Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed TD today launched two new major marine projects in Killybegs, Co. Donegal. The first of these was the redevelopment of the United Fish Industries (UFI) fishmeal plant which has just been completed at a cost of €30million. The second was the new Killybegs Small Craft Harbour built at a cost of €2.9million as reported by Afloat.ie in March here.

Minister Creed said that “I was delighted to be here today to officially launch the redevelopment of the UFI fishmeal plant in Killybegs. This is a very significant investment by the company and is a major vote of confidence in Killybegs and the Irish seafood industry. The board of Pelagia, the parent company of UFI, have shown their serious long term commitment to seafood in Ireland and it was a pleasure to meet them here today to be able to congratulate them in person.”

Minster Creed also officiated at the launch of the new Killybegs Small Craft Harbour. Minster Creed said at the launch that “This new harbour, fully funded by the State, is a first class facility capable of accommodating 63 boats ranging up to 15 metres in length with one berth capable of accommodating larger vessels in excess of 20 metres long. This is great development for Killybegs Harbour and will complement the existing world class facilities in place for our large fishing vessels.”

During his visit to Killybegs, Minster Creed also had meetings with the Killybegs Fishermens Organisation, the Irish Fish Processors & Exporters Association and the Inver Traditional Herring Fishermen to discuss a range of fisheries issues.

Separately and accompanied by Minister of State Joe McHugh TD, Minister Creed met with a number of local farming representatives.

#Kerrykeel - The body of a woman whose car went of a pier near Kerrykeel in Co Donegal yesterday has been recovered from the water, as Independent.ie reports.

A post-mortem was set to be carried out in Letterkenny General Hospital on the 36-year-old woman, who was last seen in Kerrykeel just minutes before the incident around 12.30pm.

It has since emerged that a local teenager attempted to rescue the woman from the car after it plunged off the pier, and was subsequently treated for shock.

Independent.ie has more on the story HERE.

#IsleOfDoagh - A body has been found this afternoon (Thursday 1 September) in the search for a man missing from the Isle of Doagh since Monday evening.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the man was reported missing by his family after going swimming during a camping holiday on the Inishowen Peninsula.

But according to The Irish Times, a body was recovered at Five Fingers Strand across from Doagh in the search for 59-year-old Tony Griffiths.

#Missing - The search continues today (Wednesday 31 August) for a man missing after going swimming off the Inishowen Peninsula in Co Donegal this past Monday.

According to The Irish Times, the man in his 50s was reported missing at midnight on Monday by his family, with whom he was on a camping holiday on the Isle of Doagh just south of Malin Head.

The search comes just days since the body of soldier Gavin Carey was recovered off the south Donegal coast near Bundoran after he got into difficulty while swimming a week ago.

#Donegal - A body recovered off the Donegal coast yesterday morning (Sunday 28 August) has been identified as missing soldier Gavin Carey, according to BreakingNews.ie.

Corporal Gavin Carey was reported missing after getting into difficulty while swimming with fellow soldiers at Tullan Strand last Tuesday 23 August, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

Defence Forces chief of staff Vice Admiral Mark Mellett expressed his sorrow over the tragedy, with Taoiseach Enda Kenny also offering his condolences to Corporal Carey's family in Mullingar and colleagues at Custume Barracks in Athlone.

BreakingNews.ie has much more on the story HERE.

#CoastalNotes - Donegal's history and relationship with the coastline are celebrated by a new coastal trail launched earlier this month.

As the Donegal Democrat reports, a special training programme has been developed for business owners and others along the new Atlantic Coastal Trail to "teach the people of this county to be proud of the story of Donegal", in the words of Údarás na Gaeltachta's Meadbh Seoige.

The Gaeltacht authority is one of a number of partners in the initiative to promote the county's "maritime leisure and seafood experiences" as highlighted by Donegal Cathaoirleach Terence Slowey.

"We’re working on where we fall short in visitor numbers," explained Donegal County Council chief executive Seamus Neely. "One statistic is that as little as 12% of tourists who visit the Wild Atlantic Way actually travel north of Galway city."

The Donegal Democrat has much more on the story HERE.

#Donegal - The coastline of Co Donegal is as much an attraction for adventure tourists as it is for those drawn to its rugged beauty, according to Outside magazine.

And some of those seeking thrills have even made the north-east county their home – such as Scottish-born climbing guide Iain Miller, who leads the magazine's Stephanie Pearson to breathtaking heights at once startlingly remote and surprisingly accessible.

But it's not just about climbers seeking the challenge of Donegal's sea stacks, nor the big swells that bring top surfers to the county in ever increasing numbers.

Sea kayakers, too, have coastal nooks and crannies to explore when the weather permits, while hikers have miles of the Irish portion of the International Appalachian Trail – which crosses one of Europe's highest sea cliffs in Slieve League.

Outside has much more on the story HERE.

#Rescue - A lobster fisherman was rescued after getting tangled in his vessel's ropes when it overturned off the Donegal coast on Saturday evening (9 April).

As TheJournal.ie reports, the rescue of the solo fisherman proved difficult for local coastguard and lifeboat teams due to the heavy swell at Inishinny, off Arranmore Island.

That's when the Sligo-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 118 came in to free the man from his vessel and winch him to safety.

Rescue 118 was later called out to rescue a number of surfers in difficulty of the Leitrim coast, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

The volunteer crew of Bundoran RNLI were last night requested to launch by Malin Head Coast Guard to reports of a person in the water at the pier in Donegal Town.

Following a 999 call from some passers by, the lifeboat was paged just after 11.45pm and launched around 11:53pm, proceeding to Donegal Town. On arrival on scene at 12:15am the crew commenced a search of the pier area in coordination with the Sligo based Rescue 118 Helicopte, the Killybegs Coast Guard boat, Gardai, Fire Service and HSE Ambulance.

Shortly after 1am, a person was recovered from the water and handed over to the waiting ambulance crew on the pier but was sadly later pronounced dead.

The management and crew of Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat extend sympathies to familiy and friends of the deceased.

#Buncrana - Five people, including three children, understood to be from the same family are dead after their car slipped into the water at Buncrana, Co Donegal last night (Sunday 20 March).

As the News Letter reports, a major emergency operation was launched after the Northern Ireland-registered estate car went off a pier into Lough Swilly after 7pm.

The bodies of two adults and three primary-aged children were recovered shortly after.

A baby who was also in the car is believed to have been thrown or handed out of the vehicle before it went into the water.

The cause of the tragedy is not yet known but it's understood that the surface of the pier slipway may have been slippery with algae.

The News Letter has more on the story HERE.