An impressive sight awaits the citizens of Mayo today as the Argentinian navy pays tribute to its Irish founder, Admiral William Brown of Foxford.
The navy's majestic sail training vessel Libertad, one of the largest sailing ships in the world, is expected to sweep around the coastline of the north of the county and anchor in Killala Bay off Kilcummin Harbour at about 5 p.m.
The ship will be a star attraction at the international Tall Ships extravaganza in Dublin from next week, but its arrival in Mayo today is a coup for the Foxford Admiral Brown Society which first requested a visit in 1990.
Mr J.J. O'Hara, the society's president, said yesterday that a series of events had been organised for the ship's visit to Mayo and that Capt Jorge Goday would allow the public to tour the vessel tomorrow and on Sunday.
Speaking by phone from the Libertad as it cruised 180 miles west of Ireland, Lieut Pablo Fal, training officer on the vessel, said yesterday that the ship, built in 1957, would remain in Mayo until Monday.
Lieut Fal said the crew would play football matches against local teams and they had organised an Irish evening for tomorrow night. On Sunday wreaths would be laid by the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, and the Argentinian Ambassador, Mr Victor Beauge, in honour of Admiral Brown who was born in Foxford in 1777.
Naval recruits and cadets learn about Admiral Brown from day one of their training, he said. "He is our most important naval hero. He won his most famous victory on 17th May 1814 and that is a naval holiday in Argentina, but not a national day."
The crew of 290, including 52 cadets, for whom Lieut Fal has responsibility, began their six-months sail training cruise in Buenos Aires in May and will return in November after a round trip that includes 14 ports of call. Killala and Dublin are ports six and seven and after that it heads for Portsmouth.
While not participating in either leg of the Tall Ships race from Falmouth to Lisbon, Portugal or the 700-mile voyage from Vigo, Spain, to Dublin, the ship won another race, the America sail from Savannah, Georgia, to Glen Cove, New York.
The Libertad picked up its trophy at Halifax, Nova Scotia, its last port before setting sail for Ireland.
