#tallshipsireland – Just over a week to go until the gathering of those involved in the Sail Training adventure that was the 25 metre ketch Polaris/Pride of Galway writes Fiacc OBrolchain. Trainees, crew, volunteers and skippers have been coming out of the woodwork as contacts have been renewed for what was, in retrospect, the golden age of Sail Training in Ireland.

Money was tight but there were more berths available to those interested with Asgard II, Polaris/Pride of Galway and the Yachtmaster training vessel Tir na nOg, not to mention the great work being done by Glenans.

There will be great retelling of voyages, Tall Ships events and the struggle to fund the programme on Thursday 3rd March

Ben Garvey will be along on the way to spread the ashes of his farther Brian who made the whole adventure possible with the huge effort put in by himself and his wife Sue.

Further information from Fiacc OBrolchain 087 6699729 [email protected]. April in the Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club from 2000.174 words pic attached

#TallShips - For a number of years in the early 1990s, Ireland was the beneficiary of a gift of the use of a 25-metre ketch, Polaris, as a sail training vessel.  

This programme was highly successful, and under the name Pride of Galway the ketch took part in various Tall Ships events, along with providing much needed sail training berth for young people in Ireland.

In early April, Ben Garvey - whose family owned Polaris - will visit Ireland and it is proposed that there will be a get-together in Dublin for all those who were involved in this exiting programme.

For further information contact Fiacc Ó Brolchain at [email protected].