President Catherine Connolly has been invited to mark the official launch of the new youth development yacht, Spirit of Shackleton, in Dún Laoghaire harbour this Friday (May 15).
The event at Dún Laoghaire Harbour plaza is hosted by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and the Atlantic Shackleton Global Foundation.
“This extraordinary new youth development yacht is designed to inspire the next generation of adventurers,” they state.
The ceremony, accompanied by the Irish Army Band, will “mark the launch of a pioneering 70-foot clipper race yacht reimagined as a floating classroom for the next generation of ocean leaders”, they state.
Named in honour of legendary explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, Spirit of Shackleton represents” far more than a voyage”, and is “a platform for education, blue technology innovation and real-world scientific discovery at sea”, they say.
President Connolly will be accompanied by Cllr Jim Gildea, Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council at the family-friendly public event from 4pm on Friday at Dún Laoghaire Harbour Plaza.
As Afloat reported earlier, Spirit of Shackleton will compete in June's Round Ireland Race introducing a fresh angle on sail training.
