The famine-era replica sailing ship JFK Dunbrody will finally set sail on June 29th, four years after it was launched.
The vessel, which has never put to sea apart from trials, will feature as part of a new initiative called "Sail Dunbrody Week".
The chief executive officer of the JFK Trust, Seán Reidy, said it would be an historic and emotional day for everyone concerned with the ship: "She has been located in New Ross since its launch in 2001 and when she takes to the high seas on 29th June it will mark the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the life of the vessel."
The JFK Trust is the management organisation responsible for the running of the ship as a tourism facility; an attraction that has to-date welcomed over 400,000 visitors on board.
It is hoped that on completion of its forthcoming initial series of voyages the vessel will undertake regular passenger trips down the river Barrow to the sea from its berth in New Ross.
Gary Breen, a senior officer with South East Tourism, attended the official launch of Sail Dunbrody Week and spoke of the "resurgent strides New Ross and the surrounding area has made within the tourism sector in recent years.
"The Dunbrody is a source of great pride for the people of New Ross and I have every confidence the latest initiative will prove to be a resounding success," he said.
The new initiative will see 60 passengers sail on board the vessel each day between June 29th and July 6th - when the ship takes its place among the world's elite sailing vessels in Waterford harbour for the Tall Ships Race 2005.