Hannan Trophy Presented to Joint Winners Dave Cahill and Tom McHale of Cumann Seoltóireachta an Spidéil

30th January 2024

Cumann Seoltóireachta an Spidéil award (from left to right( - Dave Cahill, CSS commodore Eoin Ó Conghaíle and Tom McHale with the Hannan trophy presented to Cahill and McHale in An Spidéal, Co Galway

Two long-standing members of Cumann Seoltóireachta an Spidéil (CSS) have been presented with the annual Hannan trophy for their outstanding services to the Co Galway club.

Dave Cahill and Tom McHale were presented with the trophy by current commodore Eoin Ó Conghaíle in recognition of their “sár obair” to secure two new rigid inflatable boats (RIBs).

Ó Conghaíle said the two RIBS were vital assets to secure safe sailing from An Spidéal in Co Galway for years to come.

Cahill and McHale, both active sailors and past commodore and committee members, managed the new RIB project from commissioning to delivery in 2023.

2023 Hannan trophy joint winner Dave Cahill with 2022 winner and offshore sailor Cathal Mahon at the Cumann Seoltóireachta an Spidéil winter gathering.

The John and Stephanie Hannan Award, which was commissioned by Cumann Seoltóireachta an Spidéil (CSS) in 2020, is an annual prize in memory of the late John Hannan.

The presentation was made at the club’s 2023 winter gathering, when the 2022 Hannan trophy winner, offshore sailor Cathal Mahon, was also present to congratulate Cahill and McHale.

Mahon, an award-winning 420 dinghy sailor with Rob Talbot at CSS, is now competing offshore.

Both Mahon (skipper) and Talbot (bow) were part of the Galway Bay youth crew that sailed the Green Dragon to line honours runners-up and second in class zero in the 2022 Round Ireland Yacht Race.

Mahon has just completed the RORC Transatlantic from Lanzarote to Grenada, and is currently preparing for the Caribbean 600 which starts in mid February.

CSS, founded in 2002, has no clubhouse, but was dubbed the "coolest place to sail" by Irish Olympic contestant Sean Waddilove.

Published in Galway Harbour

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Cumann Seoltóireachta An Spidéil

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Galway Bay is a large bay on the west coast of Ireland, between County Galway in the province of Connacht to the north and the Burren in County Clare in the province of Munster to the south. Galway city and port is located on the northeast side of the bay. The bay is about 50 kilometres (31 miles) long and from 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) to 30 kilometres (19 miles) in breadth.

The Aran Islands are to the west across the entrance and there are numerous small islands within the bay.

Galway Port FAQs

How old is Galway port?

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Who is the harbourmaster of Galway port?

Capt Brian Sheridan, who succeeded his late father, Capt Frank Sheridan

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The dock gates open approximately two hours before high water and close at high water subject to ship movements on each tide.

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