The National Yacht Club is a yacht club located in Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin, Ireland.

National Yacht Club
Short nameNYC
Founded1871
LocationDún Laoghaire, County Dublin
Websitehttp://www.nyc.ie
National Yacht Club in 2018

The club was founded in 1871 as the Kingstown Royal Harbour Boat Club

An active club prior to 1870 operated on the site. It is likely that it was a commercial venture loosely described as a club rather than a club as known today.[1]

1871 Kingstown Royal Harbour Boat Club

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The present clubhouse, designed by William Sterling,[2] was erected in 1870 at a cost of £4,000. At that time it was known as the Kingstown Royal Harbour Boat Club.

1872 Kingston Harbour Boat Club

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In 1872 the name was changed to the Kingston Harbour Boat Club, as the use of the word Royal in a title requires a royal warrant and that was registered with Lloyd's in 1872.

1881 Kingstown Harbour Yacht Club

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Ownership passed to a Captain Peacocke and others who formed a proprietary club called the Kingstown Harbour Yacht Club, again registered at Lloyds. In 1887 the clubhouse was bought by a Mr Charles Barrington. and between 1887 and 1901 the club was very active and operated for a while as the Absolute Club although this change of name was never registered.

1901 Edward Yacht Club

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The name changed[3] yet again to the Edward Yacht Club, following its purchase by three trustees.

1931 National Yacht Club

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Former ensign of the NYC, used before 1945.

In 1930 at a time when the Edward Yacht Club was relatively inactive,[4] a committee including the Earl of Granard approached the trustees with a proposition[5] to form the National Yacht Club. The Earl of Granard had been Commodore of the North Shannon Yacht Club. An agreement was reached, the National Yacht Club was registered at Lloyds, and the Earl of Granard became the first Commodore.

It obtained a warrant from the Irish Herald[6] of Arms and is the only yacht club in Ireland with a warrant[7] to use the State Harp[8] on its Ensign.

It continues to provide yachting facilities today.

Other yacht clubs in Dún Laoghaire are the Royal Irish Yacht Club founded in 1831, the Royal St. George Yacht Club founded in 1838 and the Dunlaoghaire Motor Yacht Club founded in 1965.

See also

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ Clubs today in the correct usage of the word are not public facilities, but are owned and operated by the members, who control who may or may not be members.
  2. ^ The design for the exterior of the club was a hybrid French Chateau and eighteenth century Garden Pavilion and today is a Class A listed building, it continues to provide yachting facilities.
  3. ^ In 1901 Queen Victoria was succeeded by her son Edward VII
  4. ^ Yachting in Ireland flourished at that time, but there were two Royal clubs in Dunlaoghaire that catered for the demand and in a pre fibreglass boat era, boats were much more a preserve of the wealthy than today.
  5. ^ With the formation of the Irish Free State in 1922, even though Ireland remained in the Commonwealth, the prospect of ever getting a royal warrant had receded.
  6. ^ "Irish Herald". National Library of Ireland.
  7. ^ Official permission
  8. ^ Brian Boru harp. The State, for itself, reserves the use of the harp in gold, while the grant to the National Yacht Club is for the Brian Boru harp displayed in silver.
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