Displaying items by tag: Flight Fest

16th September 2013

L.E. Emer Takes Capital Centre-Stage Berth at Flight Fest Feast

#FlightFest – L.E. Emer's (P21) last large-scale public duty in Dublin Port took place at yesterday's Flight Fest flyover spectacular which according to organisers drew around 130,000 spectators, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The Naval Service's eldest fleet member was built by Verolme Cork Dockyard in 1978 and she berthed at North Wall Quay in front of the impressive backdrop of the National Convention Centre.

Tours were available onboard the sell-listed OPV on what would be the last such opportunity during her visit to the capital. Today she resumed her final patrol duties scheduled to end this Friday in Cork Harbour.

Adjoining the Convention Centre is the PWC building which was where a dedicated air-traffic control team placed in charge of the 30 plus aircraft of all shape and sizes that flew low over the length of Dublin Port and 'Docklands' quarter.

As previously reported among the participating aircraft were a pair of Air Corps CASA fishery patrol planes of the maritime squadron which flew in close formation with PC9 aircraft also drawn from the air-wing of the Irish Defence Forces.

As well as the World War II Catalina Flying-Boat with its distinctive design which could be easily identified from quite a distance as she loomed over the Liffey to the crowds delight.

Onlookers not only filled the city-centre quays but also thronged another Irish built vessel, T.S.M.V. Cill Airne which was chartered out for a private function.

The riveted hull veteran represents another rare example of an Irish built ship surviving on our shores. In this case the former Cobh-based transatlantic liner tender was built locally at the Liffey Dockyard more than a decade earlier than the L.E. Emer.

These days Cill Airne has a purely static role as she is moored as a floating river-restaurant, bar and lounge venue which was particularly well patronised during the Flight Fest that saw aviation and shipping converge.

Published in Dublin Bay

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Forty Foot Swimming Spot on Dublin Bay

The 'Forty Foot' is a rocky outcrop located at the southern tip of Dublin Bay at Sandycove, County Dublin from which people have been swimming in the Irish Sea all year round for 300 years or more. It is popular because it is one of few spots between Dublin city and Greystones in County Wicklow that allows for swimming at all stages of the tide, subject to the sea state.

Forty Foot History

Traditionally, the bathing spot was exclusively a men's bathing spot and the gentlemen's swimming club was established to help conserve the area.

Owing to its relative isolation and gender-specific nature it became a popular spot for nudists, but in the 1970s, during the women's liberation movement, a group of female equal-rights activists plunged into the waters and now it is also open to everyone and it is in the control of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

Many people believe that swimming in extremely cold water is healthy and good for the immune system.

Is it safe to swim at the Forty Foot?

The Forty-Foot is a great place to swim because there is always enough water to get a dip but like all sea swimming, there are always hazards you need to be aware of. For example, a lot of people like to dive into to the pool at the Forty-foot but there are submerged rocks that can be hazardous especially at low water. The Council have erected signs to warn people of the underwater dangers. Other hazards include slippy granite cut stone steps that can often be covered with seaweed and of course marine wildlife including jellyfish that make their presence felt in the summer months as do an inquisitive nearby Sandycove seal colony.