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From Afloat.ie: Ireland's most famous sail training vessel, the Asgard II, sank off the coast of France on September 11, 2008. The 27-year-old brigantine was heading to La Rochelle in France from Falmouth in Cornwall to effect minor maintenance, and was due to take part in the La Rochelle Boat Show, where Ireland is being showcased as a major cruising destination. The boat went down 20 miles off the French coast, and the crew and trainees were all transferred safely to the nearby island of Belle Ile.

The Asgard was commissioned in 1981 in Arklow, and has been Ireland's premier sail training vessel ever since. She was named after Erskine Childers yacht the Asgard, which took part in gun-running during Ireland's war of independence, and then went on to become Ireland's first sail training vessel.

Read about the petition to Raise the Asgard

Dear Minister O'Dea, "Over 10,000 have learned the ropes on her deck, many of them from across the religious divide on our island. She flew the tricolour in hundreds of ports around the world, providing positive and cost effective international exposure for this nation. And she served as a tangible link to our recent and turbulent past. On an island nation that so often turns its back on the sea, Asgard II – built by Irish hands, inspired by Irish history, recognised around the globe – came to symbolise all that was possible for our maritime industry. Recognising the unique role played by this brigantine, we, the undersigned, call on the Irish government to move immediately to salvage her and begin work on her restoration. We also call on the Irish government to commit to the future of the sail training programme, in the event that Asgard II cannot now be salvaged, by setting out a timetable for the commissioning of a replacement vessel".

" An unCorked bottle of delight overflowing with good spirits, effervescent vocals and brimfull of good bouzouki and guitar playing. " - Dirty Linen

" You could cut crubeens with his accent: he is as important to his own city as The Bells of Shandon; he is a singer whose musical enthusiasms embrace everything from Irving Berlin to The Boys of Fairhill. " - John Boland, Evening Press. (1982)

A Cruise to Remember....

Reserve your tickets now!  Captain Mackey's Goatskin and Stringband is going tropical in January 2010!  We just got booked to perform on the Caribbean Irish Festival Cruise!  Check it out:
http://www.irishtours.com/Cruise.html