Newsletter Contents:

• CRUISE SHIPS VISITING THE HARBOUR
• NEW BOARD FOR THE HARBOUR
• DRAFT COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2004-2010
• SCULPTURE FOR BREAKWATER
• CARLISLE PIER
• Sailing Events 2002
• Sailing Events 2003
• RMS LEINSTER MEMORIAL
• OLYMPIC CAMPAIGN
• OTHER VISITORS TO OUR HARBOUR!
• WATCH OUT FOR
• POEtrY COMPETITION
• UPDATE ON VICTORIA FOUNTAIN

CRUISE SHIPS VISITING THE HARBOUR

The Harbour has recently been visited by a number of "new" vessels with perhaps the most elegant looking being S.V. "Tenacious" which, at 65 metres length and 586 GT, is the largest wooden ship built in the UK in the last 100 years. It is operated by the Jubilee Sailing Trust which, along with their "Lord Nelson", provide facilities to integrate their physically disabled and able bodied passengers on tall ship holidays.

Two other sail training ships "Earl of Pembroke" & "Kaskelot" (1 47 metre long, 3 masted barque) recently berthed at the East Pier.

"Kaskelot" was last here in the guise of a "Pirate Ship" in the late 1980s when, as a film set, it spectacularly "cannonaded" the West Pier from the centre of the harbour at night!

M.V. "Constellation" a huge cruise vessel of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines anchored in Dublin Bay and landed its 1,850 passengers by its tenders at the harbour marina on 26/06/02. The smaller sized "Sun Bay II" (length 89 metres GT2842) of Sun Bay Cruises, with its 84 passengers, berthed at St. Michael's Pier on 24/07/02; both ships being brand new cruise ships on their inaugural trip to N.W. European Waters.

Caption: DLHC Sponsorship

NEW BOARD FOR THE HARBOUR

A new board for the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company was appointed by the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Mr. Frank Fahy in April 2002. The board members are:

• Victor Boyhan
• Betty Coffey
• Sean Costello
• Jane Dillon Byrne
• Tony Fox
• Donal Marren
• Paddy McMahon (Chairman)
• Gerry Nagle
• David Redmond
• Eithne Scott-Lennon
• Tom Welby
• Michael Hanahoe (CEO)

DRAFT COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2004-2010

The Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company in its submission to the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council in relation to its review of the County Development Plan, called for the following:

• the identification, management and protection of a high capacity traffic route for heavy goods vehicles from the Port to the M5O;
• an indication that Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council will support and if necessary financially assist the Board, in its duties as custodian of the architectural heritage of the Harbour;
• the preparation of a detailed traffic study assessing the relationship between Harbour traffic and parking and the Town Centre, particularly the mainline/Dart/bus terminus and make appropriate recommendations.
• the linking of the Harbour integrally with the Town Centre by improved pedestrian links.
• A copy of the submission can be obtained on request by contacting Margaret Madigan at the offices of the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company.

SCULPTURE FOR BREAKWATER

Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company commissioned Dublin artist, Fiona Mulholland to create a public sculpture on the East Marina Breakwater in Dún Laoghaire Harbour. The marina breakwaters, a recent addition to the public facilities in the Harbour, were completed in 2001 as part of the new marina project.

Fiona Mulholland has sculpted "The Commemorative Tower to the Hobblers" in recognition of the work the Hobbling community once performed in guiding incoming vessels safely into the Port of Dún Laoghaire and assisting in mooring up until the 1930's.

Ms. Margaret Madigan, spokesperson for the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, said that it was fitting that the Hobbling community should be commemorated for their contribution in the development and success of Dún Laoghaire as a maritime centre. "The Hobblers are still remembered with great affection by the local community and their descendants have every reason to be proud of their bravery and professionalism in difficult and sometimes dangerous circumstances".

Ms. Fiona Mulholland, a native of Dublin, has exhibited widely both in Ireland and overseas. She graduated in 1998 from the Royal College of Art, London and has also recently been commissioned to design the awards for the winners in this years Business 2 Arts Scheme.

CARLISLE PIER

The Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company has welcomed Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council's decision to include a new specific objective, in its recently published Coastal Plan, for the redevelopment of the Carlisle Pier. The objective calls for an "exceptional landmark building of international architectural quality that regenerates and enlivens the waterfront".

In return for a development which fully meets the requirements of the new objective, the County Council is prepared to consider a wider range of uses for the Pier than would otherwise be permitted in the current zoning for the Pier.

The Carlisle Pier is a unique site, which deserves a building, which fully meets the criteria set down by the County Council.

The Harbour Company will, as soon as the new objective for the Pier has been incorporated into the County Development Plan, seek suitable proposals for the redevelopment of the Pier.

Caption: Carlisle Pier is a unique site

Sailing Events 2002

Sailing Events 2003

RMS LEINSTER MEMORIAL

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 1.
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 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.

RMS Leinster's Anchor

Caption: The RMS Leinster's anchor on display in Dún Laoghaire Harbour

OLYMPIC CAMPAIGN

Gerard Owens and Ross Killian continue their Olympic Campaign with a tight and gruelling schedule.
Earlier in the year they sailed at Barcelona Olympic Week; Palma Princess Sofia Regatta; Cannes International Spring Cup; Hyeres Olympic Week; Spa Regatta; Kiel Week; ISAF World Games and the European Championship in Estonia.
They are now ranked 36 on ISAF Rankings and 21st Country (see www.sailing.org) and are currently sailing in the Athens pre-pre-Olympics before moving on to Sardinia.
The Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company continues to financially support the two Dún Laoghaire based sailors in their bid for a place on the Irish Olympic team.

Caption: Gerard Owens and Ross Killian continue their Olympic Campaign

OTHER VISITORS TO OUR HARBOUR!

Caption: Seals can often be seen from the Ice Plant

WATCH OUT FOR...

• New Information Boards
• New Information Brochure
• Walking Maps
• Our website: www.dlharbour.ie
• 2003 Calendar

POEtrY COMPETITION

The closing date for the above poetry competition has now been extended to September 30th 2002.

Caption: Poetry Competition Poster

Further copies of this newsletter are available from Margaret Madigan:
Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, Harbour Lodge, Crofton Rd, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin
Phone: 2801018
Fax: 2809607
e-mail: info@dlharbour.ie

UPDATE ON VICTORIA FOUNTAIN

Work on the restoration of the Victoria Fountain and Canopy has been successfully completed.

Reinstatement of the Fountain in its original location on the Queens Road will take place at the end of October when the civil works, at the site, which are scheduled to commence at the end of August, have been completed.

The Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company would like to thank the many individuals and organisations that supplied information on the original fountain. Their contribution has played a crucial role in the restoration project

Caption: Victoria Fountain