When President McAleese received a gold replica of the Jeanie Johnston during her visit to Fenit last Sunday, little did she know that a similar replica is anchored behind the bar in Willie Darcy's Corner in The Square, Tralee.

    The replica is 12 inches long and covered in 24 carat gold leaf, on a wooden base. Peter Murphy, proprietor of Willie D'Arcy's told me that his brother-in-law, John Joe Somers is involved with the promotion of the Jeanie Johnston voyage in Boston. So last Sunday, when Eddie Barron of the Irish Cultural Exchange presented a golden replica to President McAleese, Peter also received one.

    According to Peter, the model at Willie D'Arcy's even outshines the silver replica presented to Bill Clinton. Last year during President Clinton's visit to Ireland, Dick Spring presented him with a silver replica made in Ireland. This gold version is made in America and so links up both sides of the Atlantic.

    Meanwhile down the coast at Fenit, rigging and work on fitting the cabins on the Jeanie Johnston moves swiftly. The amount of hand-made rope in the rigging is astonishing, as you can see from the picture below, taken this morning.

    I am still hoping to be granted an interview with Captain Mike Forwood. For the past 2 weeks he has been too busy with the business of readying Jeanie for her maiden voyage. If you would like to ask a question of him, please fill in your details on the short form below. I'll do my best to ask the question for you!(all fields required)