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Marine Minister Martin Heydon and Minister of State for fisheries, Timmy Dooley are reminding owners of registered fishing and aquaculture vessels that the closing date for the Fuel Support Scheme is this Friday 12 June. “I’m delighted with the interest…
City Splash — Canoes, hydrobikes and a traditional Irish currach take to the River Liffey beside Dublin's Samuel Beckett Bridge as HQ2O Watersports prepares to launch its new urban adventure hub.
Job Title: Water Sports General Manager Location: HQ2O Watersports, Custom House Quay, Dublin 1 Reports To: CEO Employment Type: Full-time, permanent role Salary: Competitive – Based on Experience and relevant qualifications Job Summary: Operated by Swan Leisure, HQ2O Watersports is a new urban water sports…
Coast And Speed — A competitor races off L’Escala during the 2026 International Moth European Championship, where sailors from across Europe are contesting the foiling class continental title.
The 2026 International Moth European Championship has officially opened in L’Escala, Spain, with an institutional ceremony at the regatta village ahead of racing on 9 June. Representatives from sailing organisations and public authorities attended the event, which marked the start…
Inshore Future – Ireland's inshore fishing fleet faces rising costs, weather disruption and quota pressures. A revised NIFA support proposal will be discussed by the Oireachtas fisheries committee.
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs will meet on Tuesday to examine a revised proposal aimed at supporting Ireland’s inshore fishing sector. The committee will hear from National Inshore Fishermen’s Association (NIFA) chairman Michael Desmond and vice-chairman…
Foil Fever — Dublin Bay will host its inaugural Foil Festival on 19 and 20 June, bringing international stars including Bjorn Dunkerbeck together with Irish riders for two days of racing, speed challenges and demonstrations.
International foiling stars and Irish riders will gather in Dublin Bay later this month for the inaugural Dublin Bay Foil Festival. The two-day event takes place at Salthill on 19 and 20 June and will feature a mix of competition,…
Foyle Giant — Holland America Line's Nieuw Statendam, the largest cruise ship ever to visit Lough Foyle, arrives carrying a record number of passengers and crew to the North West region.
The largest cruise ship ever to visit Lough Foyle has made a landmark call to the North West, bringing a record number of visitors to the region. Record Breaker: The 300-metre Nieuw Statendam, carrying almost 3,700 passengers and crew, became…
Whale Warning — A critically endangered Rice’s whale surfaces in the Gulf of Mexico. Fewer than 100 remain, with scientists raising concerns that underwater noise from oil and gas surveys may threaten the species' survival.
The extraordinary subsea communication sounds of Rice’s whales and the impact of oil and gas surveying have been published in a new graphic by The New York Times. There are fewer than 100 Rice’s whales in existence, and they live…
Superyacht Reach — The Majesty 175, one of the flagship models in the Majesty Yachts range. MGM Boats will represent the luxury yacht brand in Ireland following its appointment to the European dealer network.
MGM Boats has been appointed as the Irish dealer for Majesty Yachts, expanding the luxury yacht builder’s presence in the European market. The announcement strengthens Majesty Yachts’ reach in Ireland through one of the country’s longest-established marine businesses. MGM Boats…
Fisheries Flex: Minister of State Timmy Dooley, EU Fisheries Commissioner Costas Kadis and Marine Institute CEO Dr Rick Officer aboard RV Tom Crean in Cork. Kadis has signalled flexibility on fisheries in any future Iceland-EU membership talks.
Iceland may be able to join the EU while securing exemptions from the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), EU Fisheries Commissioner Costas Kadis has indicated. “There is definitely room for flexibility,” Kadis said in a recent Financial Times interview, and indicated…
Lagoon Focus — An aerial view of Lady’s Island Lake in Co Wexford, one of Ireland’s most important saline lagoons and a Special Area of Conservation. A Joint Oireachtas Committee has proposed 11 measures to support its ecological restoration.
