Lorna Siggins
Lorna Siggins is a print and radio reporter, and a former Irish Times western correspondent. She is the author of Search and Rescue: True stories of Irish Air-Sea Rescues and the Loss of R116 (2022); Everest Callling (1994) on the first Irish Everest expedition; Mayday! Mayday! (2004); and Once Upon a Time in the West: the Corrib gas controversy (2010). She is also co-producer with Sarah Blake of the Doc on One "Miracle in Galway Bay" which recently won a Celtic Media Award
MCIB Warns of Dangers of Working on Ships at Height In Report on Serious Fall
30th November 2022 MCIB
The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) has said all ship crew and vessel operators need to be reminded of the potential dangers of working at height following its inquiry into a fall from an Irish cargo ship. A 29-year-old Polish…
Levels of mercury in fish landed in Ireland are very low and fish is safe for consumption by the general population, latest available data finds. This will be “comforting for the Irish seafood industry and consumers alike”, Prof Ronan Gormley…
Water Safety Ireland and Failte Ireland Concerned about Proposed Beach Bye-Laws
29th November 2022 Marine Planning
Water Safety Ireland and Fáilte Ireland were not consulted in advance of controversial draft bye-laws banning all watersports except for swimming off 24 Connemara beaches. The new bye-laws proposed by Galway County Council have been widely criticised by watersports enthusiasts,…
High Level of Compliance Within Fishing Industry Last Year Recorded by the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority
29th November 2022 Fishing
The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) says there was a "low level of non-compliance" by the Irish fishing industry last year. Its annual report for 2021 records how it monitored over 47,000 landings of commercially caught sea fish, valued at over…
Fossil Sea Urchins Dating Back 350 Million Years Found Near Hook Head, Co Wexford
29th November 2022 Marine Science
A group of sea urchins which died together on the seafloor almost 350 million years ago have been found in fossilised form at Hook Head, Co Wexford, by a team of scientists. "Experts from University of Galway’s school of natural…
The Government is investing 14 million euro to develop adventure tourism, including wild swimming and kayaking, as part of its national outdoor recreation strategy. The five-year strategy was published by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys in Castlecomer…
Valentia Island Energy Project Applies for Site Investigation Permit for Floating Wind Farm
27th November 2022 Island News
A community-led renewable energy project on Kerry’s Valentia island which is seeking to build a floating offshore wind farm has applied for permission to conduct site investigations. The Valentia Island Energy Ltd Project states in its application that it recognises…
EU Commission Moves to Quell Fears Over Talks with Norway on Fish Quotas off Irish Coast
25th November 2022 Fishing
The European Commission has said it hopes to represent “the best interests” of EU member states in talks with Norway on blue whiting. A Commission official was responding to fears voiced earlier this month by Irish fishing organisations that Norway…
The ESB and the Shannon Airport Group have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore the development of a “hydrogen lighthouse” project in the environment surrounding the airport’s site, on the Shannon Estuary. The project aims to explore the…
Offshore wind farms will be affected by a new EU council regulation to ensure "windfall gains" from the energy sector. The Government says it has decided to place a cap on all market revenues of non-gas electricity generators, whereby excess…
A Galway Paramedic on His Petition Opposing Controversial Beach Bye-Laws
21st November 2022 Wavelength Podcast
Paramedic Patrick Dunne is a keen kitesurfer, windsurfer, sailor, swimmer and general watersports enthusiast who has volunteered with the RNLI. He has initiated a petition opposing Galway County Council’s new draft bye-laws which propose to ban watersports apart from swimming…
Aircraft Chartered for European Fisheries Control Agency Surveillance in Irish Waters
20th November 2022 Fishing
The European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) has chartered an aircraft for the first time as part of surveillance of Irish waters. A European Maritime Safety Agency drone is also being used as part of air-sea fisheries control and inspection. Representatives…
Dutch Expert Warns of Navigational Hazards of Offshore Wind Farms
20th November 2022 Marine Planning
Dutch shipping expert Carien Droppers has warned that Ireland should take into account navigational hazards posed by offshore wind farms in marine planning. Droppers, who spoke at last week’s “Navigating to 2050” conference hosted by Irish Lights in Dublin Castle,…
Several marine and river rescues merited national bravery awards presented at Farmleigh House in Dublin on Friday. Greencastle Coast Guard unit member Kevin Barr was presented with a gold medal for rescuing Geraldine Mullan from Lough Foyle, Co Donegal, on…
Tender Initiated for Narrow Water Bridge Linking Mournes to Cooley Peninsula
20th November 2022 Northern Ireland Waters
Tendering for the Narrow Water Bridge linking the Mourne Mountains and the Cooley peninsula is due to be initiated by the Government. Planning permission is already in place for a 280m cable-stayed bridge, anchored by two towers at either end,…
Oireachtas Commitee Report on Biodiversity Loss Calls for Greater Consultation with Fishing Industry on MPAs
17th November 2022 Marine Planning
An Oireachtas committee has said that greater consultation with the fishing industry must be “facilitated” to provide better planning around marine protected areas (MPAs) and offshore wind farms. In a report on biodiversity loss, the Joint Committee on Environment and…
Ireland Says EU "At Odds With Best Practice" If No Legislative Changes to Common Fisheries Policy
12th November 2022 Fishing
Ireland has said that the European Commission will be “at odds with best practice” if it fails to make legislative changes to its Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Ireland’s submission to Brussels says there is a “compelling case” for a deeper…
Galway-Iceland Subsea Cable Part of a "New Industrial Revolution"- Ryan
12th November 2022 Galway Harbour
Ireland is pursuing a “gateway to Europe” strategy for subsea telecoms cables, Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan pledged as he marked installation of one such link on the west coast. Speaking at the landing ceremony for “IRIS”, a subsea telecoms…
EU funds to compensate for the impact of Brexit on the fishing industry and other sectors must be spent by the end of December 2023. The Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM) has said there is no flexibility with…
Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan has described Government approval of terms and conditions for the first offshore wind auction as “another massive step forward” towards Ireland’s future as an “international green energy hub”. ORESS 1, the first auction for offshore…
