Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Having had a new engine — a JCB, marinised by Mermaid — installed over the winter, we've been out and about on Lough Derg, trying it out and getting used to the new set-up and ancillary equipment. We'll be heading…
The Inland Waterways Association of Ireland is a strong and vibrant body, writes Paul Garland, in response to the article by our correspondent in the last issue of Afloat... Having read with interest Brian Goggin's assessment of how he perceives…
Waterways Ireland is set to move boats on from moorings, writes Brian Goggin Shannon Harbour, where the Grand Canal meets the Shannon, is usually full of boats: a fascinating variety of them, including barges, narrowboats, wooden cruisers, fibreglass cruisers and…
The Cruising Association of Ireland holds its first meet this year on May 7 at the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire. The hope is to follow on the success of last September's River Liffey Cruise where 40 boats participated,…
In January, Waterways Ireland (WI) opened its magnificent new headquarters building in Enniskillen and confirmed its mastery of the waterways, reports Brian J. Goggin Also in January, the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI) declared a mid-life crisis, shot itself…
Brian J Goggin looks forward to the reopening of the Royal Canal As I write, various IWAI branches are preparing for end-of-season cruises. Some intrepid inland boaters (equipped with wheelhouses and heaters) keep going all year round: one group of…
I'm just back from a fortnight pottering around Lough Derg and, if our experience is anything to go by, the Celtic Water-Tiger is dead. Traffic (both private and hired) seemed to be way down on normal levels, although that comment…
One of the buisest RNLI lifeboat Stations in the country names its new D class Lifeboat 'Realt na Mara' next Saturday, April 30th. The Dublin Bay based Dun Laoghaire lifeboat station was in action as recently as Sunday 17 April…
Red Bay RNLI lifeboat Station names its new Atlantic 85 Lifeboat the 'Geoffrey Charles' next month on Saturday, May 28th. The busy lifeboat station was in action as recently as Sunday 17 April 2011 when RNLI lifeboat volunteers saved two…
Waterways Ireland had applied for planning permission to extend the Shannon Navigation upriver from the head of Lough Allen to Annagh Upper, near the village of Dowra. The plan included dredging of the river and the construction of a 16-berth…
Brian J Goggin offers some essential dos and don'ts for the first-time inland boat-owner DO ...• Consider the needs of the whole family• Take your time and talk to owners• Get training• Start early to look for a marina berth•…
BEFORE ARDNACRUSHA power-station was built, writes Brian J. Goggin, there was another waterway route from Killaloe to Limerick, with some very interesting features The old route had five sections: three of canal and two of river. The old canal at…
A Dubliner had a lucky escape after being stranded on mudflats between Baldoyle and Sutton Point, on Dublin Bay last week.The man had sunk waist-deep in mud on a low tide and was unable to free himself. Dublin Fire Brigade…
Globally successful yacht designer Mark Mills of County Wicklow is the Afloat.ie/Irish Independent “Sailor of the Year 2009” after a year of exceptional achievements which built on his original accolade as Sailor of the Month a year ago. Celebrating a…
An appropriately named house for a sailing setting is on the market in Kinsale, County Cork. The Chart House is a 7-bed period house currently operating as a luxurious Bed and Breakfast. The property is situated in the heart of…
Following the recent publication of economist Colm McCarthy's report on the review of state assets and liabilities, a number of recommendations have been made on the future on the state ownership and management structures of some Irish ports. The McCarthy…
Killaloe Coast Guard Unit was tasked to a 60' barge that was sinking at its mooring on Lough Derg on the inland waterways this afternoon. The Killaloe Coast Guard Unit dispatched two vehicles with crew and salvage pubs by road…
The medium and shifty wind in the second day of racing in Hyères has brought new leaders in five classes. Ireland is fielding two 49er teams. Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern are 25th and Ed Butler and Ben Lynch lie…
Bob Bateman was afloat today to capture the latest Spring sailing off Kinsale Yacht Club, a month long sailing series that has been sailed in sunshine so far each Sunday and today's Bank holiday Monday race was no different. Scroll…
Up to 40 yachts form the backbone of the Irish Sea Offshore Racing Association fleet (ISORA). Although the 2011 entry list (below) shows a large number of Beneteau models it also reveals a wide range of other marques, largely between…
