dún laoghaire harbour company

Recreational Amenity Task Force

The Task Force, repre~enting official from the Harbour Board, Department of the Marine, Dún LaoghaireRathdown County Council, VEC and the Recreational Users Council met 6 times since the policy decision to advance the recreational development plans for the Harbour was taken in January 1996. A wide consultative process was undertaken with harbour users, including the Dún Laoghaire Combined Clubs, the sailing school, the scouts, Slua Mhuiri, youth services and the various voluntary groups The Recreational/ Amenity proposals enjoy the benefit of three underlying themes including the provision of pedestrian access throughout the harbours facilities, the improvement of the amenity and commercial prospects from harbour facilities and that all pro- posed developments concur with the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Development Plan.

Commitment has been given to a num- ber of organisations not to displace them from their current permanent locations, without providing for alternative accommodation.

POSFORD DUVIVIER TO SUPPORT RECREATION PLAN CONSULTATION

International UK based marine engineering consultants, Posford Duvivier, who were involved with the Dún Laoghaire Harbours new £20m Ferry Terminal development, have been appointed to support Dún Laoghaire Harbour Board to provide consultative services including planning, consultation, engineering and environment impact advice and services for the Harbour Board's Recreational/Amenity Development Plan.

Mr Tony Parker, Project Manager, Posford Duvivier, heads up the consultants team of experts who have worked on many international harbour marina and marine leisure developments, most notably Pwllheli Harbour in North Wales, Brighton Marina in Sussex and varicfu.s facilities in Portsmouth Harbour as well as in Brazil, Canaries and Malaysia.

HSS to arrive in Dún Laoghaire in March

Stena line's new HSS catamaran fast ferry -the first of its kind in the world -is completing its sea trials in the British Channel and the Irish Sea. Ms Helen Gallivan, Stena Line Business Development Manager, says that the HSS is due to ente( into commercial operation on the Dún Laoghaire -Holyhead route by the end of March.

Harbour Board Supportive of Marine Artists

The Harbour Board have facilitated two artists by arranging for them to hang their works at two separate locations in the harbour. Leonard Sheil, who is a local artist, has an extensive collection of his works hang- ing in the Ferry Terminal building. Michael Barry, Senior Lecturer at the National College of Industrial Relations, has a selection of his works hanging on the walls of Harbour Lodge, the . corporate and administrative offices of Dún Laoghaire Harbour Board. "Interestingly, both artists have marine backgrounds. Leonard Sheil is an avid sailor and indeed his grandfather was a former harbour master at Dún Laoghaire, while Michael Barry has a background in the merchant marine" , said Peadar Ward, Secretary to the Board.

Minister Barrett dedicates Sculpture on Civic Plaza

Mr Sean Barrett TD, Minister for Defence and the Marine officially dedicated the public Sculpture, Gaoth na Saile, by Eamonn O'Doherty at the new Ferry Terminal's public plaza during a short ceremony in February. ,

"The nautical theme of the piece is obviously highly appropriate given its location and the long and important association which the life and economy of Dún Laoghaire has had with the sea. It's important to remember that the development of the amenities offered by our lovely harbour is primarily for your enjoyment. your use and your benefit" said Mr Barrett. The Sculpture's abstract form echoes the sails and spars of the boats in Dún Laoghaire Harbour.

MEMORIAL TO BIGGEST EVER SEA trAGEDY

The Minister of State at the'Department of the Marine, Eamon Gilmore, TD, commemorated the biggesfsea tragedy in Irish history in January when he\Jnveiled a special memorial to the 501 people who lost their lives in 1918, when the RMS Leinster was torpedoed just outside Dún Laoghaire Harbour. On October 10, 1918 the Mailboat, "The RMS Leinster" sailed out of Dún Laoghaire with 685 people on board. 22 were post office workers sorting the mail; 70 were crew and the vast majority of the passengers were soldiers returning to the battlefields of World War I. Twelve miles out from Dún Laoghaire Harbour, "The Leinster:' was torpedoed and sunk by the German U.Boat U-132. 501 people lost their lives and the 184 survivors were rescued by the British destroyers RMS Mallard and RMS Lively and taken ashore in Dún Laoghaire. This was the greatest loss ever, of Irish life at sea. More Irish people lost their lives on the "Leinster" than on the Titanic or the Lusitania. In recent years, local divers Noel Brien, Brian Whelan, Billy Owens and Fred Hick began exploring the sunken wreck of "The Leinster" .They recovered the anchor of the vessel and it was unveiled by Minister Gilmore as a memorial to those who lost their lives.