The Sisk family are a remarkable tribe around boats as around everything else with which they get involved. But perhaps the most remarkable of them all was John Sisk (1911-2001), who spearheaded the family construction company’s move from being a…
A 19th century Fifie Sailing Herring Drifter and a ‘rare survivor’ of the golden age of sail will make her maiden voyage to return to the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival in Portsoy, Scotland on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd July…
The De Wadden, the historic schooner which sailed out of Arklow, the County Wicklow town once described by maritime historian Dr John deCourcy Ireland as the “most maritime town in Ireland”, is to be demolished at the Merseyside Maritime Museum…
Gleoiteog Crew Plan Sail from Connemara to Galway via Lake and River Corrib
14th May 2023 Wavelength Podcast
Sruthán Buí is a 17-year-old gleoiteog based in Lettermullen, south Connemara, which will embark on an unusual trip later this month. Its owner Mairtín Óg MacDonnacha, his cousins Joe and Michael Barrett and several others will set off on May…
Warrenpoint to Welcome World’s Last Seagoing Paddle Steamer With First Carlingford Lough Cruise
8th May 2023 Historic Boats
PS Waverley, the World’s last seagoing paddle steamer will for the first time, it has been announced set sail for a cruise from Warrenpoint Harbour, Co. Down on Tuesday, 30th May. Waverley will offer local people the unique opportunity to…
The Happy Haunted Ship - Celebration At Killaloe For The Phoenix Sesquicentennial On May 15th 2023
5th May 2023 Historic Boats
Until DBOGA President Adrian “Stu” Spence’s ancient 1873-vintage Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter Madcap was sold away to France some years ago, John and Sandra Lefroy’s Phoenix was just one of three yachts of the circa 1870 era still in Ireland,…
Updated Programme for Dublin Bay Old Gaffers’ 60th Anniversary Weekend at Poolbeg Later This Month
4th May 2023 Dublin Bay Old Gaffers
The Dublin Bay Old Gaffers Association have updated the programme of events for their 60th anniversary weekend at Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club in Dublin Port later this month. Booking in commences Friday 26 May at 4pm ahead of the…
Howth 17s' Quasquicentennial Race On Thursday May 4th Hits The Publicity Button
2nd May 2023 Howth 17
Just get one good strange and distinctive word in your publicity material, and the news will spread like wildfire. Howth 17 Class Captain Dave O'Shea has discovered that the word for 125th Anniversary is Quasquicentennial, and he posted it this…
Twenty years ago, the thought that the two Conor O’Brien-designed and Baltimore-built ketches – the 1922 42ft world-girdling Saoirse and the 1926 56ft trader-ferry Ilen - would be sailing together at their birthplace in 2023, the Centenary Year of the…
Tiernan Roe of Ballydehob is “(Classics)” Sailor of the Month for April
2nd May 2023 Sailor of the Month
Irish classic boatbuilders and owners are no strangers to the podium at the annual International Classic Boat Awards in London, and 2023’s ceremony in April was no exception. Simon O’Keffe of Schull – the current family owner of the 1902…
An Achill currach built by artist Mark Redden is part of a project on display for the next fortnight in Dublin’s Temple Bar. Redden says the project began as a conversation about how a damaged two-handed Achill currach, An Trá…
Spanish Armada Wrecks at Streedagh Beach to Feature in International TIDE Conference in Sligo
29th April 2023 Historic Boats
Armada experts from across Europe will converge on Sligo on May 24-25th next for the Spanish Armada TIDE International Conference. The conference, titled Turning the Tide - revealing the past through new eyes, will feature speakers from Spain, Ireland, the…
Poolbeg & Baltimore: Ireland’s Classics And Tradboats Have Demanding Choices In Making Best Use Of 2023 Programme
27th April 2023 Historic Boats
Ten years ago, when the Old Gaffers Association’s Dublin visit was a highlight of their Golden Jubilee Cruise-in-Company, it was a very crowded and festive series of events based around Poolbeg Yacht & Boat Club in late May 2013 that…
Historic Former Ferry 'Cross the Mersey to be Transformed into 'Iconic' Venue
20th April 2023 Historic Boats
A former Mersey ferry, the Royal Daffodil is to be transformed as plans reveal that the historic river-ferry is set to become an "iconic visitor attraction" with a food, drink and events space. The Royal Daffodil which was originally named…
70th Anniversary of 'Tóstal na Gaillimhe' Currach Regatta Planned for Early May in Galway Bay
19th April 2023 Currachs
The 70th anniversary of “Tóstal na Gaillimhe”, a traditional currach regatta, is to be celebrated off Salthill in Galway Bay in early May. After a break of ten years, the event planned for May 6th and 7th has been billed…
The disappearance of 129 people led by Sir John Franklin after they set out in 1845 to find a sea route to the Orient by way of the North-west Passage is one of the great mysteries of high-latitude exploration. That’s…