Tall Ships on way to Drogheda

This week sees the the Tall Ships arrive into Drogheda Port on Friday, May 3rd accompanied by a flotilla of local craft of various sizes, as part of the Drogheda Fringe & Maritime Festival.

A huge number of people are expected to watch the ships arrive from numerous vantage points in the town, although it will not be possible to board the ships on the Friday evening.

Access to the Tall Ships will be available on Saturday and Sunday, May 4 and 5 from 5-8pm, although Drogheda Port will be open from 12noon-9.30pm daily.

Throughout each day there will be also be numerous events along the quayside including markets; amusements; a Ferris wheel and Maritime Museum.

Festival headliner Mundy will perform in McHugh’s on Sunday, May 5. Tickets priced at €15 are now on sale for the gig from McHugh’s or www.ticketmaster.ie

A number of young Drogheda sailors will be travelling on board the Prolific tall ship as part of a Bursary Scheme co-ordinated by Sail Training Ireland.

Five Tall Ships, carrying crew and passengers from Drogheda arrive into Drogheda Port this Friday evening to a special quayside reception headed by Mayor of Drogheda, Cllr Paul Bell and Port Chairman, Denis Moynihan.

 

Also in attendance at the event will be Turkish Ambassador to Ireland, His Excellency, Necip Eguz, and a host of other dignitaries.

 

 

 

The Tall Ships are on their way to Drogheda having left Liverpool on Monday (April 29) and will arrive at the entrance to Drogheda Port at 5pm on Friday, May 3, where they will proceed in formation up the historic Boyne to the quays to arrive at 6pm in Drogheda.

 

 

 

They are expected to be accompanied into the Port by a flotilla of local craft.

 

 

 

On board one the of the vessels the ‘Prolific’ are 16 local schoolchildren who have been nominated by their schools to take part in this wonderful sail training experience from Liverpool and have been supported by a number of local industries through bursaries.

 

 

 

The other vessels will be carrying up to 20 locals who have undertaken these unique voyages.

 

 

 

The Port will not be open to the public on Friday evening and so the best views for the public to see these magnificent vessels arrive is at Mornington, Baltray and also on Donors Green.

 

 

 

On the arrival of the ships into the Port, the Captains of each Ship will be welcomed by Mayor Paul Bell with a presentation of cargo symbolic to Liverpool being presented to the Mayor. MrMoynihan will make a presentation of gifts symbolic of Drogheda to the Captains.

 

 

 

The Port will open to the public from 12 noon to 9.30pm on both Saturday and Sunday, May 4-5 for the Drogheda Fringe & Maritime Festival. Free access to the Tall Ships will take place from 5-9pm on both Saturday and Sunday.

 

 

 

The historic visit of Tall Ships to Drogheda is the highlight of the Drogheda Fringe & Maritime Festival which also includes a full programme of musical entertainment with choirs, dancers, singers and bands and a performance from Mundy in McHugh’s, tickets for which are available from McHugh’s and Ticketmaster.

 

 

 

A floating wish candle event takes place along the River on Sunday night at 9pm

 

 

 

The ships will depart Drogheda on Monday morning, May 6 at 9am and again the best viewing points for the public will be at Mornington, Baltray and Donors Green.

 

 

 

Festival Organiser Sandra Gough said that excitement is building now that the Tall Ships are on their way.

 

 

 

Drogheda is absolutely buzzing in anticipation of this weekend’s Fringe & Maritime Festival. Now that the Tall Ships are en route across the Irish Sea, everything has turned from planning to reality.

 

 

 

We are expecting thousands to visit Drogheda and the Tall Ships over the Bank Holiday weekend and we look forward to giving them a fantastic weekend’s entertainment.”

 

 

 

For further information on the Tall Ships and the Drogheda Fringe & Maritime Festival visit the Drogheda Fringe Facebook page.

 

 

 

The Drogheda Fringe & Maritime Festival is sponsored by Coca-Cola, Drogheda Borough Council, Turkish Airlines and Drogheda Port Company