The Grace O’Malley was a massive attraction in Derry last month at the Maritime Festival, said the Captain, Gerry Burns, whose home is in Newcastle Co. Down
The 164-ft tall ship is destined to serve Ireland as a training vessel for young people as part of the Atlantic Youth Trust, whose mission is to “Connect Young People with the Ocean and Adventure.”
The aim is for it to replace the Asgard II (ROI based) and the Lord Rank (NI based).
The ship, which was built in Sweden, is operating under the Swedish flag and her original name, The Lady Ellen.
After the Derry visit, Grace O’Malley came to Belfast and lay in the River Lagan alongside the Maritime Mile beside the SSE Arena where she caught the eye of the many people who walk along the quay. After moving to Belfast Harbour Marina close by, she played host to several dignitaries and stakeholders, including the Lord Mayor Councillor Tina Black.
Grace O'Malley lay in the River Lagan in Belfast alongside the Maritime Mile beside the SSE Arena
By Friday, she will be in the port of Warrenpoint at the head of Carlingford Lough. The crew will have stunning views of the Mourne Mountains before she reaches Carlingford Lough where she will stay till Wednesday 17th, after which Dublin is the next stopover, and then Cork.
The Atlantic Youth Trust is the brainchild of businessman Enda O’Coineen from Galway, well known in sailing circles and yacht racing circles, and the Grace O’Malley replaces the Asgard, the Irish national training ship and the UK equivalent, the Lord Rank, both sadly sunk several years ago.
This vessel has a crew of 12 (one of which is Brian O’Malley, a direct descendant of Grainne Ni Mhaille) and can take up to 25 trainees. Intrinsic in the vision is the role of volunteers and one such who had answered the call was Simon from Ballyholme Yacht Club - he was relishing the thought of the passage to the next stop at Warrenpoint.
Captain Burns is enthusiastic about the Grace O’Malley. “Our mission is to introduce the ship to as many people in Ireland as possible”.
