The Ilen takes centre stage at Baltimore heritage festival

FOR more than 70 years, she plied some of the world’s roughest oceans, providing a vital service to the people of the remote Falkland Islands.

Now the historic ketch, the Ilen — the only Irish coastal trading boat still in existence — is set to take centre stage in a tourist haven’s annual heritage festival.

Tourism leaders in west Cork have invited the public to view the progress of the restoration work on the vessel as part of the second annual Baltimore Heritage Festival which runs from April 17 to 19. Free taxis will be on offer to ferry visitors from Baltimore to Hegarty’s Boatyard in nearby Oldcourt to watch the work.