Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

These past few days have been purest serendipity for historic Irish boatbuilders. Just two days after the 1926-vintage West Cork-built Limerick ketch Ilen was celebrated beside the River Thames in London on Wednesday, the 1937 Tyrrell of Arklow 43ft ketch…

A French yawl built from a late 18th-century replica will be on display in Galway as part of a “Mini Brittany Fest” which runs from May 7th to 14th. Mayor of Lorient Fabrice Loher will lead a delegation to Galway…

The River Thames in the heart of London is a lively piece of intensely tidal water, so for vessels bound for the sea-locked haven of St Katharine Docks beside Tower Bridge, it can be restless enough lying inthe waiting berth…

Three currachs were successfully launched on the River Liffey yesterday to the sound of traditional music tunes and the boats were blessed in a ceremony at Poolbeg in Dublin city. As Afloat reported earlier, the boats were launched by the…

Three currachs will be launched on the River Liffey this Saturday. Traditional Boats of Ireland Editor Criostoir Mac Cartaigh has been invited to officiate at the launch proceedings. Launching at noon from the slipway beside the Stella Maris Rowing Club in…

Following the departure last Saturday for her 700-mile Limerick-London voyage, the trading ketch Ilen under the command of Ilen Marine School Director Gary Mac Mahon was able to sail the track as far as Land's Endin Cornwall, which she rounded…

Although she is now meeting easterly headwinds in the English Channel as she voyages towards London following her departure down the Shannon Estuary on Saturday, the 56ft Limerick Trading Ketch Ilen was able to lay the course from the Fastnet…

If Tim Ryan could be transported back to any time in his life it would undoubtedly be the hours he spent on the ferries crossing the Severn to England and back. He did it 11 or 12 times a year…

Barry Keane and Tony Doherty of Mountaineering Ireland have formally proposed that commemorative postage stamps be issued to celebrate the up-coming Centenary of Conor O’Brien’s pioneering voyage round the world south of the Great Capes with his Irish-built 42ft ketch…

The complex and long-standing relationship between the ancient city ports of Limerick and London will be celebrated with a ceremony on the historic Trading Ketch Ilen in the London city-centre St Katharine Dock, beside Tower Bridge on the River Thames,…

Hal Sisk of Dun Laoghaire has tonight (Tuesday) received the International Classic Boater of the Year Award in London for his decades of inspired service to classic craft and sailing history, while his colleagues Fionan de Barra of Dun Laoghaire…

The restored 56ft trading ketch Ilen of 1926 vintage and Conor O’Brien fame has been blithely passage-making to and fro at speed – despite the unsettled weather – along the southwest coast in recent weeks, as Ilen Marine School Director…

The veteran vessel turbine steamer, TS Queen Mary will once again sail on the Clyde, Scotland, according to the National Historic Ship UK, as it is hoped to be in service offering cruises by the summer of 2024 UK royal…

On Friday evening, April 1, Vincent Delany launched ‘Bray Sailing Club’s Droleen Dinghy’ book at the County Wicklow club in Bray harbour. Vincent’s Co-author Jim Horgan was at the launch. Unfortunately the third author, Michael Weed was isolated in Donegal…

Tributes have been paid to maritime author, historian, librarian, sailor and musician Tim Collins who passed away unexpectedly in Galway. “A polymath,” was how Galway hooker sailor and adventurer Dr Michael Brogan described him, while colleagues at NUI Galway (NUIG)…

The programme for the “cultural voyage” of the 56ft restored Limerick trading ketch Ilen to London in late April and through the first fortnight of May continues to take shape. The ship herself is now back in her birthplace at…