Tall Ships preview looks to be Suirfire hit

WATERFORD’S residents and visitors will all be ship-shape this weekend as they are given a flavour of what is to come later this summer.

This weekend, up to 100 Tall Ships and 6,000 crew members will descend on Waterford for the start of the Tall Ships’ Races.

A dedicated promotional day to get Waterford geared up for the massive festival which will surround the arrival of the Tall Ships has been organised for Saturday. It will include on-street entertainment, Tall Ships exhibition stands, face painting, balloons, information leaflets on the four-day event in July as well as festival programme details.

A nautical-themed window display competition for Waterford’s retailers, organised in conjunction with the Waterford Chamber of Commerce, is expected to be a big hit.

Tall Ships committee chairman Nicky Fewer said no event or spectacle can compete with the Tall Ships.

“Up to 100 of these ships will arrive in Waterford on July 6. The sight of these magnificent square-rigged vessels, berthed side by side along the quays in the heart of Waterford City will be a unique experience for the expected 250,000 visitors over the four-day period.

“It is important, however, that we prepare ourselves by ensuring that the city is geared up for what will be the festival of all festivals in Ireland this year. Through a series of events and promotions, we really hope to be able to give people a sense of what they can expect from the free, four-day Tall Ships Race festival,” he said.

Primary school students will write letters of welcome to the international crews, highlighting what they can expect on their visit.

This will be the first time that the race series will launch from an Irish port and Waterford has been making preparations for July 2005 for almost four years.