Mountjoy race launch

TRADITIONAL punts will tomorrow (Thursday) race up the River Foyle in the inaugural Mountjoy Challenge, a commemoration of the famous ship’s role in breaking the boom and facilitating the Relief of Derry.
By The Newsroom
Published 31st Jul 2013, 13:37 BST
All flutes together for the Relief of Derry Symphony over Thursday (August 8) and Friday (August 9). Tickets Playhouse boxoffice: More info www.maidencityfestival.com/programmeAll flutes together for the Relief of Derry Symphony over Thursday (August 8) and Friday (August 9). Tickets Playhouse boxoffice: More info www.maidencityfestival.com/programme
All flutes together for the Relief of Derry Symphony over Thursday (August 8) and Friday (August 9). Tickets Playhouse boxoffice: More info www.maidencityfestival.com/programme

It’ll mark the official launch of the week-long Maiden City Festival, which is held yearly as part of the Apprentice Boys’ ‘Derry Day’ commemoration.

It’s a collaboration between the Lough Foyle Yacht Club and the festival organisers.

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The race will begin at 5pm from the Foyle Bridge and will head up the Foyle to where the first boat to the Council Marina will break a boom to win the first ever Mountjoy Challenge Race.

Presentations to the winner and participants will take place shortly after 7pm.

In the 1900s through to about 1950 there was an annual City Of Derry Regatta involving the Lough Foyle Punt Races with 1000s of people lining the city quays to watch the races.

In 2013, Lough Foyle Yacht Club approached the Maiden City Festival with the idea to initiate a Race that brings together different threads of city heritage around the Foyle River.

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Lough Foyle Punts and Drontheims - local boats modelled on Norwegian ‘Trondheims’ - are one of seven great traditional sailing boat types of Ireland (The Galway Hooker, The Shannon One being other examples). The Lough Foyle Punts have been used as fishing boats in the North West for over 1000 years.