A Japan-based "floating peace village" docked in Dublin this weekend. The 30,000-ton 'peace boat' is halfway through a three-month educational voyage.
The ship left Tokyo last month to sail to the convention of Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC), in New York in August.
Some 1,000 passengers from Japan, Germany, Iraq and the Middle East have embarked on the journey, to learn about peace building, improve their language skills and attend lectures.
When the Peace Boat organisation acquired the ship, it housed a large casino. This was replaced with educational facilities, including a library, computer offices and two large lecture theatres.
Seán O'Boyle of the Glencree Centre for Reconciliation, Co Wicklow, boarded the ship in France to educate passengers about Ireland's peace process.