Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company

SUMMER SUNDAYS

Baywatch Café opened

The Minister for Defence and the Marine officially opened the new Baywatch Café, in the refurbished Carlisle Pier Terminal building in May last.

"When I first visited the Harbour as Minister for the Marine I instructed the Harbour Manager to undertake an extensive redecoration programme on the Carlisle Pier to include a café facility. It was a very difficult task to convert this dated building to a modern catering establishment but has been accomplished admirably", said Mr. Andrews.

We expect over 1.5 million passengers to pass through Dún Laoghaire Harbour this year. This new enterprise is an important and essential aspect of the service for passengers using the ferry and for the countless other visitors to the Harbour. It is an excellent example of how the various functions of the Harbour can complement one another - an example which we will no doubt witness again and again throughout the execution of the Development Plan for the Harbour.

The Baywatch Café is a convenience restaurant providing fast service and popular hot and cold dishes in a bright and friendly atmosphere.

Mr. Ricky Hooper, Manager Director of Hilpers Catering, who also operates a number of other restaurants, including restaurants on UCD campus, is delighted at winning the franchise to operate the Baywatch Café.

"Since we've established ourselves here in the past few months, we are delighted with the response from passengers and particularly from people visiting the Harbour for pleasure and walks. At the weekend many families drop in for a light lunch".

The Baywatch Café is open seven days a week and can cater for up to 150 people. The new café employs 4 people full time and an additional 3 people on a part-time basis.

First "Harbour Summer Sundays" series - a great success

The weather stayed fine for many of the Sundays since May, when the first ever Dún Laoghaire Harbour Summer Sundays series commenced. Thousands of Dubliners visited the Harbour during May, June and July as the entertainment and leisure activities continued.

"Our programme attracted a great and enthusiastic response and proved that Dún Laoghaire Harbour is one of Dublin's major public amenities", Frank Sheridan, Secretary of the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Board, told BULLETIN.

One of the highlights of the three month Sunday series was Dún Laoghaire Harbour Regatta. An excellent day's competitive sailing was enjoyed. Visitors to the Harbour were in awe at the fabulous sailing spectacle as yachts and sailing and pleasure craft from clubs in Dublin Bay converged on the Harbour finish line. There was a greater entry and more classes than have raced before in the four years of the competition.

The owners of the following craft will receive their specially commissioned Dublin Crystal awards at the Dublin Bay Sailing

Club prize giving: J Beam. Cocolola, Utopia, Sylph, Paddington, Boomerang, Growltiger, Ghrazel, Fenestra, Glendun, Shannagh and Malindi. Winners in dinghy classes were Water Wag No. 4, Old Gold, Punch and Judy, No 69513, Dubious, No Regrets and Lady Kate.

One major feature was the visiting naval vessels from France and Germany in addition to the Irish Navy flagship the LE Eithne which were from time to time open to the public.

"We are indebted to the many harbour users, groups and sponsors which have organised events over the Summer and I am sure any visitor who came to the Harbour will appreciate their efforts", said Mr. David Andrews, TD, Minister for Defence and the Marine.

"We are especially indebted to the local media, both radio and print, for their support and coverage throughout the series. I believe their reporting captured the mood of the visitors very well and shows how much appreciation there is for the Harbour as an amenity", said Mr. Sheridan.