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Displaying items by tag: World War Two

Stories that abound in the West of Ireland concerning German U- boats refuelling and resupplying, or having pints in local pubs during World War Two appear to be "fanciful myths" the second annual Irish Maritime History Conference has been told writes Tom Mac Sweeney.  The conference is being held this weekend at UCC. Delivering a paper on German espionage initiated by sea, Sam Moore from Sligo IT said there, in reality, been only three successful U-boat landings of German agents, two in Kerry and one in Sligo and only one agent had been even partially successful in his mission.

The conference heard from Jean Prendergast, wo has been researching Cork and the Great War that 70 Cork sailors were decorated for bravery during WW1.

Irish Maritime History Conference

Also at the conference today, tributes have been paid to Dun Laoghaire's long-time maritime figure and campaigner Dr.John de Courcy Ireland at the national maritime history conference in Cork.

Dr. John Mulqueen from Trinity College said he had spent a lifetime highlighting the potential of the sea as a natural resource.

Published in Historic Boats

About the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is undoubtedly one of the greatest ocean adventures on the planet, also regarded as one of its toughest endurance challenges. Taking almost a year to complete, it consists of eleven teams competing against each other on the world’s largest matched fleet of 70-foot ocean racing yachts.

The Clipper Race was established in 1996 by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo, non-stop, around the world in 1968-69. His aim was to allow anyone, regardless of previous sailing experience, the chance to embrace the thrill of ocean racing; it is the only event of its kind for amateur sailors. Around 40 per cent of crew are novices and have never sailed before starting a comprehensive training programme ahead of their adventure.

This unique challenge brings together everyone from chief executives to train drivers, nurses and firefighters, farmers, airline pilots and students, from age 18 upwards, to take on Mother Nature’s toughest and most remote conditions. There is no upper age limit, the oldest competitor to date is 76.

Now in its twelfth edition, the Clipper 2019-20 Race started from London, UK, on 02 September 2019.