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Displaying items by tag: Robert Halpin

The Robert Halpin Exhibition at Dun Laoghaire Harbour's National Maritime Museum was formally opened by Dublin Port Company Chief Executive, Eamon O'Reilly in late April. 

As Afloat reported previously, the exhibition celebrates Captain Halpin’s involvement in the laying of the transatlantic cables in 1866.

Halpin was born at the Bridge Tavern Wicklow in 1836 and died on 20 January 1894 at Tinakilly, Wicklow. He captained the Brunel-designed steamship SS Great Eastern which laid transoceanic telegraph cables earning Halpin the nickname 'Mr. Cable'.

The cable laying started a process which has evolved into our modern-day system of mass communication.

Various facets of Captain Halpin’s life and the process of cable-laying are featured in the exhibition.

Robert Halpin Exhibition at Dun Laoghaire Harbour's National Maritime MuseumRobert Halpin Exhibition at Dun Laoghaire Harbour's National Maritime Museum

Other speakers at the launch event were Seamus O’Connor (Maritime Museum), Jim Rees ( Arklow Museum) and Councillor Lettie McCarthy (Cathaoirleach D.L.R. CoCo)

The museum is open 7 days a week from 11 am to 5 pm.

Calves Week Regatta takes place in Schull in early August, continuing the annual tradition in West Cork since the inception of the Schull Harbour Sailing Club in 1884.

In more recent years, a more compact schedule as an alternative to the older two-week even has proved popular.

The four-day Calves Week Championships with the usual mix of courses taking in the Fastnet Rock and many of Carbery's Hundred Isles, together with laid courses in Roaringwater Bay is one of Irish sailing's enduring fixtures. 

A daily prize-giving takes place on Main Street in Schull, which sees a nautical festival theme for the village organised by local businesses.