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.

#dublinbay- A unusual caller to Dun Laoghaire Harbour is a Faroese Islands flagged research survey vessel that is docked in the port due to berth capacity restrictions in neighbouring Dublin Port, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The 55m RSV Franklin which is listed on the Faroese International Ship Register, had arrived to the harbour just over a week ago having berthed alongside Carlisle Pier. There are currently 92 vessels owned on the islands which are a self-governing archipelago that form part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

This is not the first time ships in Dublin Port have been forced to use a berth in Dun Laoghaire Harbour as most recently, the Dutch flagged dredger Freeway as Afloat reported made a request late last year to enter the port and avail of a berth. 

It was ironic that the trailing suction dredger which was carrying out works on behalf of Dublin Port had to spend a lay-over period in Dun Laoghaire Harbour. On that occasion during late December and into the New Year, the 92m vessel had also occupied Carlisle Pier due to the limited capacity available in the capital port.

As also previously reported on Afloat, last month Dublin Port announced that due to rising freight volumes and the need to create space due to Brexit, prioritisation of freight over tourism is to take place. The decision by Dublin Port to curtail cruiseships in using its facilities from 2021 has raised concerns among the wider Irish tourism industry.

In addition the proposed cruise-berth for Dun Laoghaire unveiled almost four years ago, is among a trio of multi-million euro projects that have been thrown into question by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council which cited both lack of funds and viability.

The south Dublin Bay harbour was under the control of Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company until a transfer took place last year to the local authority.

Since Stena Line withdrew the HSS fastferry service to Holyhead, Wales in 2014, the port has no major anchor tennant. It was 25 years ago that the operator chartered in another Faroese-flagged vessel Smyril Line's ferry Norröna (built 1973) which was a highly unusual move, given historically other ferries would of been pooled from Stena's extensive fleet. 

The only vessels currently calling to the harbour on a year-round basis is the fleet of the Naval Service and ILV Granuaile, the aids to navigation tender belonging to Irish Lights which has its headquarters located on the harbour waterfront. 

As for the 1,178 tonne RSV Franklin which is expected to depart the harbour by the end of this week.

A public meeting on the future on Dun Laoghaire Harbour will take place at the Dun Laoghaire Club on Eblana Avenue from 8pm on Thursday 28 February.

‘The People’s Harbour’ was also the topic of a recent meeting between Dun Laoghiare-Rathdown councillors from Sinn Féin, Labour, People Before Profit and local independent Michael Merrigan.

The latter tabled a question at the 21 January meeting of the Dun Laoghaire Area Committee regarding contingency planning in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

“Residents have been contacting me with their concerns that in the event of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council being requested by the Government to make Dun Laoghaire Harbour available for ferry services, that we could have a return to big lorries coming through the town,” Cllr Merrigan commented earlier this month.

Dún Laoghaire - "The People's Harbour" - Public Meeting on the Future of the Harbour - Thursday 28th February 2019 at 20.00hrs, Dún Laoghaire Club, 3, Eblana Avenue, Dún Laoghaire. The Harbour was transferred to @dlrcc on 3 Oct. 2018. @DLRTourism @DublinGazette #PeoplesHarbour pic.twitter.com/d9VQo2h5dy

— Michael Merrigan ???? (@VoteMerrigan) February 12, 2019

Dun Laoghaire will get a new 'boat engine showroom' if planning permission is granted at a West Pier site in the Harbour.

According to a planning application received by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, applicant Pod Marine Ltd is seeking planning permission and retention permission for the development of a site at West Pier Road, Dun Laoghaire at an area known locally as 'The Gut'.

The application seeks permission for the proposed construction of a single story building (c 345sqm) for a boat engine showroom, storage and workshop at ground level and office space at mezzanine level.

According to its website, POD Marine was "established in response to the growing demand for a specialised and professional boat engine maintenance service in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, Ireland’s largest marina. POD Marine has Volvo Penta’s seal of approval as Dublin’s only authorised Volvo Penta Service Dealer for Marine Leisure & Commercial Products".

More on the planning application on this link here

Speculation that a ferry service could return to Dun Laoghaire has reached fever pitch with the news that a British company has put in a bid to operate from the St Michael’s Pier terminal.

According to The Times, the Liverpool & North Wales Steamship Company, which was restarted two years ago, envisages running regular passenger cruises in the Irish Sea and will be “ready to sail” from next summer.

The ferry company’s chief executive Steve Payne plans to present his pitch to Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council — the authority that now controls the harbour — by the end of this year, laying out plans for services that could employ 240 people.

Payne revealed to Afloat.ie that as well as the cruise bid involving its 650-passenger vessel, it also wants to operate a regular ferry service serving its home base of Liverpool and also Llandudno in North Wales.

The company’s flagship heritage pleasure steamer TSMV Endeavour is presently in refit in Liverpool.

However, one of the investors involved in the recently scrapped Harbour Innovation Campus proposal says he intends to push on with a tech hub scheme for the former ferry terminal.

Ian Lucey currently faces a High Court action from Harbour Innovation Campus developer Philip Gannon in a case that’s understood to be separate from Gannon’s decision to pull out of the Dun Laoghaire venture last month.

Note: This piece has been corrected to remove a previous statement that Philip Gannon and Ian Lucey were business partners. The shareholder agreement clearly states that no partnership was created. We are happy to make this clarification.

#CruiseLiners - Among the cruise callers Dun Laoghaire Harbour in season 2019 is to welcome will be Norwegian Pearl and not as previously stated a sister, writes Jehan Ashmore

The sister Norwegian Jewel is the leadship of the 'Jewel' class quartet from where Norwegian Pearl became the third when completed in 2006 by Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany. The near 100,000 gross tonnes cruiseship operated by Norwegian Cruise Line is scheduled to call twice next year to Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

On the occasion of Norwegian Pearl's maiden call in June, this is to take place with an anchorage call offshore. The debut of the 2,300 capacity cruiseship (virtual tour) which will be the biggest caller during next season will also be a boost to the local economy.

A second opportunity for the business community and tourist interests alike is to arise as the 294m (965ft) cruiseship is to make a reappearance the following month.

To see a list including the remaining scheduled cruise calls in 2019 click here.