THE PICTURESQUE town of Kinsale, Co Cork, was a hive of activity over the weekend as street entertainers, musicians, food, crafts and the boats of the Clipper fleet proved to be a huge draw for visitors to the area.
Kinsale was home to a major party to toast the arrival of the final leg of the Clipper Round the World Yacht race.
The event, which is scheduled to head to Cork city after Kinsale, is estimated to be worth €10 million to the region.
The town celebrated the race’s arrival with a Clipper Stopover Carnival which got under way on Friday.
One of the centrepieces of the carnival weekend was the Goldiefish artisan food market on Long Quay, which consisted of the finest artisan food and food, all from the locality.
Tea tents were also located at the busking spots throughout the town offering the public a wide range of usual and unusual tea blends.
The busking spots featured artists such as The Invisible Men, Grant Goldie, The Fanzinis and their Cannonball Circus along with the Cork City String Quartet.
The Clipper race is the only event in the world where people from all walks of life are able to step out of their comfort zones and on to a stripped-down 68-ft racing yacht for the 35,000-mile race.
This is the unique feature of the race, that the yachts are crewed by “ordinary” people, many of whom had never sailed before.
They apply for places on the boats to experience the incredible challenges of around-the-world racing, according to the organisers of the event.
Meanwhile, today and tomorrow, the public can view the Clipper Yachts at close quarters at the Kinsale Yacht Club marina.
Then, at 11am on Wednesday, it will be time to gather at Pier Road to bid farewell to the crews as they sail in parade out of Kinsale Harbour en route to Cork city for a further three-day festival.
The yachts will berth at a special pontoon at South Custom House Quay in Cork city that is being provided by the Port of Cork Company with the assistance of the city council.