Maritime Festival makes big splash
THE Wexford Maritime Festival made great waves on Wexford Quay over the weekend as people of all ages descended on the town to celebrate Wexford’s rich maritime heritage.
The weekend kicked off on Saturday with the Blessing of the Boats, which drew a large crowd despite the threat of a downpour. Boats of all varieties were later launched into the water for the highly-anticipated heritage rowing race.
A rescue demo in the afternoon proved to be a huge hit as visitors got an insiders view into the work that rescue agencies must undertake on a regular basis. Aircraft flybys, helicopter winching, a lifeboat man overboard, formations and first aid casualty made the rescue all the more realistic.
The sun came out for a BBQ on Saturday evening, as local legends Cornerboy graced the stage in aid of RNLI.
Sunday was kept afloat with a Sailing Regatta, along with raft races at 4 p.m. All eyes were on the sky in the afternoon as the stunt airshow kicked off in Wexford’s cloudy skies. Stunt planes of various varieties wowed the crowds with pair formations and gravity-defying twists and turns.
Throughout the weekend, visitors were able to get a unique maritime experience as many of the visiting boats offered tours to the public. For those who wanted to dive even deeper, there was the option to try a dive at Wexford Swimming Pool or give stand-up paddleboarding a shot. Various stands held by rescue services were on hand to inform members of the public about their work, while the environment village had some very time-appropriate tips on how to reduce our waste.
A large element of this year’s show was the Feast of Wexford tent, which allowed visitors to sample a wide selection of what Wexford’s local food producers have to offer. The new cookery demos also proved a huge hit as top chefs from around the country shared some culinary tips and tricks.
The weekend came to a close on Sunday evening as crowds gathered at the Crescent for the Commodore Barry Ceremony.