• March 16, 2009

Tourism Ireland, responsible for marketing the island of Ireland overseas, has signed on as a sponsor of Boston's Volvo Ocean Race event at Fan Pier.

The Volvo Ocean Race is an around-the-world sailing marathon spanning five oceans and covering 39,000 nautical miles with 11 sanctioned port stopover events. The race, which started in Rio de Janeiro, reaches Boston Harbor -- its only North American port of call -- for a three-week race event at Fan Pier beginning April 25.

Ireland-tinged events include cooking demonstrations from celebrity chefs, concerts, and entertainment. The Irish Waterfront Festival takes place at the Fan Pier Race Village on May 15 and 16, just prior to the start of Leg 7, when the vessels begin their trip to Galway.

Tourism Ireland's sponsorship of the Boston stopover is an extension of Ireland's global involvement in the Volvo Ocean Race. In addition to hosting a stopover event in Galway in May, Ireland is a principal sponsor of the Green Dragon boat, one of the eight teams participating in the race. The efforts back Tourism Ireland's new campaign, "Go Where Ireland Takes You."--Karl Greenberg