Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

A hundred years ago on this day, Conor O’Brien of Limerick’s 42ft own-designed ketch - newly-built by Tom Moynihan of Baltimore with some of the West Cork shipwright’s small but very effective hull shape improvements - was well into a…

The naturally-sheltered and historic little port of Carrigaholt on the south shore of the Loop Head peninsula in far southwest County Clare is where sea and land and the outer Shannon Estuary colourfully interact to provide a unique sense and…

In the buildup to the Centenary of Conor O'Brien's significant arrival with Saoirse at Funchal in Madeira next Monday (July 3rd), the restored 1926-vintage O'Brien-designed 56ft trading ketch Ilen, under the command of James Lyons of the Sailing Into Wellness…

The Howth 17s, on their Quasquicentennial (125th Anniversary) Cruise-in-Company in West Cork, are on target with their arrival this afternoon (Tuesday) from Schull at their furthest west port of Crookhaven. There, it was discovered that Billy O'Sullivan, second generation host…

Two classic Irish yachts are turning heads in the perfect sailing conditions of the first two days of racing at the Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup Regatta off Kinsale.  The immaculately restored O'Keeffe family's gaff cutter Lady Min of 1902 vintage and the Sisk…

In July, a new classic boat/yacht parade is planned for Dun Laoghaire Harbour. This event is being arranged in association with Dun Laoghaire's Coastival Festival, a week-long series of events and activities that culminates in the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta.…

An international Irish sailing event called the “Saoirse Rally” organised by the Irish Cruising Club, launched from Dun Laoghaire harbour, Co. Dublin, Ireland last Saturday, 17th June 2023, to commemorate the heroic achievements one hundred years ago of legendary Irish…

The colourful three-day gathering at the Crosshaven Traditional Sail 2023 was the annual get-together of vintage boats of all shapes and sizes in Cork Harbour at the weekend. Boats arrived on Friday night at the Hugh Coveney Pier in Crosshaven…

The Commemoration of the Centenary of the pioneering global circumnavigation south of the Great Capes by Conor O’Brien of Foynes, sailing the 42ft ketch Saoirse between June 20th 1923 and June 20th 1925, was put underway yesterday (Saturday) from Dun…

A team of three Donegal brothers have won the Three Island currach rowing challenge in Skerries, Co Dublin, this weekend. Simon, Ronan and Michael O Dómhnaill from Gaoth Dobhair had won the race for traditional currachs in 2021, and were…

The Royal Irish Yacht Club was the focus on Saturday afternoon for the beginning of celebrations of the centenary of Conor O'Brien's departure in Saoirse from Dun Laoghaire Harbour on his pioneering global circumnavigation. An Irish Cruising Club/Royal Cruising Club gathering was hosted…

A hundred years ago next Tuesday, June 20th, Conor O'Brien (1880-1952) of Foynes took his departure with some fanfare aboard his 42ft Saoirse from the harbour her skipper preferred to call Dunleary, though most of its citizens saw it as…

Minister of State for Heritage Malcolm Noonan has visited the former lifeboat named Dunleary, which is the focus of a refit project in its home harbour. The Watson-class lifeboat was stationed at what was formerly Kingstown, Co Dublin, from December…

National Historic Ships UK, the official voice for historic vessels has today appointed six vessels from around the UK to act as its 'Flagships of the Year' for 2023 and ‘fly the flag’ for maritime heritage. The 2023 Flagships of…

The recent spell of hyper-sunny weather was a reminder of the time we stumbled upon the “lost” Dublin Bay 24 Zephyra while searching for shade to walk our little dog around the back of a castle in Mayo. The elegant…

Gentle to moderate south-westerly winds are forecast for this weekend’s Feile an Spidéil. Many currachs crews and a fleet of Galway hookers will take to the water off An Spidéil, Co Galway, with conditions particularly suitable for the hooker fleet.…