Regular publication of nutrient-level data is one of 11 recommendations from a Joint Oireachtas committee on restoring Wexford’s Lady’s Island Lake. As Afloat has reported, the lake’s environment has deteriorated significantly. The latest report by the Joint Committee on Climate, Environment…
First Response — Kilkeel RNLI's new Shannon class lifeboat Bobby Cameron powers through rough seas off County Down. The all-weather vessel entered service on 5 June and was tasked to its first rescue operation within hours.
Two sailors were rescued in separate overnight incidents off St John’s Point after getting into difficulty in challenging conditions. Newcastle and Kilkeel RNLI launched shortly before midnight on Friday after Belfast Coastguard received reports of a yacht aground and taking…
Lifesaving Leap — Kilkeel RNLI's new Shannon class lifeboat Bobby Cameron powers through coastal seas after entering operational service. The all-weather vessel began service on 5 June and answered its first rescue call within hours.
Kilkeel RNLI has entered a new chapter in its lifesaving history with the arrival of a Shannon-class all-weather lifeboat. The new vessel, Bobby Cameron, was officially declared a search-and-rescue asset by Belfast Coastguard at 7pm on Friday, 5 June. Within…
Making Waves — Organisers, volunteers and supporters launch the 2026 Watersports Inclusion Games in Galway. The free event on 11-12 July will welcome hundreds of participants of all abilities.
The 2026 Watersports Inclusion Games have been launched in Galway, with organisers expecting up to 400 participants and 300 volunteers for a weekend dedicated to accessible watersports. The free event will take place on 11 and 12 July at the…
Blues Spotlight — French rock artist Elise Frank will bring her acclaimed live show to the Women in Blues Triple Bill at the Howth Roots and Blues Festival, part of a weekend featuring 40 free performances across the seaside village from 7–9 August.
Howth's waterfront pubs, harbour bars and historic venues will come alive this August as the Howth Roots and Blues Festival returns with 40 free live performances. The internationally recognised festival runs from 7 to 9 August, bringing Irish and international…
Harbour Launch: Cork Week 2026 Event Chairman Ross Deasy and Royal Cork Yacht Club Admiral Denis Byrne with young sailors Dylan O'Sullivan and Seamus Hurley at Crosshaven
Cork Week 2026 returns to Cork Harbour from 6–10 July with two major championships added to the regatta programme and a packed week of racing planned across one of Ireland's premier sailing venues. Hosted by the Royal Cork Yacht Club…
Class40 Calling – Offshore sailor Pamela Lee will visit Dún Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club on June 13 for a public talk ahead of the Round Ireland Race, with her Class40 yacht expected in the harbour.
Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club (DMYC) will host an evening with offshore sailor Pamela Lee on Saturday, June 13, as part of a planned visit by her Class40 yacht to Dún Laoghaire Harbour. The visit comes just days before the…
“National
The national broadcaster has turned its attention to Kerry sailor Pat Lawless as preparations continue for his second attempt at the solo non-stop Golden Globe Race. In a feature published this week, RTÉ charted Lawless's journey from Atlantic fisherman and…
Masters Of The Game — Competitors and medallists gather at the prizegiving ceremony after the 2026 ILCA 6 Masters World Championship in Athens, where world titles were decided across all age categories following ten races.
The 2026 ILCA 6 Masters World Championship concluded in Athens on Sunday with world champions confirmed across all age categories after a week of competitive racing. Race officials attempted to complete additional races on the final day, but light winds…
Island Challenge — The Range Rover Sardinia Cup fleet races on the final coastal course off Porto Cervo, with light winds and tactical sailing deciding the closing stages of the regatta.
The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) has won the 2026 Sardinia Cup, finishing ahead of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) and the RORC Gold team in Porto Cervo. The prestigious team regatta returned this year after a 14-year absence.…
Making Waves — Castlebar Swimming Club committee members join representatives of the Sunflower Children’s Hospice ahead of a 360km charity swim challenge to support children and families across the west of Ireland.
Up to 50 young swimmers from Mayo's Castlebar Swimming Club will swim the full equivalent of the River Shannon's 360km length in a single day on June 21st. The event, hosted at Lough Lannagh Swimming Pool in Castlebar, aims to…
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