If Kinsale Port wasn't treated to enough on Saturday with the climax of the 95-boat Sovereign's Cup Regatta at Kinsale Yacht Club, the West Cork Town also had a visit from the Celtic Steam Engine Association writes Bob Bateman. It evoked great memories of times past with the smell from the smoke and coal and the noise and steam from the whistles from the parade of over a dozen engines big and small through the town.
With names such as 'Leanb', 'Diane', 'Patricia' and 'Scrumpy' the preserved steam engines were participating in a three-day West Cork road run in aid of the RNLI that started on Friday, June 27 at Jacob's Bar in Baltimore.
Passing through Leap, Roscarbery and Clonakilty and Baillinspittle, the run tooted their whistles as they came past Kinsale Yacht Club at prizegiving time before finishing at the Spaniard Pub at 5 pm on Saturday to great applause.
The local Kinsale RNLI lifeboat 'Miss Sally Anne (Baggy)' that bears the sign on her stern: "Never Fear Baggy’s Here" Photo: Bob Bateman
