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Displaying items by tag: One Hundred Years On

#LectureShackleton -An illustrated lecture: "Ernest Shackleton's Story - A Hundred Years Later"  by Kevin Kenny will take place on Thursday 12 January 2017 (20:00hrs) at the Poolbeg Yacht & Boat Club, Ringsend, Dublin 4. There will be an entry fee of €5 in aid of the RNLI.

100 years ago, Shackleton led one of the greatest ever feats of seafaring with a six person crew in a 22 foot open boat; it is even more astounding that half of the crew was Irish.

Kevin will tell Shackleton’s inspiring story, his family, his character, his expeditions, and his strong Irish connections. Bring warm clothes – we have to cross the Antarctic Circle five times!

About the Lecturer: As a teenager, Kevin Kenny bought a secondhand copy of Treasure Island, only to stumble across a pagemarker from Ernest Shackleton to Jacobs thanking them for supplying biscuits to his Nimrod expedition. Shackleton was the right person in the right place for Kevin, and has been a travelling companion since.

Shortly afterwards, Kevin became involved in an initiative in Athy Co. Kildare which was using Shackleton as a basis for building pride in local heritage. Since then, Athy has been to the fore in reclaiming Shackleton for Ireland. Shackleton’s character had lent itself to a wide range of projects, ranging from the internationally acclaimed Shackleton Autumn School to a transition year leadership/teamwork programme.

Kevin learned his sailing, and made many friends, through Glenans at Collanmore and Baltimore. Anyone with an interest in sailing cannot fail to be interested in the heroic age of exploration and the significant contribution made by Shackleton and other Irish players.

 

Published in News Update

About Foyle Port

Foyle Port, located in the North West region of Northern Ireland, is estimated to handle around 2 million tonnes of cargo per year, with a trade value of approximately £1 billion. The port plays a crucial role in facilitating the import of essential agri-products, supporting around 20,000 farms in the region, as well as various local business sectors such as fuel/oil and construction industries. The organisation supports an estimated 1000 direct and indirect jobs.

Originally located in the bustling heart of Derry City, the Commissioners relocated the port to its current deep-water location at Lisahally in 1993. The terminal boasts an impressive 440 metres of quay and can accommodate large vessels of up to 62,000 DWT. Foyle Port is primarily a bulk port and a significant importer of essential commodities such as oil, coal, animal feed, fertiliser, and plywood, all of which are vital for the North West rural region.

Since 2003, the organisation has experienced significant growth, doubling both turnover and profit and attracting approximately £100 million of inward investment to the region. This investment has supported projects, including a fertiliser plant, an oil tank farm, and a biomass power station.

Established by Act of Parliament in 1854, the Londonderry Port & Harbour Commissioners is an independent statutory authority with a duty to develop, maintain and operate to the highest standards of efficiency, financial prudence, environmental awareness, safety, and security. The Port is independent of the Government and is self-financing. All financial surpluses are reinvested in the business for the benefit of future generations of stakeholders.