Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

#Greystones - The Kish Lighthouse on Dublin Bay marked its 50th anniversary a year ago this November however the original caisson base destined for the iconic structure half a century ago instead became part of the now demolished old Greystones Harbour,…

A series long lead held this week by Irish Melges 24 Embarr continues in Miami, Florida today at the 74–boat World Championships. Skipper Conor Clarke has an eight–point lead over Italy's Gian Luca Perego. Third after six races is New England…

This Saturday, Union Chandlery in Cork city will be hosting an RNLI pop–up shop where 100% of the proceeds will be going directly to the RNLI. These funds are vital for keeping RNLI boats on the water and providing the…

Clubs and users of Bray Harbour met again last Tuesday night at Bray Head Fishing and Social Club to form the Bray Harbour Action Group to deal with the build up of sand silting up the harbour. Newly appointed chair…

#HomePort - Celebrity Eclipse has been revealed as the first cruiseship by a major operator to 'home port' in Dublin Port by offering cruises that begin in early summer 2018. As previously reported on Afloat.ie Celebrity Cruises begins the ships…

#FishFarm - Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) has spent over €200,000 on its application for a proposed salmon farm off Inishturk in Co Mayo, as the Irish Examiner reports. The planned project, much like the withdrawn proposal for Galway Bay for…

#Angling - Following the announcement of an €800,000 stimulus package for economic development on Ireland’s waterways, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has released details of Leitrim’s share to develop angling in Ballinamore. An award of €100,000 from the Department of Arts,…

#NavalNewbuilds? - Proposals of future naval shipbuilding to be shared around UK yards including Harland & Wolff writes The News Letter have been warmly welcomed in Belfast. The report prepared by Ulster-born industrialist Sir John Parker - a former chief…

#Floatels - The idea of floatels is still been worked out by Dublin City Council as it decides whether to move ahead with the idea of this concept of homes on big boats for students, workers or tourists.  As the Dublin…

#AranIslands - Ferry services to the mainland from the largest of the Aran Islands will be suspended till March from tomorrow following a last-ditch effort to extend winter sailings. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, Inis Mór residents were guaranteed their…

#NewMedals – New International Operational Service Medals were presented to members of the Defence Forces by Minister Paul Kehoe in Dun Laoghaire Harbour at the weekend, writes Jehan Ashmore. The medals are in recognition of their humanitarian missions overseas which…

149 photographers spanning 25 countries participated in the seventh edition of the Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image. Jean-Marie Liot, from France, won the main award, whilst the delegates from the Yacht Racing Forum and World Sailing's annual conference chose Nico Martinez's…

It is strange how things happen. In the week in which Fidel Castro died and there has been such controversy about how President Higgins eulogised him and ‘shipped’ a lot of criticism for what he said and while the airwaves heard…

Waterways Ireland has welcomed the announcement by Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys, TD, of €842,000 funding under the REDZ (Rural Economic Development Zones) initiative, which will stimulate economic development along rural waterways, Blueways and…

George David's super-maxi Rambler 88, overall winner and record breaker in the Volvo Round Ireland race 2016 back in June, has added a new accolade to her already enviable sailing reputation as she crossed ARC Finish Line in Rodney Bay,…

#MarineWildlife - The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) received a report at the weekend of a large baleen whale struggling in the shallows at Cross Beach in north-west Co Mayo. The 12-metre marine mammal, thought to be a sei…

#Supertrawler - The controversial supertrawler Margiris has returned to fish in Irish waters, as Coast Monkey reports. Previously banned from Australian waters, the 9,500-tonne FV Margiris is one of the largest fishing trawlers on the seas, and has previously fished…

#SeaTrials – Off the Leinster seaboard an Arklow built car ferry contracted by Northern Ireland’s Department of Infrastructure continues to carry out sea trials today, writes Jehan Ashmore. As previously reported on Afloat.ie the Spirit of Rathlin, a 6 vehicle…

#MCIB - The dangers of boating while under the influence have been highlighted in the official report into an incident on the Shannon near Limerick city earlier this year. One man died and three others were hospitalised after their boat…

#CoastalNotes - Coastal defences in Wicklow suffered significant damage during last week’s Storm Angus, posing a renewed threat to the East Coast rail line, as The Irish Times reports. The Irish Sea came within metres of the busy Dublin-Wexford line…