Saturday at Tall Ships

 They wrapped you in linen
They wrapped you in clay
They gave me the promise 
of a bright new day     Peter Sirr








Against all the odds the sun shines for a third  successive day on Waterford.  I make the great expedition  by bicycle to the North Quays to see the larger vessels and I particularly want to see the Norwegian Vessel The Soerlandet, the oldest fully rigged vessel. I played a few tunes on the board and when I strike up a hornpipe a young girl Niamh Linnane joins in and dances a sailor's hornpipe on the lovely wooden deck. It was a magic moment. Sadly my camera man missed it so you'll have to take my word for it. We carry on to the Gloria but there is no reprise of Friday morning vocal manoevres. It is a long walk to Frank Cassin Wharf but I feel a sense of achievement in arriving at the far point  to view the largest vessels close up having viewed them all week from across the river.

Back on the South Quay I join RNLI man John Purcell, busking a few tunes on a nautical theme to assist his fund raising effort. It takes a particular sort of courage I think to take on the elements and go to the aid of those in difficulty at sea. The predicted crowds converge on the quay on Saturday afternoon and it is very busy indeed..

Sharon Shannon and band have a large enthusiastic crowd but the best atmosphere is on the WV Plaza where local boy and recent freeman of the city, Brendan Bowyer is  sending them home sweating with his lively selection. It is hard to square the image of the Bishop's Palace museum case housing the Hucklebuck shoes and other Royal Showband paraphanalia with this larger than life manifestation rocking it .  Even from the far end of the quay, one can hear the emotion in the voice as he belts out My City of Music by local Tops of the Town stalwart, Denny Corcoran. An artist with real cross generational appeal , teenage daughters with their mothers and grandmothers all sing and bop to the energetic and lively set.

As seasoned Spraoi goers, we are somewhat blasé about fireworks but the final fireworks are truly spectacular opening with a stunning waterfall effect .  All that remains is the final leavetaking and crews settle down for an early start with the morning tide

Here,  now, this very moment
In flowing time
within this harbour
And this haven  Michael Coady

The Hucklebuck Shoes

http://youtu.be/V0lLcxVyaCY

Pirates, a Parrot and a Putative President Friday at Tall Ships

Magnificence of rigging

above a mile of quay

the city's faces freshened

                               by salt from every sea           Mark Roper

It was another lovely sunny day in Waterford for Day 2 of the Tall Ships Festival

'I've got this pirate stuck to my foot'

On the North Quay, the crew of the Columbian vessel, 'Gloria' were perched 

Ennis Pirates

RTE's John Murray live from the South Quay

on their rigging and singing in unison like some exotic songbirds. On the South Quay, John Murray (assisted by Ennis man Colm Flynn)  clad in fishermans cap to keep the sun off was interviewing Waterford folk outside the RTE tent . I was too late for Brendan Bowyer and Brass and Co but I caught the very hardworking sea shanty group, Hooks and Crooks in one of their many performances of the weekend who closed the programme with a rousing O Ro Se Do Bheath Bhaile  following the discussion and competition to find the best Waterford accent. It all hangs on the ulvaral rrrs apparrrently!  In Bolton Street the gangs of marauding pirates could be contained no longer and swarmed onto quays colliding with presidential hopeful Michael D Higgins (sadly not in costume)  on his way to do an interview on WLR. The pirate count stopped after 4000 to the chagrin of late arrivals. These pirates came in all shapes and sizes and one even had his own live parrot!

Little and large pirates

'From Ship to Shore' exhibition housed in the converted Greyfriars Church was well worth a visit with an eclectic range of maritime paintings, prints , photos and watercolours. It was  poignant to see the bell and compass of the late lamented Asgard  11 on display here a reminder of the dearth of Irish boats represented.  The craft village was a hive of activity and you could see spinning weaving and glass blowing in the Cathedral Courtyard. Fran Ryan's Dingle Knits looked very tempting indeed.  From our perch in the Tower Hotel Bar we could keep an eye on the tennis semifinals and watch the  Crews Parade 

Bell recovered from Asgard 11

Donna Roche and Mark Fitzgerald lead the massed bands

The Springstreens launched the activity  on  the Plaza in the afternoon which was rounded off by a splendid massed bands concert combing the efforts of Waterford City Brass , Barrack St Concert Band and De La Salle Scout Band. A lean and angular Mike Scott,  the epitomy of a Raggle Taggle Gypsy in brimmed hat and leather jacket to keep out the nippy evening air and Steve Wickham of The Waterboys looked liked they were having fun at their rocking set at Bolton Street dishing up a set including their many hits  Of the numbers I enjoyed the slimmed down duets most with Wickhams wonderful playing at its most audible. .  From the plethora of food stall, local grocer Ardkeen Stores stood out for the sheer size and range of offerings.  The Saffron corner smelt gorgeous.  My companion  had a tasty chorizo and bean stew from Mediterranean Kitchen but my paella  from another stall was disappointing,  gluey yellow  rice and chicken is not a 'paella'  in any culinary dictionary.  When all was said and done, it was hard to beat Dooly's chips eaten from the box
 on the wall in the park.

Exmouth Shanty Men entertain in O Loughlin's

Michael D Higgins views parade

The ebb and flow of tides
and bedded silt
by wharves and quays
Michael Coady

More fun to come tomorrow and the weather promising fair.