Dún Laoghaire spirit should be harnessed and nourished
07.07.11
DAVID O'BRIEN
SAILING: DUBLIN IS a city of sails this weekend as the combined power of Dún Laoghaire’s waterfront yacht clubs stage the biggest Irish event of the year.
The capital boasts two world-class sports arenas in Croke Park and the Aviva Stadium, but for this weekend at least these are not the biggest sports arenas in Dublin. That distinction goes to Dublin Bay, which will play host to over 3,000 sailors for a weekend of over 200 races at the Volvo Dún Laoghaire Regatta.
For Irish sailing, it demonstrates in unambiguous terms the potential of what can come in on the tide, especially when all four of the biggest clubs, – the Royal St George, the National, the Royal Irish and the Dún Laoghaire Motor YC – pull together.
But as impressive a sight as today’s on-the-water activity may be, storm clouds are on the horizon for Dún Laoghaire Harbour. The harbour company has said it needs to spend €5 million a year on the facility, and that to date almost 70 per cent of its income has come from one client, Stena Line, which operates the ferry to Holyhead.
Source: Irish Times