'Ahoy me hearties' - Drogheda Maritime Festival launched

Plans for next month's Irish Maritime Festival, taking place at Drogheda Port, are progressing with an expanded programme evolving from last year's Tall Ships event. 

Drogheda Port will be buzzing from Friday, June 13 to Sunday, June 15 as the Irish Maritime Festival opens with crowds expected to exceed the 45,000 who attended last year's Festival.

The Irish Maritime Festival will offer a packed weekend of fun for all the family with features including full-scale pirate ships battling on the River Boyne, a temporary an urban beach area, coastal rowing race, show-stopping watersports, Boyne swim, a Maritime Pavilion plus a host of cultural and family entertainment to accompany the arrival of beautifully restored schooners Classic Ships to Drogheda Port.

Visiting the Port for the three day Maritime Festival will be five restored schooners Classic Ships - Irene, Ruth, Bessie Ellen, Soteria, Keewaydin and Vilma - with opportunities for visitors to have a look around the boats throughout the weekend. 

Also just confirmed is the Irish Sail Training vessel Spirit Of Oysterhaven, which will be carrying a number of a number of local young people from Glandore in County Cork on a five day sail training adventure supported by the Drogheda Tall Ship Bursary Scheme.

An artisan food quarter - to be housed indoors in the Maritime Pavilion - will feature produce from independent homemakers, artisan bakers and cook-your-own enthusiasts, all in a marketplace setting, allowing visitors to sample and shop for a variety of delicacies.

The Food Quarter will also focus on food education with a programme of cookery demonstrations currently being drawn up.

Also housed in the Pavilion will be a maritime exhibition, put together by the County Museum and featuring a variety of artefacts and exhibits looking back at the lives of the people along the River Boyne over the centuries plus the boats and equipment they would have used.

The Irish Maritime Festival is organised by Drogheda Borough Council and hosted by Drogheda Port Company, with sponsorship provided by Aura, Coca Cola International Services, Flogas and Irish Rail, who are set to announce special discounts for passengers travelling by rail to the Irish Maritime Festival in the near future.

Further information on The Irish Maritime Festival at Drogheda Port is
available at www.maritimefestival.ie  or on Facebook at  'The Irish Maritime Festival 2014 ' and on Twitter @maritimefest