Historic Boats
![Classic Dun Laoghaire Saturday scene of the late 1940s/early 1950s. John B Kearney’s own-designed own-built classic 10-ton yawl Mavis of 1925-vintage is poised to race as soon as the breeze fills in, with Skipper Kearney in the companionway, and his housekeeper/PA Miss Douglas - aka Samson or John Dory – determinedly in place to do the steering Classic Dun Laoghaire Saturday scene of the late 1940s/early 1950s. John B Kearney’s own-designed own-built classic 10-ton yawl Mavis of 1925-vintage is poised to race as soon as the breeze fills in, with Skipper Kearney in the companionway, and his housekeeper/PA Miss Douglas - aka Samson or John Dory – determinedly in place to do the steering](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000uVLBErLr1U8/s/848/I0000uVLBErLr1U8.jpg)
Dun Laoghaire’s National Yacht Club Is Benignly Haunted By Spirit of John B Kearney
4th May 2024 W M Nixon
The National Yacht Club, handsomely sited in the southeast corner of Dun Laoghaire Harbour, was certainly looking its part as the current MG Motor “Sailing Cub of the Year” last Saturday morning. The sun shone, and in the crisp onshore…
![P.S. Waverley, the world’s last seagoing paddle steamer, has been announced with the prestigious status of ‘National Flagship of the Year’ by National Historic Ships UK. P.S. Waverley, the world’s last seagoing paddle steamer, has been announced with the prestigious status of ‘National Flagship of the Year’ by National Historic Ships UK. AFLOAT adds as part of Waverley Excursions extensive season, the historic vessel is to return to Warrenpoint Port, Co. Down, following its inaugural season last year, with an evening cruise on May 28th, sailing down Carlingford Lough and out to Kilkeel Bay. A second cruise linked to the Newry Maritime Association will take place on May 29th, involving an extended cruise down Carlingford Lough and along the coast to Dundrum Bay, giving views of St. John’s Point.](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000qpJZhcy7xs4/s/767/I0000qpJZhcy7xs4.jpg)
Waverley Awarded ‘National Flagship of the Year’ Is Among NHS-UK 2024 Flagships of the Year
1st May 2024 Historic Boats
Four historic vessels from around the UK have been chosen as this year's Flagships of the Year by National Historic Ships UK, the official voice for historic vessels in the country. The annual Flagship Awards, which have been running since…
![Fingal, a former Northern Lighthouse Board lighthouse/buoy tender built in 1963, is now a double-award-winning floating 5-star luxury hotel! Tripadvisor announced it is the No. 1 luxury hotel and No. 1 small and boutique hotel in the UK. Fingal, a former Northern Lighthouse Board lighthouse/buoy tender built in 1963, is now a double-award-winning floating 5-star luxury hotel! Tripadvisor announced it is the No. 1 luxury hotel and No. 1 small and boutique hotel in the UK. AFLOAT highlights the vessel, while assisting duties in the Irish Sea 30 years ago, made a once-off call to Dun Laoghaire Harbour, the homeport and depot of Irish Lights.](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000eOLjcdJ2Xi4/s/767/I0000eOLjcdJ2Xi4.jpg)
Former Lighthouse Tender in Scotland Named One of the Best Hotels in the World
1st May 2024 Historic Boats
Near the Scottish capital is berthed a historic former lighthouse tender which has been named one of the best hotels in the world at the Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Awards. Fingal, which is the name of the luxury floating hotel, is…
![A highlight of the event is its poster, always a testament to local artistry and available for purchase in local shops. This year’s poster, crafted by Ryan Lavin, pays homage to the esteemed artist Joe Boske, known for his past iconic Fleadh na gCuach designs A highlight of the event is its poster, always a testament to local artistry and available for purchase in local shops. This year’s poster, crafted by Ryan Lavin, pays homage to the esteemed artist Joe Boske, known for his past iconic Fleadh na gCuach designs](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000NOKAa.kJ8K8/s/767/I0000NOKAa.kJ8K8.jpg)
Kinvara Harbour Hosts Fleadh na gCuach This May Bank Holiday Weekend
