Menu
14/08/2009
Tall Ships Hailed A Success
Day one of the Belfast Maritime Festival has been a huge success.
The first evening celebrations finished off last night with a spectacular fireworks display over the Lagan.
Thousands were on hand for the spectacle and many more are expected to pour into the city today to visit the ships, although forecasters have warned that the weather is set to deteriorate.
Overall, the city is preparing for almost half a million people, including almost 90,000 international visitors, during the four-day festival.
Already, organisers said attendance figures had "far exceeded" initial expectations with unconfirmed reports indicating upwards of 100,000 visitors in the first day.
Visitors both young and old travelled from across the country to the city centre for the first day of the major international event.
Following the official opening queues to climb on board the many Tall Ships docked along the banks of the Lagan grew, with young and old wanting to view the magnificent vessels.
Among the most popular for visitors to climb on board was The Europa, berthed at The Odyssey and The Bounty, as used in the movie Mutiny On The Bounty, (pictured).
Belfast Lord Mayor Naomi Long said the 400,000 visitors expected throughout the festival will leave with a "lifetime of memories".
"It has been a a long held ambition of Belfast City Council to bring Tall Ships back to the city since the last highly successful visit in 1991.
"This will be the biggest event that Belfast has ever hosted and the single biggest event on this island this year. We will have visitors from all over the world and they will enjoy the warmth and hospitality for which Belfast people are renowned," she said.
"Lifelong memories will result from this weekend, not just for the people who live in this great city but also for the crews, particulary our own young people who have sailed across the Atlantic, and all our visitors from all over the world."
NI Tourism Minister Arlene Foster described the Tall Ships Challenge as one of the most "important events in Northern Ireland this year".
Culture & Leisure Minister Nelson McCausland said 18 years after the first visit by the Tall Ships demonstrates how much the city has developed: "It took a leap of faith and imagination to bring the Tall Ships to Belfast in 1991.
"The event captured the imagination of all involved and encouraged the public and private sector to develop the port and invest in important infrastructure work which supported Belfast's development and attracted other maritime events.
"Above all this event has demonstrated what we can do when we work together," he said.
The event was however plagued by transportation difficuties.
Translink has said there will be extra buses and train carriages laid on today to transfer passengers to and from the Tall Ships festival in Belfast after considerable traffic disruption as thousands of people made their way to the event.
A spokeswoman for Translink said extra carriages have been added to the Londonderry to Belfast train in response to increased demand on the service.
Passengers complained on Thursday after trains passed through stations along the line without stopping because they were too full.
Hundreds of people were affected and had to make alternative arrangements to get to Belfast docks.
(BMcC/KMcA)
The first evening celebrations finished off last night with a spectacular fireworks display over the Lagan.
Thousands were on hand for the spectacle and many more are expected to pour into the city today to visit the ships, although forecasters have warned that the weather is set to deteriorate.
Overall, the city is preparing for almost half a million people, including almost 90,000 international visitors, during the four-day festival.
Already, organisers said attendance figures had "far exceeded" initial expectations with unconfirmed reports indicating upwards of 100,000 visitors in the first day.
Visitors both young and old travelled from across the country to the city centre for the first day of the major international event.
Following the official opening queues to climb on board the many Tall Ships docked along the banks of the Lagan grew, with young and old wanting to view the magnificent vessels.
Among the most popular for visitors to climb on board was The Europa, berthed at The Odyssey and The Bounty, as used in the movie Mutiny On The Bounty, (pictured).
Belfast Lord Mayor Naomi Long said the 400,000 visitors expected throughout the festival will leave with a "lifetime of memories".
"It has been a a long held ambition of Belfast City Council to bring Tall Ships back to the city since the last highly successful visit in 1991.
"This will be the biggest event that Belfast has ever hosted and the single biggest event on this island this year. We will have visitors from all over the world and they will enjoy the warmth and hospitality for which Belfast people are renowned," she said.
"Lifelong memories will result from this weekend, not just for the people who live in this great city but also for the crews, particulary our own young people who have sailed across the Atlantic, and all our visitors from all over the world."
NI Tourism Minister Arlene Foster described the Tall Ships Challenge as one of the most "important events in Northern Ireland this year".
