Once a fortnight I sit in the studios of the Community Radio Station in Youghal, to present and produce This Island Nation, which I describe as "the maritime programme reporting on marine culture, history and tradition, bringing together the community of the sea..."
The sea is just across the road from the studios in this East Cork coastal town. From there the programme is distributed to radio stations around the country and on this edition I admit to being an advocate for the importance of the maritime sphere. However, in the programme, one of the leading maritime lawyers in the world challenges whether the Irish Government understands the potential in the seas around this island nation. He certainly doesn't think that they are doing enough to achieve what this potential offers.
Michael Kingston (centre) being awarded the Maritime Lawyer of the Year Award in London
Listen on this link below to hear Michael Kingston, a native of Goleen in West Cork, whose father was killed in the Betelgeuse oil tanker disaster in Bantry Bay in January of 1979. He also discusses what he considers to be unresolved issues in the investigation of this tragedy and outlines why he feels that failures to sign international maritime treaties could have had effects on the loss of the R116 Coast Guard helicopter.
