Jeannie’s future

NOW that President Mary McAleese has made her gracious visit and speech aboard the Jeannie Johnston in Dublin docks, what of the future of this vessel?

Is it to languish for months in, say, Cork dockyard, paid off and awaiting a decision from somewhere, or ‘sold to the Greeks’ for a pittance.

No. Why not hand it over to a government agency such as Coiste an Asgard and let them run it for a trial period at least? Should two sail training vessels be too much for the country, then the lovely Asgard II should be sold. Of the two she would probably sell for a relatively better price.

Should such a course of action be necessary, the Jeannie Johnston’s name might have to be changed to Asgard III. How about it for 2004?

Mortimer Dixon,

Castle View,

Blarney,

Co Cork.