Ilen & Saoirse Cape Clear Bound (Ilen's Centenary 1926-2026)

Join us on board Ilen & Saoirse - 'Cape Clear' Open Ship Experiences!

Limerick-born, Conor O'Brien, is celebrated as the first Irish circumnavigator of the globe, by way of the 3 great capes; Cape Horn, Cape of Good Hope and Cape Leeuwin. O'Brien's 42ft wooden ketch, Saoirse, was the vessel which completed this ardous 8,000n.m. voyage. This feat, coupled with Saoirse's exceptional build quality and immense ability to navigate such tumultuous waters, was the inspiration behind the commissioning of a larger 56ft ketch 'Ilen', by The Falkland Islands Company.

Ilen was co-designed by Conor O'Brien and Tom Moynihan and built by master shipwright Moynihan and his skilled team at The Fisheries School, Baltimore, Co. Cork. Mid 1926, O'Brien completed Ilen's sea trials, sailing her to Derrynane and to his native Foynes, Co Limerick.

Ilen's maiden voyage sailed from Baltimore on 24th August 1926, skippered by O'Brien and crewed by Cadogan cousins, Denis and Con, who both hailed from Cape Clear. To commemorate this voyage and the exceptional abilities of O'Brien and his crew from Cape Clear, Ilen & her sister vessel, Saoirse, will sail from Baltimore Harbour to Cape Clear, the home of the Cadogan men, who with O'Brien, delivered Ilen safely to Port Stanley in January 1927. There, she remained for the next 70 years, as an inter-island service vessel, carrying people, cargo and animals, before her repatriation back to Ireland in 1997.

Join Ilen's & Saoirse's crews for the rest of the story on Sunday 23rd!

Ferry Service Timetable to/from Cape Clear Island available from: https://www.capeclearferries.com/timetables/