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Surprise Irish blessing for 1,000
German tourists
11.08.12
A GROUP of almost 1,000
German tourists got a surprise Irish blessing in a
Co Donegal fishing village yesterday when their
cruise ship dropped anchor as the annual blessing of
the fleet ceremony got underway.
The 950 passengers and crew of the MS Astor arrived
in Greencastle port on the opening day of its annual
regatta and traditional blessing of the local
fishing fleet.
The tourists are enjoying a 14-night 'Lands of Myths
and Legends' cruise that departed from Bremerhaven
in Germany and includes stop-overs in Belfast, Cobh,
Dublin and Liverpool.
Greencastle Regatta committee chairperson, Gemma
Havlin, said the luxury ship got the maritime
festival off to a stylish start.
"Little did these visitors know they would be
getting a lovely, traditional Irish blessing to wish
them luck and safe passage as they continue their
journey on the high seas," said Ms Havlin.
"They might have expected it had they stopped off
the coast of Rome or somewhere like that but maybe
not here," she quipped. |
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The 950 passengers and crew of the MS
Astor arrive in Greencastle port. |
The annual
inter-denominational blessing of the fleet is an
age-old tradition in Greencastle. The blessing and
prayers are said to keep local fishermen safe at sea
in the year ahead. All seafarers using the harbour
including yachtsmen and women and the local car
ferry are also included.
The MS Astor was attracted to the region yesterday
under the Cruise North West initiative run by Derry
City Council, Foyle Port, the Loughs Agency and
Derry Visitor & Convention Bureau.
Spokesperson, Aoife Thomas, said Germany had been
identified as growth market and the North West would
be further promoted among cruise operators there
this year.
The northern European tourists enjoyed tours all
over the sunny North West yesterday including
Derry's Walled City and Glenveagh National Park. For
Greencastle Regatta programme,
click
here For more cruise ship photos,
click here . |
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