At the January meeting of Youghal Town Council, Cllr Liam Burke, seconded by Cllr Mayor Olly Casey, brought forward the motion: That the council calls on the Government to consider the purchase of the Kathleen & May as a replacement sail-training vessel’ (for the Asgard II) -Report Christy Parker/Photo Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com)

Cllr Burke said there is a serious question as to whether the Asgard, which sank last year in the Bay of Biscay, will ever be salvaged. Instead, he believed, the wooden, three-masted schooner the Kathleen & May would prove a worthy and suitable replacement. The historic ship is currently for sale and in danger of being lost to this part of the world entirely. He noted the asking price is £3m, while the Asgard was insured for €3.8m and the current sterling rate made its purchase attractive. The motion was passed.

The Town Clerk said a previous request to the government to buy the ship, prior to the Asgard sinking, had not elicited a formal reply. He doubted there is any government money available for such a venture and warned against any local authority involvement in a would-be purchase due to the “gigantic” short and longterm costs. Similar ventures in Tralee and Enniscorthy almost bankrupted their councils, he said. However he would forward the proposal to the appropriate government department.