Working holiday for Ulster-Scots maiden

After a career on open water oscillating between Scotland and Northern Ireland, The Maid of Antrim, has finally ventured back to Lough Foyle - where she will be put to work over the Clipper weekend and provide residents and visitors to the Maiden City with an opportunity to enjoy the homecoming of the Derry-Londonderry yacht from an offshore vantage point.

She is being skippered by Harry Baird and her owner Con Law, who has lovingly restored her to former glory after a demanding working life left her needing a facelift and some major surgery to return her to her former beauty.

Reviewing the yacht’s history, Con revealed that she was originally known as the Scotsguard, and was last in Lough Foyle in 1976.

“She was built in Clyde in 1963, from Timbercraft Shipyard and operated in Garlough and Holylough as a passenger boat, just as she is now.

“She was then bought by a man called Jack Rainey, who operated coasters between England and Ireland, ferrying coal. He bought her as a passenger boat and at that time her name was changed from Scotsguard to the Maid of Antrim. He had another three boats operating: The Maid of Toome, Maid of Bann and the Maid of Coleraine. They were not the same boats, but over time with modifications and the like they became similar vessels, only they were smaller, half the size of the Maid of Antrim,” said Con.

The boat did not remain in Jack Rainey’s possession, however, and was sold back to Scotland to the McGarry family, who had a long-established boating tradition. Her first sailing with them was on Easter Saturday in 1967, from Toome to Coney Island, and they operated The Maid until 1976, when she came west to Northern Ireland once more.

This time she was sold to James and George McGarry, in Co Antrim who operated it for Antrim Council until 1999 when the craft went out of service. Sadly James died a year later and George has also since passed away.

“The boat came up for sale in November 2000 and I set about bringing her back up to modern spec,” said Con, proudly glancing around the below decks seating area, which has been tastefully decked out in blue and natural wood - the work was all done by hand.

Most of the work on her took place which she was moored up in Greencastle, and the technical work took place which she was in dry dock in Lough Neagh. The result is a splendid cruiser class vessel that will operate tours of the river throughout the homecoming festival for the Derry-Londonderry yacht.

Provided the tides permit, Con plans to sail the maid of Antrim below the bridge at Coleraine for him to sail back to Lough Neagh where the old girl is permanently moored, but until then she is going to be a busy girl - operating public and private bookings on the Foyle.

Having been given a safety inspection on Monday, the vessel’s first big night out on Friday when, from 7pm to 10pm she will be the venue for a waterborne karaoke night, which will be repeated next Friday. Anyone interested in taking part or in going on a cruise can contact Con on 07969927098. Bookings during the Clipper Festival weekend will be taken care of by Derry City Council and at other times through the website www.loughneaghcruises.co.uk

In addition to private bookings and official public cruises, Con and his skipper, Harry Baird are planning a little charity work as well, with cruises taking in some of the prettiest parts of the Foyle Estuary.

“Private cruises will be available every evening from 7pm and can be tailored in length. It is envisaged that we will sail from our base near the Peace bridge downstream past the grandure and colour of the round the world sailing vessels, out of the city and below Foyle Bridge and Lisahally Harbour, view the sights of the naval activity here during the Second World War and the beauty of Lough Foyle itself. We also plan to follow the well-marked navigation channel to Greencastle and back at some point, and this will be a leisurely four-hour cruise,” said Con of some of what he planned to offer.

Registered to carry 101 passengers and crew, she has male and female toilets, heated main cabin, a galley which can offer refreshments, including a hot buffet, with prior notice and a fully licenced bar.

“We are proud to be part of this festival and proud to bring the Maid of Antrim back to the Foyle after a gap of 36 years. I think it will be a memorable occasion,” said Con.