Culture & Leisure Minister Nelson McCausland said 18 years after the first visit by the Tall Ships demonstrates how much the city has developed: "It took a leap of faith and imagination to bring the Tall Ships to Belfast in 1991.
"The event captured the imagination of all involved and encouraged the public and private sector to develop the port and invest in important infrastructure work which supported Belfast's development and attracted other maritime events.
"Above all this event has demonstrated what we can do when we work together," he said.
The event was however plagued by transportation difficuties.
Translink has said there will be extra buses and train carriages laid on today to transfer passengers to and from the Tall Ships festival in Belfast after considerable traffic disruption as thousands of people made their way to the event.
A spokeswoman for Translink said extra carriages have been added to the Londonderry to Belfast train in response to increased demand on the service.
Passengers complained on Thursday after trains passed through stations along the line without stopping because they were too full.
Hundreds of people were affected and had to make alternative arrangements to get to Belfast docks.
(BMcC/KMcA)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
22 July 2014
Tall Ships Return
The Tall Ships event is to return to Belfast, following the city's hosting of the race in 1991 and 2009. Belfast Tall Ships 2015 is to be sponsored this year by Lidl Northern Ireland in a deal worth £300,000. The Tall Ships Races are organised by Sail Training International.
Tall Ships Return
The Tall Ships event is to return to Belfast, following the city's hosting of the race in 1991 and 2009. Belfast Tall Ships 2015 is to be sponsored this year by Lidl Northern Ireland in a deal worth £300,000. The Tall Ships Races are organised by Sail Training International.
18 August 2009
Tall Ships Return Sought
Belfast is set to build on the success of last weekend's Tall Ships extravaganza, to ensure that the event returns to the city in the near future. Over the four days of the Belfast Maritime Festival, an estimated 800,000 people – the equivalent of half the population of Northern Ireland - saw the 40 magnificent sailing vessels.
Tall Ships Return Sought
Belfast is set to build on the success of last weekend's Tall Ships extravaganza, to ensure that the event returns to the city in the near future. Over the four days of the Belfast Maritime Festival, an estimated 800,000 people – the equivalent of half the population of Northern Ireland - saw the 40 magnificent sailing vessels.
27 January 2009
Belfast To Host Tall Ships
The Atlantic Tall Ship Challenge is sailing back to Belfast - five years after its bid to have the event return to the city was launched. NI Sports Minister Gregory Campbell today welcomed the news of Belfast's programme of events to mark the finale of the Atlantic Tall Ship Challenge 2009.
Belfast To Host Tall Ships
The Atlantic Tall Ship Challenge is sailing back to Belfast - five years after its bid to have the event return to the city was launched. NI Sports Minister Gregory Campbell today welcomed the news of Belfast's programme of events to mark the finale of the Atlantic Tall Ship Challenge 2009.
01 November 2024
Belfast Claims UK's Best Event Destination
Visit Belfast, the city region's destination marketing organisation, has scooped 'Best Event Destination UK' at this year's Conference & Incentive Travel (C&IT) awards in London.
Belfast Claims UK's Best Event Destination
Visit Belfast, the city region's destination marketing organisation, has scooped 'Best Event Destination UK' at this year's Conference & Incentive Travel (C&IT) awards in London.
13 August 2009
Trains 'Packed Out' For Tall Ships
There will be as many as half a million people in Belfast over the coming days for a glimpse of 40 majestic wooden ships during the four-day Tall Ships Maritime Festival. However, by noon on the first day, there were already reports that jam-packed trains on the Londonderry line were being forced to pass through stations without stopping.
Trains 'Packed Out' For Tall Ships
There will be as many as half a million people in Belfast over the coming days for a glimpse of 40 majestic wooden ships during the four-day Tall Ships Maritime Festival. However, by noon on the first day, there were already reports that jam-packed trains on the Londonderry line were being forced to pass through stations without stopping.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A very mild, but mostly cloudy day, although with some bright or sunny spells. It will be mostly dry in the morning, but a little patchy light rain or drizzle at times in the afternoon. Maximum temperature 14 °C.Tonight:A band of heavier rain will move east during the evening before clearing eastwards after midnight. then mostly dry through the early hours, but a little rain towards dawn. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
