ILT Granuaile pictured by John Coughlan, retired Lighthouse Keeper, whilst engaged in buoy work in the Shannon Estuary.

THE CUTTY SARK Tall Ships Race came to Dublin for four days from 22 to 25 August 1998. In a way, it followed a rule of four. Four years to plan, four spectacular days in Dublin, four years to recover.

Granuaile was there at the beginning and there at the end. Charles Haughey, then Steering Committee Chairman, launched the Tall Ships Campaign on Granuaile some four years ago. Granuaile had the honour to be Parade Control for the Parade of Sail as the Tall Ships sailed from Dublin Port on Tuesday 25th.

Irish Lights as always did themselves proud. Commissioner Bruce Lyster took over from Charles Haughey as Chairman and delivered a festival that is unlikely ever to be surpassed. Other Commissioners served with Mr Lyster on the Committee. Depot staff, Engineers, and Inspectors gave of their expertise and Granuaile laid buoys further up the Liffey than ever before. Tall Ships saw remarkable events. It even turned an Irish Lights Commissioner into a gun runner. I cannot say who ran the guns for fear that Mr Johnson will sue me. Suffice to say he saved the day for the 21 gun salute to the Cuachtemoe. This incident typifies the 'can do' spirit that pervaded the Tall Ships Committee and their myriad volunteer workers. To get a 21 gun salute you must fire your gun first. If you don't have a gun it can't happen. Where lesser mortals would give up Tall Ships and our man managed to get the guns to the Cuachtemoe.

Sunday Night - The Captain's Gala Dinner. A politician who doesn't know my day job believes me when I explain the uniform by saying I was told it was fancy dress. He was the only one at the black tie dinner who didn't wear a tie! Captain Ronan McAllister of Asgard II gave the speech of the night. What a credit to Ireland this beautiful ship and her crew are. The epitome of everything that sail training is about. Well done, Ronan.

Tuesday - Parade of Sail. With guests on board, the Granuaile as Parade Control is at the centre of the action. The greatest sight ever seen or likely to be seen on Dublin Bay. Hundreds of sails, thousands of spectators, guns and whistles, cheers and laughter. A moment of great pride for Granuaile when Mrs Jenka Bielak of the International Tall Ships Committee presented a Cutty Sark Tall Ships badge. Granuaile an honorary Tall Ship for the day.

From Arklow Schooners to the Astrid. Ben Forde, retired Com-mander of Granuaile, sails past in this 170 ton brig. Before the mast again and in his element!

Contrasts, as modern container ships and the hss pick their way through a maze of sail. As the last ship passed we weighed anchor and went once around the Bay--everybody on board knows this is special, a once off.

Then it ended. Dublin Bay empty, showing in contrast the great event that has passed. At the post parade events there is a strange silence. It takes a while to realise that this is because the mobile phones have stopped ringing. Power certainly gave way to sail for the four days but modern gsm technology kept the show on the road.

Well done to Mr Bruce Lyster: you remarked in the Royal St George there is nothing more past than a past Commodore. Tall Ships 1998 will be a testimony to you for a long time to come.

For the record, Granuaile was engaged on normal Service work on all days with the exception of the day of sail.