It was the hottest day of summer when Princess Elletra, daughter of Gugliemo Marconi, alighted from Irish Helicopter's Bolkow helicopter and boarded Granuaile, anchored in Clifden Bay.

Left to Right: Brian Hughes, Manager Abbey Glen Castle; John Murray, 2nd Officer; Richard von Bergen, 3rd Engineer; Carl Laverty, Chief Officer; Capt John Harding, Commander; Princess Elletra; Dermot Gray, 2nd Officer; William Keogh, 3rd Engineer; Laurence Hanlon, 2nd Officer; Paul Hughes, Marconi Festival Co-ordinator.

Princess Elletra was guest of honour at celebrations in Clifden marking the 100th anniversary of the invention of radio, in which the Marconi station near Clifden played an important role. Princess Elletra's father, Gugliemo Marconi, was born in 1874 of Italian/Irish parentage. He undertook experiments with telegraphic communication through space by means of electromagnetic waves. By applying improvements to apparatus invented by others he soon achieved remarkable results in his experiments, sending and receiving signals over a distance of two miles. He quickly improved on this development and in 1901 was sending and receiving signals across the Atlantic. For many years Marconi devoted his attention to bringing wireless into general use on sea-going vessels, and we are indebted to his invention in the interests of safety of life at sea.

He died in 1937 when Elletra, named after his yacht, was 7 years old. When asked about this unusual way of naming a child Elletra explained that her father cherished his yacht so much that he wanted his daughter to carry the graceful yacht's name. I am in the process of changing my son Robert's name to Gray Seal.

Princess Elletra was welcomed on board by Captain John Harding who introduced her to his assembled officers and crew. Some of us had taken a crash course in Italian for the event but after the first buon giorno, come sta she explained that she did not understand Gaelic and would rather converse in English, per favore!

She presented Captain Harding with a beautifully inscribed Galway crystal tankard and after photos were taken was shown around the ship. On viewing the bridge her eyes lit up when she noticed the Marconi Lodestone medium frequency radio direction finder. She was captivated by the fact that her father's radio equipment still played a part on modern ships in the era of satellite navigation and communications.

After a guided tour of the ship she adjourned to the Commissioners' smoke room where light refreshments were served. Elletra, as she insisted we call her, relaxed and regaled us with childhood memories of her father. It was an honour to be in her presence as she spoke about the human side of Gugliemo Marconi, whose name still affects the daily lives of those who follow a sea-going career.

After what seemed a very short time, the sound of the helicopter rotors could be heard announcing the end of Princess Elletra's visit to our ship. She complimented Captain Harding on his ship and the courteous manner in which she had been received, and said that Granuaile will always hold a special place in her memories, as her visit will in ours.