I am smitten by the sea and I especially love the way the ever-changing seascape reflects the annual onward inexorably march of the seasons. I also like looking at boats bobbing in the bay and if I am passing Dublin port enjoy spotting the cargo ships and cruise liners docked there. It was therefore a racing certainty that I would go to look at the tall ships which arrived in Dublin recently for the Tall Ships Festival (August 23 to August 26th).
Thus I found myself in Dublin’s docklands yesterday gazing in wonder at the vista before me. It was as if a wizard specializing in scene-transformation (a sort of real-life wizardly Photoshop) had clicked his heels, chanted an incantation and waved a magic wand to turn back time and line Dublin’s north and south quays with majestic ships that properly belong to an earlier era. Said wizard must have missed a class or two as the scene transformation wasn’t total; the 21st century backdrop of shiny glass monolithic offices blocks remained in place.
The Tall Ships Festival marks the end of the Tall Ships Races 2012; Dublin is the final port of call in this year’s race series. The ships have zigzagged their way across sometimes stormy seas; starting in St Malo on 5th July they visited Lisbon, Cadiz, A Coruna en route to the Dublin finishing line. Sail Training International organize the races. According to their website one of their aims is ‘the development and education of young people through the sail training experience’.
Hundreds of thousands of visitors will visit the free family orientated Tall Ships Festival. There’s a packed programme of events including: live music, street performances, workshops, a craft market, water sports, talks, walking tours … for full details click here.
When I was in Dublin’s docklands at lunch time yesterday the place was busy and buzz-y with a lively throng make their way up and down the quaysides. The vast array of beautiful ships was awe-inspiring but there was much else I enjoyed such as: listening to an open air opera performance; looking at the flower market; admiring the children’s play area which was filled with old-fashioned wooden toys; and just generally wandering about …
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It’s so exciting to see the Tall Ships! And the festival sounds like a lot of fun. Your pictures and post are great 🙂
Thank you so much Meg. It’s the first time I’ve see the Tall Ships and yes it was exciting.
A fun and exciting post. Beautiful images!
Thank you very much.
I would love to see the ships. Thanks for sharing your photos with us.
The ships were a magnificent sight to behold. I am slightly regretting that I didn’t go back today to see them leave.
I just knew we had other things in common! I’m a boat and sea-lover too and the Tall Ships Festival took place in my home town Hartlepool in 2010. I was there every one of the 4 days and it was fabulous. Nice to read about yours. I would have loved to make Lisbon, Cadiz or A Coruna this year but it just wasn’t on.
I am please you got to see the Tall Ships as they really are, as you know, a magnificent sight. I only got to the festival on one of the four days and I really regret not making the effort to go the day the ships were all leaving port. Thank you for your comment.