Since their first pint appeared in 1759, the Guinness family's vast brewing enterprise will have made enough of the black stuff to float many of the world's ships, including their own fascinating collection of classic boats of all types and sizes.
These have included a comfortable flying boat cruiser which, as previously recounted on Afloat.ie by W M Nixon, was known to land on Dublin Bay for lunch at the Royal St George Yacht Club before continuing to Lough Corrib to visit family at Ashford Castle.
The aircraft, named Solent, was converted for Guinness family use and provided an extraordinary way to travel between southern England, Dublin Bay and the west of Ireland.
Dr Eddie Bourke has made a study of this extraordinary collection of vessels, including the Guinness “bring us back a parrot” Liffey barges, and will tell their story for the Dublin Bay Old Gaffers Association at Poolbeg Yacht & Boat Club on Thursday, 19 November, at 8pm.
Dr Bourke, a maritime historian who has previously addressed the Old Gaffers on shipwrecks around the Irish coast, is also the author of a history of Guinness.
Admission is free, but a meaningful silent donation to the lifeboats' yellow welly collection is expected. The association has a longstanding record of supporting the RNLI through its gatherings.
