THE HAUGHEY family's strong association with Dingle was maintained yesterday at the Dingle regatta.
Clad in yellow oils for what he said was "a soft day", Conor Haughey, eldest son of late taoiseach Charles Haughey, officially started the main race of the Dingle regatta yesterday, maintaining the tradition begun by the late taoiseach in the early 1970s.
He did so in the face of the worst weather in living memory on an August Sunday in west Kerry.
As the Atlantic rains swamped the commentary stand there was the pop of the starter's gun and the four boats in the four-man naomhóg championships of Kerry were off.
Conor's son Joseph (9) announced that he would be rowing next year in Dingle: "Definitely."
A billboard on the quay advertised that "Regatta na Lachan", a toy duck race on a river in Dingle, would be taking place in early September, but this truly was weather for ducks, Ciarán Haughey noted.
Minister of State for Education Seán Haughey was the first to arrive on the quay, with his wife Orla and children.
The naval vessel, the LÉ Orla, was also in harbour for the occasion, offering free tours. The Haughey family, including Maureen Haughey, were invited on board for the traditional drinks reception after Mass.
The Charlie Haughey Memorial Cup, introduced in 2006 for the ladies' naomhóg race, was on proud display and a bust of the late taoiseach, commissioned by Dingle fishermen in gratitude for modernising of the harbour, stood near the quayside.