Ardglass 1
May 25, 2023
5 May 2023. HM 217. Ardglass. (Part 1 of 2)
James Lenaghan has a firm grip on his harbour and a keen sense of humour. Born close by, his family farm was sold to the local golf course (said to be Tiger Woods' favourite with a clubhouse dating back to 1405), he has been a mechanic, fisherman and teacher. For 21 years he skippered the Strangford Lough ferry, while also working as a Coastguard. To wind up his friends he would hide his Coastguard uniform in a bag on the bridge and make up stories about what he was "smuggling" inside it!
In contrast to harbours nearby, James does not allow any flags to be flown at Ardglass. This gives it a unique sense of calm as flags are emotive in NI. Unlike England, Scotland and Wales there is no official flag that represents Northern Ireland (see below), so political flags tend to prevail.
Ardglass harbour is owned by the NI Harbour Fishery Authority with a catchy definition of "an executive non-departmental public body (NDPB) sponsored by the Department of Agriculture". They charge a levy (2.5%) on the value of fish landings and receive income from service charges e.g. berthing dues & ice sales.
James gave me a tour of his ice making plant - he described it as a "mechanical challenge"! Water is trickled onto the inside of a freezing cylinder and then immediately scraped off as "flakes" which are then stored before being pumped onto boats and used to store the catch. About 70 tons is sold a week at £25 / ton. You forget that all the bait for lobster and crab pots (fish heads) also need ice.
Some challenges are more bizarre - only a week ago a fishing boat caught an unexploded "bomb" in its nets and unloaded it in the port. After James sat up all night waiting for the bomb squad, it was deemed to be a dummy!
Thank you James for a very friendly visit.
FLAGS OF NI: Photo 10:
In 1953, the Ulster Banner was adopted as the official flag of Northern Ireland, but in 1973, it ceased to have any official standing.
The Saint Patrick's Saltire is used to represent Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is part of the Union Jack, where it represents NI.
@seafarers_kgfs
James Lenaghan has a firm grip on his harbour and a keen sense of humour. Born close by, his family farm was sold to the local golf course (said to be Tiger Woods' favourite with a clubhouse dating back to 1405), he has been a mechanic, fisherman and teacher. For 21 years he skippered the Strangford Lough ferry, while also working as a Coastguard. To wind up his friends he would hide his Coastguard uniform in a bag on the bridge and make up stories about what he was "smuggling" inside it!
In contrast to harbours nearby, James does not allow any flags to be flown at Ardglass. This gives it a unique sense of calm as flags are emotive in NI. Unlike England, Scotland and Wales there is no official flag that represents Northern Ireland (see below), so political flags tend to prevail.
Ardglass harbour is owned by the NI Harbour Fishery Authority with a catchy definition of "an executive non-departmental public body (NDPB) sponsored by the Department of Agriculture". They charge a levy (2.5%) on the value of fish landings and receive income from service charges e.g. berthing dues & ice sales.
James gave me a tour of his ice making plant - he described it as a "mechanical challenge"! Water is trickled onto the inside of a freezing cylinder and then immediately scraped off as "flakes" which are then stored before being pumped onto boats and used to store the catch. About 70 tons is sold a week at £25 / ton. You forget that all the bait for lobster and crab pots (fish heads) also need ice.
Some challenges are more bizarre - only a week ago a fishing boat caught an unexploded "bomb" in its nets and unloaded it in the port. After James sat up all night waiting for the bomb squad, it was deemed to be a dummy!
Thank you James for a very friendly visit.
FLAGS OF NI: Photo 10:
In 1953, the Ulster Banner was adopted as the official flag of Northern Ireland, but in 1973, it ceased to have any official standing.
The Saint Patrick's Saltire is used to represent Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is part of the Union Jack, where it represents NI.
@seafarers_kgfs