Displaying items by tag: Maritime Institute of Ireland (M.I.I.)

3rd November 2010

Table Quiz fundraiser for Maritime Museum

A Table Quiz is to be held at 8.00 pm on Thursday 11 November, at the Kingston Hotel, Dun Laoghaire in aid of the Maritime Museum Development Fund. Join in the fun with quiz master Seamus O'Connor. Entrance fees for teams of four is €10.00 each or €40 per table.

The Maritime Institute of Ireland (M.I.I.) has a maritime museum and library housed in the former Mariners Church, Haigh Terrace, Dun Laoghaire. For several years the premises has been undergoing extensive renovation work. It is hoped to re-open in Easter 2011. For information on the M.I.I. logon to www.mariner.ie

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Lecture: Ferries of Cork

The Maritime Institute of Ireland (M.I.I.) hosts a Winter lecture series. The second lecture of the season is next Thursday (21st October) and is entitled 'Ferries of Cork' by Jack Phelan.

The lecture starts at 8pm and is held in the Stella Maris Seafarers' Club, Beresford Place and is located beside Busaras and faces opposite the rear of the Customs House. The club is also close to the Irish Life Center (ILAC) which is convenient for car-parking and buses, the 'Red' Luas (Busaras stop) and DART at Connolly /Tara St. stations.

All are Welcome, bar and refreshments and a voluntary contribution is appreciated. Further lectures will be held throughout the winter, mostly on the third Thursday of each month and in the Stella Maris. For further information, Maritime Institute of Ireland (M.I.I.) website www.mariner.ie

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About Conor O'Brien, Irish Circumnavigator

In 1923-25, Conor O'Brien became the first amateur skipper to circle the world south of the Great Capes. O'Brien's boat Saoirse was reputedly the first small boat (42-foot, 13 metres long) to sail around the world since Joshua Slocum completed his voyage in the 'Spray' during 1895 to 1898. It is a journey that O' Brien documented in his book Across Three Oceans. O'Brien's voyage began and ended at the Port of Foynes, County Limerick, Ireland, where he lived.

Saoirse, under O'Brien's command and with three crew, was the first yacht to circumnavigate the world by way of the three great capes: Cape Horn, Cape of Good Hope and Cape Leeuwin; and was the first boat flying the Irish tri-colour to enter many of the world's ports and harbours. He ran down his easting in the Roaring Forties and Furious Fifties between the years 1923 to 1925.

Up until O'Brien's circumnavigation, this route was the preserve of square-rigged grain ships taking part in the grain race from Australia to England via Cape Horn (also known as the clipper route).

At a Glance - Conor O'Brien's Circumnavigation

In June 1923, Limerick man Conor O’Brien set off on his yacht, the Saoirse — named after the then newly created Irish Free State — on the two-year voyage from Dun Laoghaire Harbour that was to make him the first Irish amateur to sail around the world.

June 1923 - Saoirse’s arrival in Madeira after her maiden passage out from Dublin Bay

2nd December 1924 - Saoirse crossed the longitude of Cape Horn

June 20th 1925 - O’Brien’s return to Dun Laoghaire Harbour