 3rd June 2019
• Paddleboarding - 1st April to 1st Nov 2019 – 3 sessions a week.
• Irish Drifting Championships – 11th & 12th May 2019 (Compound)
• Red Bull World Series – Cliff Diving – 11th & 12th May 2019 (East Pier/Harbour Road/Carlisle)
• Marine Art Exhibitions (East Pier) May 4, 5 & 6 , June 1, 2 & 3 , July 6 & 7, Aug 3, 4 & 5 , Sept 7 & 8
• St Johns Ambulance – Sun 5th May 2019 - East Pier Charity Collection
• Irish Beer Festival (Compound) 18th & 19th May 2019
• MCD Events (Compound) Friday 31st May – 2nd June 2019
• DL Regatta 8th – 14th July 2019
• Irish Guide Dogs & Dublin Ukulele Collection – Band Stand East Pier - Sun 28th July 19.
• Beatyard 3 – 4th August 2019
• DLR Bay 10k – Mon 6th Aug 2019
• Ironman –25th August 2019

#dublinbay - The recent rare call of tanker Thun Gemini to Dun Laoghaire Harbour for maintenance evoked memories of another such ship type to the port that took place 30 years ago this month, writes Jehan Ashmore.

On that occasion the arrival of a tanker to Dun Laoghaire Harbour in late April 1989 was far more notable, given the vessel was in port for a very different reason. So why the call of a UK based tanker operator to Dun Laoghaire as the harbour does not feature an oil terminal?

The clue lies in the name of the tanker, Blackrock and then a brand new ship. The 2,675 dwt oil products tanker along with Brabourne, leadship of a pair were built by Cochrane Shipbuilders of Selby, Yorkshire for London based shipping operator, Bowker & King (both shipyard and operator no longer in business). The Woolwich based shipping company on the banks of the Thames near Greenwich, had a naming system where their short-sea tankers were named after UK coastal locations and villages some inland.

This naming theme however was based specifically to places beginning with the letter 'B'. It was pleasing that B&K acknowledged an Irish placename though Blackrock became the first and only member of the fleet to be named with an Irish geographical connection.

Two days before the ship's big day, Blackrock arrived to anchor off Dun Laoghaire in Dublin Bay, having sailed from Milford Haven. The south Wales port is currently the UK’s top energy port  handling seaborne trade in oil and gas. The Pembrokeshire port is where Thun Gemini returned last week having completed maintenance duties in Dun Laoghaire. In addition crew carried out exercises in launching the tanker's stern-mounted free-fall lifeboat. This echoed memories of Blackrock's three-day visit in the harbour as the ship was equipped with this type of life-boat.

As a newbuild, Blackrock's presence at anchor off Scotsmans Bay was noted with considerable interest and accordingly was recorded in a personal ship movements log. The ship's subsequent call to the harbour, spurned a trip to the port that led to a request to board the tanker which was kindly granted by the crew in advance of the naming ceremony.

The boarding afforded a unique opportunity to talk to the crew who were clearly proud of their new ship. In addition to thread along the pristine red painted oil cargo deck to the bow and look back at the 'Selby' bridge, an in-house design of the shipyard which built a vessel which overall is aesthetically pleasing.

The log entry for Monday, 25th April was the most significant date and most memorable as on that day the naming ceremony took place by the ship's patron, Máire Anne Geoghegan-Quinn. The then Minister of State, christened the ship with the customary bottle of champagne smashed against the bow. The official event was attended by dignatories including B&K's managing director, Mr. Alan Petrie.

Other B&K tankers recalled regularly using Dublin Port included Bardsey. This 1,767 dwt tanker took its name after the Bardsey Island off the Llŷn Peninsula. This finger of land extends 30 miles into the Irish Sea from north-west Wales and south-west of Holyhead off the Isle of Anglesey.

On the day following the christening ceremony, Blackrock departed Dun Laoghaire into Dublin Bay where fittingly sister Brabourne was at anchorage. In addition was anchored Bardsey which soon followed Blackrock which had proceeded southward. 

The National Yacht Club us putting out a call for its Friday night junior sailing series which this year runs for eight weeks from Friday 3 May.

There will be two races each Friday inside Dun Laoghaire Harbour, with first gun at 6pm.

Entry is open to all NYC Junior sailors under 19 years of age on 1 January 2019 and who have passed ISA Improving Skills.

The purpose of Friday night junior racing is to encourage young sailors to improve their race sailing skills — and the club says the event is dependent on all parents volunteering to help out on at least one evening.

“Volunteering is a great way to meet up with old friends, make new ones and learn new skills,” says the NYC’s Sarah Gorman.

“Don’t be put off and think you cant help. We cannot run this event without your help and it is expected that you volunteer if you have a sailor entered into the event.”

Online entry will open soon — see NYC.ie for more details.