SLIDESHOW - blessing the boats

One of the most moving events during the recent Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival was the ceremony of blessing the boats.
By Una Culkin
Published 7th Jun 2015, 08:16 BST
Mayor Michelle Knight McQuillan and Kate O Connor from Ballycastle Church action lay flowers at the Blessing of the BoatsMayor Michelle Knight McQuillan and Kate O Connor from Ballycastle Church action lay flowers at the Blessing of the Boats
Mayor Michelle Knight McQuillan and Kate O Connor from Ballycastle Church action lay flowers at the Blessing of the Boats

Prayers, readings and music accompanied the laying of wreaths from a number of boats on Ballycastle bay.

Here’s a slideshow of photographs from the event taken by Kevin McAuley Multimedia Photography.