In June 1962, a large crowd
gathered on the banks of the River Liffey at Ringsend to watch the local clergy
bless seven new boats built locally. The boats, a combination of skiffs,
sailing boats and one motor cruiser were built by students from the Ringsend
Technical Institute.
The project was sponsored by
the giant brewer Guinness and the cruiser was named the M Y Goodness, an
advertising catchphrase of the company. Father Vincent Kehoe, parish priest of
Ringsend, blessed the boats before they were launched into the Liffey and the
Rover Dodder. The skiffs were donated to the local boy scouts on the Dodder.
Ringsend has had a boat and ship
building and repairs industry in the past and it this was one of the last major
boat building schemes in the area. It would be nice to see it return.
