Very few Irish destinations have had the dramatic history of Kinsale. Dan McCarthy looks at the history of the town, from the maritime to

She once cut a magnificent figure, plying the seas under billowing full sail. But the final chapter in almost a century of rich maritime history is finally drawing to a close.

The historic tall ship Astrid is finally set to be cut up and scrapped next week.

She should have led a flotilla of yachts in a parade of sail in to the magnificent Kinsale harbour in Co Cork six weeks ago.

The wreck of the sail training ship Astrid, which ran aground off the coast of Cork on June 24, has been salvaged and was brought to the quays in Kinsale today.