Time was when the blessing of the boats ceremony was a regular occurrence in Dingle in County Kerry however an absence of a number of years the ceremony was revived this week. Weather conditions were excellent and local trawlers, ferries and other craft were bedecked in flags and bunting for what was once great traditional event.
The local fishing fleet is unrecognisable from the early days of this decade because of the decline of the industry.
Canon Tom Looney, escorted by harbour master Brian Farrell, offered a brief prayer at the quayside before blessing a number of boats.
Then local curate Fr Bernard Healy and his assistant Tom Browne went on board the Valentia lifeboat that came across the bay for the event at the invitation of organiser Kevin Flannery.
The ferries gave free passage to anyone who wanted to take part in the ceremony and were quickly filled with eager passengers.
The lifeboat, under the command of newly appointed coxswain Richard Quigley, took up a position at the head of a flotilla of around 20 vessels of varying sizes and the parade set off down the harbour.
Fungie greeted every boat as it passed the lighthouse to the delight of the crowded passing vessels.
The lifeboat took up a position between Bín Bán Head and the Túirín Bán and the following vessels moved in a wide circle around her. As each boat passed, it was blessed by Fr Healy from a position on the lifeboat's bridge.
A collection for the lifeboat was taken up from the passengers and added to a collection of around €2,000 raised at Dingle Ocean world during the summer, according to Mr Flannery.
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