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Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Diverted water from rivers disperse tiny plastic particles across farmland from where they may be flushed back into other watercourses
Diverting streams and rivers to irrigate crops or provide drinking water may “significantly extend” the time microplastics spend in river catchments, new research states. Diverted water from rivers disperse tiny plastic particles across farmland from where they may be flushed…
Evidence of riverbed destruction as a result of gravel removal from the Delour River near Mountrath in Co Laois in September 2022
A Co Laois farmer has been found guilty of two breaches of fisheries legislation for deliberate destruction caused at a local river. The defendant was prosecuted for damaging spawning beds and disturbing spawn or fry during destructive gravel removal works…
Three white-tailed sea eagle chicks in their nest awaiting the return of their mother, herself a chick of a male eagle who has just had chicks with a new female eagle
Two white-tailed sea eagle chicks have hatched in a successful pairing of two adults under Ireland’s re-introduction programme. A male white-tailed sea eagle released in 2008 which had lived alone in east Clare for the past four years, has bonded…
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A Co Antrim angler was found guilty of fishing offences and fined a total of £541 at Laganside Magistrates Court on Tuesday 23 May. Aurel Ciurar (23) of Ava Park, Belfast was convicted, in his absence, of five breaches of…
Examining samples from the local watercourse during the StreamKeepers event in the Glenelly Valley
The Loughs Agency recently took its StreamKeepers programme to the Glenelly Valley in Co Tyrone for an event aimed at encouraging people to get involved with their local waterways and environment. The community outreach programme collaborated with the Glenelly Historical…
Sidmouth Smugglers from the UK, winners of 2nd Mixed Crew on the Ocean Course of this year's Ocean to City - An Rás Mór
There were huge congratulations to all 550 international and national participants who conquered the Rás Mór this year, the highlight of Cork Harbour's Ocean to City Festival.  Royal Cork Yacht Club was the centre of attention on Saturday as rowing craft…
The Baltimore all-weather RNLI lifeboat
Baltimore RNLI was on two shouts within the hour on Sunday evening in West Cork. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at approximately 6 pm yesterday evening, following a request from the Irish Coast Guard to provide a…
The Admiral’s Cup is honoured throughout the world of sailing as the
The Admiral’s Cup is back for 2025 and will be held biennially thereafter by the Royal Ocean Racing Club. Established in 1957, The Admiral’s Cup is honoured throughout the world of sailing as the "unofficial world cup for offshore racing".…
Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Jean Spier en route to the stricken speedboat on Saturday 3 June
On Saturday afternoon (3 June), Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI to launch to assist two people on a 15ft speedboat that had suffered damage to one of its propellers and was at anchor three miles south of Terryglass…
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan has announced Bristow as the preferred bidder to replace CHC Ireland as Irish coastguard Helicopter operator for the next ten years
Search and rescue air crew and staff at the Irish Coast Guard’s four helicopter bases are concerned about their future employment when Bristow takes over the new contract. As The Sunday Independent reports, staff in Dublin, Waterford, Shannon and Sligo…
Irish Offshore sailor Pamela Lee
Twenty-four hours into the CIC Normandy Channel Race and Irish Offshore sailor Pamela Lee co-skippering the Class 40 yacht '154' is lying 23rd in the fleet. The 1000-miler that started on Sunday sees Lee embark on a new journey with French co-skipper Tiphanie Ragueneau.…
Both Irish 49er campaigners for the single Paris 2024 berth were racing at the Allianz Regatta in The Netherlands
The host nations Bart Lambriex and Floris van de Werken had the 49er title sewn up with the medal race to spare, so attention turned to the battle for bronze at the Allianz Regatta in the Netherlands on Sunday. Australia’s Jim…
Irish brothers Ewan and Jamie McMahon competed in the ILCA 7s at Allianz Regatta in The Netherlands
Olympic campaigner for Paris 2024, Duko Bos claimed victory in the ILCA 7 class but not before a medal-race scare that left the Dutchman scrambling for the finish line. Bos’ nine-point lead at the top of the standings looked in…
Royal Ulster Yacht Club will host the Irish Championships on June 24th, and then Strangford Lough Yacht Club at Whiterock host the UK Nationals from 28th of June till the 1st of July
June is a big month for RS Elite events in Northern Ireland, as both the Irish Championships and the UK National Championships will be held in the region. On the 24th and 25th of June, it’s the turn of the…
The Angelshark is now a critically endangered species in Irish waters and the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) has issued a reminder to the public about a ban on catching the fish
The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) has issued a reminder to the public about a ban on catching angelsharks, after a sighting of the endangered species in Galway Bay. “Angelsharks (Squatina squatina) are among Ireland’s rarest native (as opposed to migrant)…
The Jellyfish Garden – the educational garden (funded by Science Foundation Ireland) and designed to teach more about the different jellyfish in Irish waters, the science of the sting, the jellyfish lifecycle and what to do if you get stung!
The “science” of the jellyfish sting, what to do if you get stung, and the different species in Irish waters are themes of a dedicated garden at the Bloom festival in Dublin’s Phoenix Park this weekend. The jellyfish garden has…
Biotherm (right) races to victory in the IMOCA In-Port Race in Aarhus, Denmark on Sunday 4 June
The sun was shining on Sunday (4 June), as it has been throughout the entire Aarhus stopover, and that meant a building sea breeze would be the order of the day for the In-Port Racing programme. This marked the return…
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Waterways Ireland advises all masters and users of the Erne System in Northern Ireland that the channel east of Castle Island in Enniskillen will be closed from this Wednesday 7 June to 30 September 2023. This is for the creation of…
Lock C4 on the Grand Canal’s Circular Line, at Wilton Terrace
Waterways Ireland wishes to advise users of the Grand Canal in Dublin city centre that the north-bank towpath between Locks C3 and C4, at Huband Bridge and Wilton Terrace respectively, will be closed for approximately two weeks for maintenance works…
File image of Aran Islands RNLI’s all-weather Severn class lifeboat
The volunteer crew of the Aran Islands RNLI were asked to launch their all-weather Severn class lifeboat two minutes after noon on Saturday 3 June after a gentleman visiting the island of Inis Mór for the day became unwell and was…

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