News from Heir Island

THE POSTPONED HEIR ISLAND REGATTA WAS AGAIN LUCKY IN THAT IT WAS HELD ON A PERFECT DAY FRI 21 AUGUST. THE BALTIMORE LIFEBOAT BENEFITTED TO THE TUNE OF €1800. NEXT YEARS EVENT IS TO BE HELD ON THURS 12 AUGUST 2010.THIS SUPPORT BRINGS IN TOTAL OVER€30000 RAISED FOR THE LIFEBOAT AND MARMOUNT HOSPICE DURING THE LAST YEAR, A WONDERFUL RESPONSE FROM AN ISLAND OF 27 PERMANENT RESIDENTS!

THE HEIR ISLAND SAILING SCHOOL NOW OPEN ALL THE YEAR ROUND HAD AN EXCELLENT SUMMER WITH FAMILIES AVAILAING OF OUR RESIDENTIAL SAILING COURSES COMING FROM 10 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, OUR TRANSITION YEAR PROGRAMME IS IN FULL SWING FOR 2010 UNDER RESIDENT DIRECTOR OF SAILING HUGUES TRAONMILIN.

A FAILTE IRELAND PHOTOGRAPHER AND A MODEL FAMILY WERE HERE IN EARLY OCTOBER FILMING ACTION ON THE HEIR ISLAND LOBSTER BOAT "THE ROSE" OWNED BY THE PROPRIETOR OF THE WORLD FAMOUS, ISLAND COTTAGE RESTAURANT, JOHN DESMON. INCLUDED IN THE ACTION WAS THE HEIR ISLAND SLOOP OWNED AND BUILT BY GUBBY WILLIAMS, WHO HAS MOVED HIS WORKSHOP TO HEIR ISLAND, AND THE FIBRE GLASS DUBLIN BAY "MERMAID" FROM THE HEIR ISLAND SAILING SCHOOL UNDER SKIPPER HUGUES TRAONMILIN. ALL THIS ACTIVITY FOR A REVAMPED FAILTE IRELAND BROCHURE COVERING OUR OFFSHORE ISLANDS.

RESIDENTS OF AND VISITORS TO HEIR ISLAND WERE PROMINENT SUPPORTERS OF THE CAMPAIGN TO RESTORE THE CORK SWANSEA FERRY. THEY ARE ALL HOPEFUL THAT ITS RESTORATION WILL HERALD THE RETURN OF THE ADVENTURE HOLIDAY MAKER AND ALLOW THOSE WITH HOLIDAY HOMES AN EXTRA 2 DAYS ON THEIR ANNUAL VACATION WITHOUT THE LONG DRIVE FROM ROSSLARE...