1st May 2024 Maritime Festivals
Fleadh na gCuach or the Cuckoo Fleadh will transform the south Galway Harbour of Kinvara over this coming May bank holiday weekend. The traditional music and community-based art festival is known for its vibrant ambiance and exceptional talent, attracting musicians…
![Very strange? The rugged-looking 1910-built 48ft gaff cutter Tally Ho in full offshore racing trim in 1927. At first glance, few would guess her to be an Albert Strange design Very strange? The rugged-looking 1910-built 48ft gaff cutter Tally Ho in full offshore racing trim in 1927. At first glance, few would guess her to be an Albert Strange design](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000_9JhtHcalck/s/767/I0000_9JhtHcalck.jpg)
The 1927 Fastnet Race winner Tally Ho - a 48ft gaff cutter built in 1910 - has now been fully restored in a remarkable online project by English sailor/boatbuilder Leo Sampson Goolden in Sampson Boat Company’s premises at Sequium, Washington…
![The spirit of Dublin Bay. Senior Skipper Tim Goodbody helming his very successful family-owned J/109 White Mischief The spirit of Dublin Bay. Senior Skipper Tim Goodbody helming his very successful family-owned J/109 White Mischief](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000pPYEUtyjIjw/s/767/I0000pPYEUtyjIjw.jpg)
There’s something special about a large organisation which is so attuned to the needs of the many services it quietly provides that it can - naturally and confidently and without fuss - move into action each year in a distinctly…
![De Wadden: After many months of planning by Wicklow maritime enthusiasts, large sections of the former Arklow general cargo sailing vessel ‘De Wadden’ built in 1919 are now back in the vessel’s Irish home port. AFLOAT adds that the schooner was the last to trade under sail in the Irish Sea De Wadden: After many months of planning by Wicklow maritime enthusiasts, large sections of the former Arklow general cargo sailing vessel ‘De Wadden’ built in 1919 are now back in the vessel’s Irish home port. AFLOAT adds that the schooner was the last to trade under sail in the Irish Sea, calling to ports on both sides, including Liverpool, with cargoes, chiefly coal, pit props, gravel, and burnt ore from Arklow.](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000KdBlLq.KmT0/s/500/I0000KdBlLq.KmT0.jpg)
Maritime Community Save Sections of Historic Sail Cargo Trader ‘De Wadden’ and Return Home to Arklow
10th April 2024 Historic Boats
A community of Wicklow maritime enthusiasts, after many months of planning, has secured large sections of Arklow's historic last sail cargo vessel ‘De Wadden’ that were returned to the schooner’s home port, having been a static-ship exhibit in the UK.…
![The Anú Pictures documentary 'The Camino Voyage' is on TG4 at 21.20 tonight, Easter Saturday The Anú Pictures documentary 'The Camino Voyage' is on TG4 at 21.20 tonight, Easter Saturday](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000DBOLHcpuAjU/s/767/I0000DBOLHcpuAjU.jpg)
“The Camino Voyage”, the award-winning documentary on a naomhóg journey by sea from Ireland to northern Spain, will be broadcast again on TG4 tonight (Saturday, March 30) Dónal Ó Ceilleachair’s film followed the late poet Danny Sheehy, artist Liam Holden,…
![The 126-year-old traditional Dutch Sailing Barge Drie Gebroeders is one of less than a handful in Ireland The 126-year-old traditional Dutch Sailing Barge Drie Gebroeders is one of less than a handful in Ireland](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000yKU5fUVthBs/s/767/I0000yKU5fUVthBs.jpg)
Dutch Sailing Barge to Embark on Epic Journey for Charity Fundraising from Lough Erne to Inverness
21st March 2024 Historic Boats
In May 2024, a 126-year-old Dutch Sailing Barge named Drie Gebroeders will set off on an epic adventure from Lough Erne in Co. Fermanagh to the eastern Scottish coast, and back again. The goal is to attend two maritime festivals…
![“A History of Lifeboats in Dublin Bay”, an illustrated lecture by Cormac Lowth, takes place in the Maritime Museum, Haigh Terrace, Dun Laoghaire on March 12th at 1.30pm. “A History of Lifeboats in Dublin Bay”, an illustrated lecture by Cormac Lowth, takes place in the Maritime Museum, Haigh Terrace, Dun Laoghaire on March 12th at 1.30pm.](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000eDvRfd2PyYE/s/635/I0000eDvRfd2PyYE.jpg)
