Awesome Argentinian Tall Ship arrives in Dublin
1 November 2019
Argentinian Naval Tall Ship “Libertad” opens to public.
Dublin Port Company and the Embassy of Argentina in Dublin have welcomed one of the world’s largest Tall Ships, the 340-foot-long Libertad, which sailed into Dublin today for a five-day visit to the capital. She is berthed at Sir John Rogerson’s Quay for the duration of her stay and is open to the public to visit, free of charge, on the following dates and times:
- Saturday 2nd November, from 11am to 4pm
- Sunday 3rd November, from 11am to 4pm
Having arrived from London, the Libertad will leave for Boston as part of its 160-day training voyage involving visits to 14 ports across 10 countries (Brazil, Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium, England, Ireland, the United States, Barbados and Uruguay).
Led by Commanding Officer Captain Juan Carlos Romay, the Libertad is an official sail training vessel of the Argentinian Navy which travels around the world carrying a message of goodwill. This will be the Libertad’s ninth visit to Irish waters since her maiden call in 1968. She subsequently visited the capital in 2012 as part of the Tall Ships festival and again in 2016 as part of her “bicentennial journey” to mark 200 years of Argentinian independence.
Members of the public visiting the ship this weekend will be able to get a closer insight into life on board for the 289-strong crew and inspect the fine craftsmanship of the vessel.
Commenting on the tall ship’s visit, The Ambassador of Argentina to Ireland, Laura Bernal said; “For more than 70 years, Argentina and Ireland have enjoyed excellent diplomatic relations built on a shared sense of history and a mutual desire to strengthen our cultural, academic and trading ties. The arrival of the Libertad reminds us of the deep connection that exists between our two nations and symbolises the hand of friendship from Argentina to Ireland, and it is fantastic to begin another chapter of Argentinian-Irish relations. For most of the cadets on board, it will be their first visit to Ireland, which means it is a special opportunity to visit the birthplace of Admiral Brown and pay tribute to his service to Argentina and the Argentinian navy.”
Encouraging members of the public to visit over the weekend, Eamonn O’Reilly, Chief Executive, Dublin Port Company, said; “Dublin Port Company welcomes the Libertad on her first visit to Irish shores since 2016. The Libertad is a magnificent vessel and one of the finest tall ships at sea. I would encourage people in the city to take a trip to Sir John Rogerson’s Quay and visit the ship over the weekend. Argentina’s naval history has deep roots in Ireland and the Libertad’s visit provides the public with a unique opportunity to learn more about this fascinating piece of history.”
Built in the Rio Santiago shipyards in Buenos Aires, the Libertad was launched in May 1956. In 1966, she set a record for the fasting crossing of the North Atlantic using only sail propulsion (with a time of 8 days and 12 hours) between Cape Race, Canada and the English Channel – a record that still stands today.