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
Warning over Renewable Energy Plans in New Programme for Government
15th June 2020 Power From the Sea
Plans for upscaling offshore renewable energy under the new Programme for Government will fail unless the State agencies receive more resources, an industry group has warned. The Marine Renewables Industry Association (MRIA) has described as “revolutionary” the new targets, which…
Photographers of Marine Wildlife Invited to Submit to Irish Wildlife Trust Contest
12th June 2020 Marine Wildlife
Photographers of Ireland’s rich marine environment are invited to enter images for a contest being run by the Irish Wildlife Trust. To mark both World Oceans Day this month and easing of travel restrictions to within county boundaries, the trust…
Surprise at Short Timeline for Government Consultation on Offshore Wind Energy
10th June 2020 Power From the Sea
Coastal communities have been given just three weeks to respond to a consultation on developing a network of offshore wind farms to meet Ireland’s climate targets. Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton has given a closing date…
How to improve surfing with “pop-up” training is one of a number of “online” activities that a north Mayo Gaeltacht outdoor pursuits centre is offering to students this summer, The Irish Independent reports. Coláiste Uisce, which teaches surfing, sailing, windsurfing…
A former Italian honorary consul has expressed disappointment at damage to a monument marking explorer Christopher Columbus’s links to Galway. A Labour city councillor, Niall MacNelis, has also condemned the spraying of black paint on the monument, and says he…
Glen Hansard Pays Tribute in Song to Late Kerry Poet & Sailor Danny Sheehy
9th June 2020 Historic Boats
Musician Glen Hansard has paid tribute to west Kerry poet, farmer and sailor Danny Sheehy with a new video marking the third anniversary of his death. Film-maker Dónal Ó Céilleachair, who recorded The Camino Voyage documenting Sheehy’s currach trip with…
Irish Diver Rory Golden Consulted on New Expedition to Recover Titanic's Wireless Marconi Telegraph
7th June 2020 Titanic
Irish deep-sea diver Rory Golden is providing expertise to a new expedition to the Titanic which aims to recover the Marconi radio from the wreck, The Sunday Times reports. The wireless Marconi telegraph was instrumental in saving more than 705…
Surf Schools Appeal for Extension of Wage Subsidy Scheme & Lowering of VAT Rate
6th June 2020 Surfing
Surfing schools have appealed to the Government to extend the Covid-19 wage subsidy scheme to their sector, as surfers return to the water. They have also called on Minister for Tourism Shane Ross to lower the VAT rate for surf…
European Ships Generate Carbon Emissions Equivalent to Belgium, New EU Report Says
5th June 2020 Ports & Shipping
European merchant ships generate almost four per cent of total EU carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, a new EU report states. The European Commission’s report - the first of its kind on CO2 emissions from maritime transport - estimates that merchant…
Irish sea anglers are invited to participate in an Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) online survey which will help to inform how activities relate to stock levels. The online survey “seeks to collect information on the behaviours, attitudes and catch preferences…
Red Seaweed Cultivation for Animal Feed Could Help Meet Government Climate Targets
5th June 2020 Marine Science
Scientists in West Cork are reporting significant results in use of a type of red seaweed to reduce methane emissions in cattle. Cuts of between 40 and 98 per cent in emissions have already been achieved in trials in the…
Marine Minister Michael Creed has defended a new temporary tie-up scheme for fishing vessels which has been condemned by the industry as “designed to fail”. Four Irish fish producers have said the EU-funded scheme to compensate whitefish vessels which tie…
US businessman Gregg Bemis, owner of the Lusitania which was torpedoed off Co Cork with the loss of 1,200 lives during the first World War, has died in New Mexico. Mr Bemis was due to mark his 92nd birthday next…
Coastal & Marine Tourism Could Help "Reboot" Badly Hit Sector, NUI Galway Report Finds
20th May 2020 Aquatic Tourism
Domestic coastal and marine tourism could help to “reboot” a sector which has been badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, a new report by NUI Galway (NUIG) finds. “Marine-active” holidaymakers tend to stay longer and spend more than the average…
The Aran islanders may have a ban on visitors, but they are already critically short of drinking water. Irish Water and Galway County Council have introduced restrictions on water use lasting 17 hours a day on both the largest island…
"We Are All on a Metaphorical Ice Floe..." Co Kildare Museum Releases Podcasts on Shackleton to Boost Morale
18th May 2020 Historic Boats
“For scientific discovery give me Scott; for speed and efficiency of travel give me Amundsen; but when disaster strikes and all hope is gone, get down on your knees and pray for Shackleton..” The words of British geologist Raymond Priestley,…
The Government has been warned of the risks of an increase in drownings in the next few weeks during an easing of Covid-19 restrictions. Water Safety Ireland chief executive John Leech has expressed concern about the risks if weather is…
State's Air Navigation Division Suffering Staff Shortages Two Years After Rescue 116 Crash, Review Finds
17th May 2020 Coastguard
Air navigation services run by the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) have not been adequately resourced and were still suffering from staffing shortages for at least two years after the Rescue 116 helicopter crash, The Sunday Independent reports. A review for…
Marinas and public slipways around the coast are due to open next week as part of a phased lifting of Covid-19 restrictions. Port of Galway harbourmaster Capt Brian Sheridan has said the port’s public slipway and its marina will be…
Coastal Communities Invited to Participate in "Virtual" Social Justice Event to Remember Doolough Valley Deaths
16th May 2020 Coastal Notes
Some people are climbing Everest, some tackling Hadrian’s Wall, some circumnavigating Ireland as four Dun Laoghaire sailors are doing in aid of the RNLI, all virtually, of course. However, sailors and coastal communities are being invited to participate in a land…
