Belfast Hosts ‘The Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge’ Finale
'The Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge' finale in Belfast this week is set to be the pinnacle of Northern Ireland’s tourism season 2009. The eagerly anticipated Belfast Maritime Festival takes place over four days (13th – 16th August) and is predicted to induce 10’s of thousands of welcomed visitors into the city.
The vast majority of the participating Tall Ships (approx. 40) will be berthing on the river Lagan, having previously docked in various ports dotted along the west, north and east coasts after finished the maritime challenge. Belfast City will play host to the spectacular finale of the gruelling five week Atlantic Challenge (7,000 nautical miles), in which a total of 60 magnificent Tall Ships participated.
Queen’s Quay, Clarendon Dock, Pollock Quay, The Albert Quay and Custom House Square will all be putting on special pre-arranged hospitality events to entice and cater for the anticipated throngs of welcomed visitors to the culmination of the tall Ships Atlantic Challenge.
An Accompanying Political Tall Tale
Of course, no Northern Ireland Tall Ship event would be complete without an equivalent political tall tale! None can come much taller than the resurfacing of a Gerry Adams special which has hit the headlines again this week in a David Dunseith ‘Talk Back’ programme. Several months ago during a Dublin radio interview Mr. Adams confided with the Irish nation how he and 100 of his fellow Irish Republican prisoners would collectively sing the iconic Monty Python theme tune “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”.
As with everything in Norn Iron’s political arena the attention is in the detail. The debate which has ensued ever since has focused on the release date of this particular cult favourite. Gerry Adams spent time at Her Majesty’s pleasure in the Maze prison between 1973-1977 and a further 6 month term in 1978. All those familiar with the cult classic will tell you that the controversial film was released in 1979, hence the debate.
The latest instalment in this mini saga has unfolded this morning during David Dunseith’s live regular slot on BBC Radio Ulster. Mr. Adams took to the airwaves following a scathing attack by Suzanne Breen on Sinn Fein’s failing political strategy in the Republic of Ireland. As he explained to the 'Talk Back' listeners how he wasn’t going to pander to Suzanne Breen’s own agenda, Mr Dunseith in timely fashion slipped in a quick question on the now infamous Maze Prison rendition. However, true to form Gerry stuck to his original line regarding the issue and re-iterated that he had indeed sung the polemic song. Any political pundit who has been following this story will be familiar with the cheesy musical anecdotes provided by other bloggers and political pundits.
So in keeping with the tradition of this particular tale, the Rebels Yell might as well throw its own two-pence worth into the fray. Depending on the outcome of the current high profile Sinn Fein meeting of politico minds in County Meath, Gerry might be forgiven for reminiscing about the musical influences of 1989. For all those familiar with Northern Ireland’s political journey, 1989 was the year that Sinn Fein with Captain Adams at the helm, would begin to navigate the good ship ‘Irish Republicanism’ on a new voyage through the unchartered waters of a;
'non-armed political movement to work for self-determination.'
This historic speech to the then party faithful was to pave the way for the North’s subsequent peace talks and act as the catalyst for The Good Friday Agreement (Sunningdale Mark II).
In keeping with the maritime theme of this blog post, the song I am alluding too is the 1988 Cher hit ‘If I Could Turn Back Time’ which ironically hit the headlines for Cher’s attire worn in the accompanying video on board a modern day Tall Ship the 'USS Missouri'.
The David Dunseith Talk Back broadcast can be heard here
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