History of Dublin Bay Lifeboats Lecture On Tuesday By Maritime Historian Cormac Lowth
10th March 2024 Dublin Bay
While the RNLI celebrates its bicentenary, the first lifeboats in Dublin Bay date back to the early 19th century and were run by the Port Corporation. This is the subject of a talk by maritime historian and researcher Cormac Lowth…
![TG 4 TV drama Tarrac, which involves rowers Rachel Feeney, Kate Finegan, Kate Nic Chonaonaigh, and Kelly Gough, is set on the Dingle peninsula and will be aired on TG4 and TG4.ie on Monday, March 18th, 2024,at 9.30 pm TG 4 TV drama Tarrac, which involves rowers Rachel Feeney, Kate Finegan, Kate Nic Chonaonaigh, and Kelly Gough, is set on the Dingle peninsula and will be aired on TG4 and TG4.ie on Monday, March 18th, 2024,at 9.30 pm](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000.Bs0RPGRsHI/s/767/I0000.Bs0RPGRsHI.jpg)
A drama which involves a group of female rowers training in the Atlantic off the Kerry Gaeltacht will have its first television screening on TG4 this month. Tarrac, which involves rowers Rachel Feeney, Kate Finegan, Kate Nic Chonaonaigh, and Kelly…
![The restored Dublin Bay 24 Periwinkle has been brought back to the original racer/cruiser concept as first developed in Dun Laoghaire in the 1930s The restored Dublin Bay 24 Periwinkle has been brought back to the original racer/cruiser concept as first developed in Dun Laoghaire in the 1930s](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000zNQsBnETWw8/s/767/I0000zNQsBnETWw8.jpg)
Classic Yacht Dublin Bay 24 Zephyra To Be Launched In June, Re-Born in Maine
6th March 2024 Historic Boats
The concept of the Dublin Bay 24, envisaged as a 24ft waterline 37ft LOA Bermuda-rigged racer-cruiser, was first suggested in 1934 at a Committee Meeting of the innovative yet “homeless” Royal Alfred YC in Dun Laoghaire by the owner-skipper of…
![Poet Keith Payne Poet Keith Payne](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000tbBrCY.Vuvw/s/767/I0000tbBrCY.Vuvw.jpg)
Keith Payne On How To Build A Dunfanaghy Currach And Write A Poem About It In 16 Weeks
22nd February 2024 Wavelength Podcast
Currachs and naomhógs are among the only sea craft built upside down, and the expertise dates back generations. Poet Keith Payne learned all this and much more when he found himself working on a Dunfanaghy currach over 16 weeks. He…
![The legendary Commodore John Paul Jones of the US Navy during the American War of Independence against Britain The legendary Commodore John Paul Jones of the US Navy during the American War of Independence against Britain](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000cQzeERxplbY/s/767/I0000cQzeERxplbY.jpg)
Captains Cook and Bligh and Their Place in Valentine's Day Maritime History
14th February 2024 Historic Boats
February the 14th is mostly known as Valentine’s Day, but it has a significance in maritime history far removed from romantic exploits – other, of course, than the romanticism of sailing the seas…..! In 1813, it was the day when…
![The Aran Island Ferry Naomh Éanna has been broken up for scrap but its bow is en route to Galway The Aran Island Ferry Naomh Éanna has been broken up for scrap but its bow is en route to Galway](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000SdY8b8cwHCA/s/767/I0000SdY8b8cwHCA.jpg)
The bow of the former Aran island ferry Naomh Éanna, which has been broken up for scrap, is en route to Galway. As The Irish Independent reports, Port of Galway harbourmaster Capt Brian Sheridan hopes to take delivery of the…
![Businessman and sailor Enda O’Coineen Businessman and sailor Enda O’Coineen](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000jtoIDHxiYuU/s767/I0000jtoIDHxiYuU.jpg)
Businessman and sailor Enda O’Coineen is spearheading a 14 million euro project to build a replica of adventurer Ernest Shackleton’s most famous ship, Endurance. As The Sunday Independent reports, details of an “Endurance II” construction will be outlined at events…