Lorna Siggins
Lorna Siggins is a print and radio reporter, and a former Irish Times western correspondent. She is the author of Search and Rescue: True stories of Irish Air-Sea Rescues and the Loss of R116 (2022); Everest Callling (1994) on the first Irish Everest expedition; Mayday! Mayday! (2004); and Once Upon a Time in the West: the Corrib gas controversy (2010). She is also co-producer with Sarah Blake of the Doc on One "Miracle in Galway Bay" which recently won a Celtic Media Award
Uncertainty over the spread of the coronavirus Covid-19 has influenced postponement of the annual Irish Skipper Expo and a charity evening in aid of the Lost at Sea Tragedies (LAST) next weekend, writes Lorna Siggins. Mara Media, which organises the Irish…
Waterways Ireland Urged to Remember Farmers & Floods as it Prepares Tourism Masterplan for Shannon
5th March 2020 Inland Waterways
Waterways Ireland has been urged to work with farmers who are facing serious flooding on the Shannon, as the agency initiates a new tourism masterplan for the river. IFA Connacht chair Pat Murphy said that it would be a “win,…
Coastal litter caused by drinks containers has halved in one year, but macro and micro debris is still plentiful around the Irish coastline. As Afloat reported earlier, results from 541 survey areas recorded by a team of Coastwatch Ireland volunteers…
As Storm Jorge swept in from the Atlantic, there have been renewed calls a single river management agency for the Shannon. Farmers and residents along the river can no longer cope with “despair” and constant fear of flooding, Mid-Shannon flood…
Legislation aimed at reducing microplastic pollution in marine and fresh waters has been enacted by the Government, four months after the EU gave clearance for the move writes Lorna Siggins The Microbeads (Prohibition) Act 2019 (Commencement) Order 2020 was signed…
A new scientific catch and release tagging programme for Atlantic bluefin tuna will authorise up to 25 qualifying angling skippers to participate, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) says. As Afloat reported yesterday, the new Tuna CHART (Catch and Release Tagging) programme…
Galway Harbour Master Pays Tribute to Church Role as Navigational Aid & "Safe Haven" for Mariners
10th February 2020 Galway Harbour
Galway’s harbourmaster Capt Brian Sheridan has paid tribute to the “safe haven” offered by the city’s St Nicholas’s medieval church as it marks its 700th anniversary writes Lorna Siggins The illuminated clock tower was an aid to navigators, and the alignment…
Galway 2020 has said it is keeping the weather situation “under review” for its opening ceremony this evening writes Lorna Siggins Met Éireann has upgraded its weather warning status from yellow to orange for Galway on Saturday, with heavy rainfall and…
Basking sharks which were sampled off the west Kerry coast in early Spring have proved to be genetically different to all other such sharks tested in the north-east Atlantic, according to a newly published study writes Lorna Siggins. The study…
Top student surfers will gather in Mayo in early March for the Surf Intervarsities 2020 when hosts Galway-Mayo Institute of TechnologyI(GMIT) hope to secure a “three in a row” national title writes Lorna Siggins Up to 200 surfers are expected…
British yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur’s foundation is seeking more “circular economy pioneers” through its latest programme. Postgraduates and professionals with suitable qualifications who are able to attend a four-day workshop in Atlanta, USA, in May are invited to apply for the…
Marine Scientist Running in General Election Criticises "Unrealistic" Green Party Plan to Designate Up to 50 Per Cent of Irish Territorial Waters as Protected
31st January 2020 Marine Science
A marine scientist running for the Social Democrats in the general election has described as “unrealistic” a Green Party proposal to designate 50 per cent of Irish territorial waters as marine protected areas writes Lorna Siggins Wicklow councillor Jennifer Whitmore, who…
Coastal Communities "Disenfranchised" in Short Timeframe for Postal Vote Registration, West Cork Fish Supplier Says
31st January 2020 West Cork
A leading west Cork fish supplier and former Fine Gael campaign manager has added his voice to criticism of the short timeline for registering for a postal vote in this general election writes Lorna Siggins Donal Kelly, managing director of Fast…
Bad Irish weather and why we should all embrace it is the theme of Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture’s first street mural. The mural was unveiled in Galway city centre by TG weather presenter Caitlín Nic Aoidh for the…
Fishing Nets Can be Recycled as Skateboards, Bird feeders & Socks Under New EU Project
23rd January 2020 Marine Science
Skateboards, sunglasses, bicycle baskets, bird feeders and socks can all be manufactured from recycled fishing gear, a seminar at NUI Galway has heard writes Lorna Siggins Nets, gear and other plastic material washed up on the coast could provide business opportunities…
Fish Oil Supplements Boost Sperm Counts Among Young Men, Danish Research Finds
21st January 2020 Fishing
Young men who take fish oil supplements have a better sperm count, according to new research published by Danish scientists writes Lorna Siggins. The study of some 1679 young men in Denmark found fish oil supplements improve semen volume and total…
Imminent General Election & Review of Draft Final Report into Rescue 116 Helicopter Crash May Further Delay "Urgent Reform" of Irish Aviation Regulation - IALPA Pilots' Union
12th January 2020 Rescue
The Minister for Transport’s approval of a review of the Air Accident Investigation Unit’s draft final report into the Rescue 116 helicopter crash has been described as “unprecedented” by the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (IALPA) writes Lorna Siggins. The pilots’…
Maritime Lawyer Calls for "Root and Branch Review" of Maritime Safety Directorate
8th January 2020 News Update
An Irish international maritime lawyer has called for a Garda inquiry into the State's role in investigating marine accidents writes Lorna Siggins. Michael Kingston, whose father Tim died in the Whiddy island Betelgeuse explosion 41 years ago, visited Garda headquarters…
Accidental Activation of Satellite Beacons & Expired Equipment Causing False Alerts- Irish Coast Guard
31st December 2019 Coastguard
Accidental activation of satellite beacons or expired equipment meant that the majority of almost 200 such alerts proved to be false alarms this past year, the Irish Coast Guard has said. In its end of year statement, the Irish Coast…
Minister for Marine Michael Creed has paid tribute to Irish trawler owners who have signed up to the State’s “fishing for litter” scheme. Mr Creed said that 96 per cent of trawlers in the fleet have registered to participate, as…
