Lorna Siggins
Lorna Siggins is a print and radio reporter, and a former Irish Times western correspondent. She is the author of Everest Callling (1994) on the first Irish Everest expedition; Mayday! Mayday! (2004) on Irish helicopter search and rescue; and Once Upon a Time in the West: the Corrib gas controversy (2010).
A documentary on how Tory island’s late king Patsy Dan Rodgers led his community’s efforts to secure their rights and a study of a “maverick islander” are scheduled for Galway Film Fleadh’s online programme this weekend. French filmmaker Loic Jourdain…
Ireland's First Floating Offshore Wind Farm: Explorations off Cork Coast
7th July 2020 Power From the Sea An Irish renewable energy company is exploring the development of this island's first floating offshore wind farm close to the Kinsale gas field. Youghal company Simply Blue Energy is already involved with French giant Total in a project to build…
The common challenges faced by island communities will be shared during the second global Virtual Island Summit which takes place in September. Some 140 ambassadors representing some 10,000 islanders will participate in the summit online from September 7th to 13th.…
Newly appointed marine minister Barry Cowen has said he regrets an incident where he was disqualified from driving four years ago after being breathalysed. The Fianna Fáil TD for Laois-Offaly and brother of former Taoiseach Brian Cowen, who was appointed…
Whale Sharks Have Tiny Teeth Protecting Their Eyes, Japanese Research Finds
5th July 2020 Marine Wildlife Japanese researchers have found that whale sharks have protective “armour” around their eyeballs in the form of tiny teeth. Japan's Okinawa Churashima Research Centre scientists studied the eyes of both living and dead whale sharks, which can grow to 18-metres…
Gales Cushion Impact of Island Reopening to Visitors - Sean Kyne Plays Down Impact of Social Media Post
5th July 2020 Island News Gales over the weekend have cushioned the impact of full re-opening of offshore islands to visitors as COVID-19-related restrictions are eased. However, there has been a steady increase in traffic to the Aran islands, served currently by one ferry from…
When three Connemara islanders drowned on their way home in a currach from watching the All-Ireland football final on television in Clifden in 1974, their loss had such a devastating impact that most of the residents of Turbot evacuated four…
Public consultation on developing a network of offshore wind farms to meet Ireland’s climate targets has been extended by three weeks. An original deadline of July 1st for the public’s views on how offshore wind energy should be modelled has…
Ireland Gets Maritime Oil Pollution Plan - Almost 34 Years After Kowloon Bridge Sinking
29th June 2020 Coastguard Irish Coast Guard deputy director Gerard O’Flynn has hailed as a “milestone” the publication of the State’s framework for handling major maritime pollution incidents. The plan released by the outgoing government last Friday (June 26) fulfils long-awaited commitments made after…
Little Skellig - The "Ultimate Retreat" Discovered By Archaeologist & Climbers
28th June 2020 Island News Little Skellig– the inaccessible sister crag to Skellig Michael - was long thought to have been inhabited only by gannets, fulmars and other seabirds. However, as The Sunday Times reports today, archaeologist Michael Gibbons and a group of climbers have…
"Fear of Law Suits" May Have Influenced Government Decision to Approve Early Reopening of Islands
27th June 2020 Island News Outgoing Gaeltacht minister Sean Kyne has expressed disappointment at the Government decision to approve early re-opening of offshore islands to visitors from Monday (June 29). The Attorney General had advised the Cabinet that there could be legal consequences if it…
West Cork Vessel's Sinking in Co Down Identifies Need for Navigation Planning & Exercise Drills, Report States
27th June 2020 MCIB The need for formal navigation planning has been highlighted in a Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) report on the sinking of a West Cork fishing vessel in Ardglass harbour, Co Down last year. The report on the sinking of the…
Increased use of wet wipes during the Covid-19 pandemic is already exacerbating the “plastic crisis” in oceans, an NUI Galway (NUIG) team says. Some 50 per cent of wipes labelled as “flushable” are not biodegradable and contain microplastics which are…
Island Federation Calls on Government & Health Officials to Explain Safe Re-opening After Covid
22nd June 2020 Island News The Irish Islands Federation has called on the Government to provide “clear guidance and protocols” on the safe re-opening of islands to visitors. The federation, Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann, has also called on the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET)…
Gaeltacht Minister Opposes NPHET Decision on Early Opening of Offshore Islands
22nd June 2020 Island News Gaeltacht Minister Sean Kyne says he opposes the National Public Health Emergency Team’s (NPHET) decision on an early lifting of travel restrictions to and from offshore islands. The decision to allow travel to and from offshore islands to resume from…
Narrow Escape After Car Reverses Over Rocks at Galway's Blackrock Diving Tower
17th June 2020 Galway Harbour An elderly couple had a narrow escape when their car left the road and tumbled over rocks towards the sea at Galway’s popular Blackrock diving tower on Wednesday evening. Emergency services including the Galway Fire and Ambulance Service, Gardai, Irish…
Warning over Renewable Energy Plans in New Programme for Government
15th June 2020 Power From the Sea Plans for upscaling offshore renewable energy under the new Programme for Government will fail unless the State agencies receive more resources, an industry group has warned. The Marine Renewables Industry Association (MRIA) has described as “revolutionary” the new targets, which…
Photographers of Marine Wildlife Invited to Submit to Irish Wildlife Trust Contest
12th June 2020 Marine Wildlife Photographers of Ireland’s rich marine environment are invited to enter images for a contest being run by the Irish Wildlife Trust. To mark both World Oceans Day this month and easing of travel restrictions to within county boundaries, the trust…
Surprise at Short Timeline for Government Consultation on Offshore Wind Energy
10th June 2020 Power From the Sea Coastal communities have been given just three weeks to respond to a consultation on developing a network of offshore wind farms to meet Ireland’s climate targets. Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton has given a closing date…
How to improve surfing with “pop-up” training is one of a number of “online” activities that a north Mayo Gaeltacht outdoor pursuits centre is offering to students this summer, The Irish Independent reports. Coláiste Uisce, which teaches surfing, sailing, windsurfing…
