Argentinian Naval Tall Ship “Libertad” opens to public 

Dublin Port and the Embassy of Argentina in Dublin have welcomed one of the world’s largest Tall Ships, the 340-foot-long Libertad, on a two day visit to Dublin.. She is berthed at Berth 18, next to the 3Arena, and will be open to the public , free of charge, on Saturday 30th July, from 2pm to 6pm. The Libertad last visited Dublin November 2019 and is the first tall ship to be open to the public since before the pandemic.  

Having arrived from Baltimore, USA, the Libertad will leave for Saint Malo, France, as part of its 149-day training voyage to 11 ports across nine countries (Brazil, Santa Lucia, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Mexico, USA, Ireland, France and Spain). Sailing with the crew are four Irish volunteers from the Atlantic Youth Trust. The volunteers boarded while the Libertad was anchored in Killala Bay and they have travelled with the ship to Dublin. 

Led by Commanding Officer Captain Carlos Schavinsky Trinchero, the Libertad is the Argentinian Navy’s sail training ship and travels around the world carrying a message of goodwill. This will be the Libertad’s tenth visit to Irish waters since her maiden call in 1968. She subsequently visited the capital in 2012 as part of the Tall Ships festival and again in 2016 as part of her “bicentennial journey” to mark 200 years of Argentinian independence. This trip will include a trip to Foxford in Co. Mayo, the birthplace of Admiral William Brown, founder of the Argentinian Navy, to mark the 245th anniversary of his birth. 

Members of the public visiting the ship on Saturday will be able to get a closer insight into life on board for the 289-strong crew and inspect the fine craftsmanship of the vessel. 

Commenting on the tall ship’s visit, The Ambassador of Argentina to Ireland, Moira Wilkinson said; “This is a very poignant visit for everyone in our embassy, following the  passing of my predecessor, Laura Bernal who passed away in 2020. For 75 years, Argentina and Ireland have enjoyed excellent diplomatic relations built on a shared sense of history and a mutual desire to strengthen our cultural, academic and trading ties. The arrival of the Libertad reminds us of the deep connection that exists between our two nations and symbolises the hand of friendship from Argentina to Ireland, and it is fantastic to begin another chapter of Argentinian-Irish relations. For most of the cadets on board, it will be their first visit to Ireland, which means it is a special opportunity to visit the birthplace of Admiral Brown and pay tribute to his service to Argentina and the Argentinian navy.” 

Encouraging members of the public to visit over the weekend, Eamonn O’Reilly, Chief Executive, Dublin Port Company, said; “Dublin Port welcomes the Libertad on her first visit to Irish shores since before the pandemic. The Libertad is a magnificent vessel and one of the finest tall ships at sea. I would encourage people in the city to take a trip to Berth 18 and visit the ship over the weekend. Argentina’s naval history has deep roots in Ireland and the Libertad’s visit provides the public with a unique opportunity to learn more about this fascinating piece of history.”  

Built in the Rio Santiago shipyards in Buenos Aires, the Libertad was launched in May 1956. In 1966, she set a record for the fasting crossing of the North Atlantic using only sail propulsion (with a time of eight days and 12 hours) between Cape Race, Canada and the English Channel – a record that still stands today.