DUBLIN HAS A particularly tall visitor staying over for the next few days.

The Juan Sebastián de Elcano, the third-largest tall ship in the world, arrived in Dublin harbour this morning for a five-day visit to the capital.

She was greeted by a ceremonial escort of tug boats and a flotilla of yachts from local sailing clubs.

The 370ft-tall, 191-crew, 86-year-old, four-masted, steel-hulled beast of a schooner  belongs to the Royal Spanish Navy – but they’re allowing the public to come visit at certain times.

In her spare time, the Elcano is used mainly as a training vessel, preparing officers for long spells at sea, and has just spent 23 days sailing across the Atlantic from New York.

The ship has been involved in 10 trips around the world.

Javier Garrigues, the Spanish Ambassador to Ireland, said the visit is aimed at prompting a Spanish-Irish cultural exchange and will strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

“It symbolises the strength of the bilateral relations between Ireland and Spain, two nations united throughout history by close ties, nowadays reinforced by their common membership of the EU,” he said.

The fact that Dublin has been chosen as a port of call by the Elcano is proof of the importance Spain attaches to Ireland.

In photos: Tall Ship ‘Cuauhtemoc’ leaves Dublin Harbour >

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