Now, why would I raise such a question.....?
I have been writing and broadcasting about maritime matters for over 20 years, an experience that at times fills me with hope for the future – that our maritime resources will be appreciated and national attention paid to them, but then I wonder, will the people of this island ever fully appreciate what they have in being an island nation.....
Tom MacSweeney here with the first in a new series of Podcasts on Afloat.ie ...
I coined the term – THIS ISLAND NATION – many years ago on radio and have since hear it used in debates in the Dail, the Seanad, by businessmen, in economic debates, in the shipping and marine sectors generally. It has found its way into modern, public parlance.
But, are all of us who are interested in the sea really committed to promoting a common interest....?
All of this came to mind when I sat on the stern of a yacht on Kinsale Marina on the Cork coastline with a group of sailors and fishermen .. . They were on a sail around Ireland, which I have done in racing mode a number of times .... But had a different purpose – some of them found it difficult to walk, others lacked full use of their limbs or didn't have every limb – but they were all committed to the same purpose – promoting a concept I believe in – sailing is a sport for everyone.....
What surprised me was that their voyage had started from the northern Donegal fishing port of Greencastle, was hugely supported by that fishing community and the yacht I was aboard, a 41ft. Sigma, was owned and skippered by a man from a fishing background.
I have heard yacht owners complain about not being welcome in fishing ports and from fishermen not happy with yachties who tied up against them without considering when a fishing boat might need to leave harbour. But here were fishermen and sailors together and a fishing community leading the way in a sailing project:
The point I am making is that all of us involved with the sea have a common interest, but at time we do not unite or share our views enough to press them home with the fraternity who rule our lives – those of the political community and the State's administrative apparatus who may, themselves, own boats but don't do enough in my view to advance the maritime cause – which remains as an appendage to larger interests, such as Agriculture, rather than standing alone as a strong economic department.
I wondered more about that this week when I heard of Government efforts to get compensation for farmers because prices had dropped, but where is there ever a comparable effort for fishing communities ... which would seem to indicate the land-bound food producers are more important than those at sea...
When the Donegal round Ireland crews got back to home port, after some tough weather en route, there was a great welcome turn-out and I am told that sailability is a project thriving in Donegal ... setting a headline in the common bond of fishing and sailing promoted from Greencastle...
There are clubs around Ireland promoting the concept also and perhaps more would take an interest.... Bringing more like-minded peoplel together in a community of common interest – the sea... Jerome McGirl, one of the disabled sailors on the voyage underlined what that can achieve....:
With that thought from a man who has to make more effort to get onto the water than those of us who are able-bodied.... Keep in mind that – to be a real ISLAND NATION – we should all work together to raise the maritime profile....
This Podcast will alternate with the fortnightly broadcast of my radio programme THIS ISLAND NATION....
Fair sailing.
