![Lorna Siggins](/media/k2/users/500.jpg?t=20190404_2312)
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
![The Naomh Gobnait under restoration in Spain this week](/media/k2/items/cache/5632b0ed3a6fdaf7a758ff89adc59ddf_Generic.jpg)
Musician Liam O Maonlai Pays Tribute to the Restoration of the Naomh Gobnait & Late Poet & Crewmember Danny Sheehy
21st June 2019 Historic Boats
Musician Liam Ó Maonlaí says he believes the late Kerry poet Danny Sheehy would have “relished” the Irish-Galician project to restore the naomhóg in which he had his last sea trip before he died two years ago. Ó Maonlaí, who…
![The Currach Naomhog Gobnait will be put on display in either Vigo or in Santiago de Compostella](/media/k2/items/cache/92a5e3d21c06e354b5f08d4696abb42d_Generic.jpg)
Naomhóg Which Took Late Kerry Poet Danny Sheehy & Crew to Spain Restored in Galicia
17th June 2019 Historic Boats
When west Kerry poet, farmer and sailor Danny Sheehy lost his life during the last stages of a “camino by sea” off the Spanish coast two years ago, his fellow oarsmen were so heartbroken they could barely think about the…
![The stamp by Clare artist Vincent Killowry depicts the Vimy Vickers above an Atlantic swell](/media/k2/items/cache/0495aee029377414a8b0b2757c692467_Generic.jpg)
When a Vimy Vickers bi-plane made a crash landing in Connemara a century ago, it not only marked the first transatlantic flight – but also the first such airmail delivery writes Lorna Siggins Aviator John Alcock, who flew with Arthur Whitten…
![Rockall - Legal Experts Says Scotland Right & Ireland Wrong](/media/k2/items/cache/77161f6fcf1c55d0f1d4cde27d6aa807_Generic.jpg)
Two Irish international maritime law experts have said that Scotland is within its legal rights to place a 12-mile territorial limit around Rockall writes Lorna Siggins. Statements made by Government ministers over the past week have been “incorrect”, as Rockall is…
![Blackrock diving board in Galway where a swim ban has been lifted](/media/k2/items/cache/baafee6be09fc85e2874b6973aa0b0e2_Generic.jpg)
A swim ban has been lifted at Galway city’s beaches, following the latest results of bathing water quality tests writes Lorna Siggins Galway City Council has removed “do not swim” notices at Silver Strand and Salthill beaches on the advice of the…
![The Killary Flyer on a previous trip to Greenland in 2013](/media/k2/items/cache/6870c914a725d72a5803e8ba43e53976_Generic.jpg)
Adventurer Jamie Young has traversed the Atlantic solo not once but twice, as he couldn’t afford any other way home writes Lorna Siggins The Co Antrim-born founder of Killary Adventure Centre has also taken a kite buggy to Antarctica, a kayak…
![A Spanish fishing vessel has pleaded guilty to catches of Blue Shark off the Irish coast](/media/k2/items/cache/8dcea11d121bfa35520945761b42d829_Generic.jpg)
Irish shark experts have called on newly elected MEPs to outlaw the growing shark fin fishery in European waters, following a fine imposed on a Spanish fishing vessel detained off the Irish coast. The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) has…
![A screenshot from Beaches.ie showing the restriction in place at Galway's Grattan Beach](/media/k2/items/cache/c96512e33d96f5acba04b425506b99fd_Generic.jpg)
Galway City Council is investigating whether a testing fault has resulted in high levels of bacteria being reported at several of its beaches. As Afloat reported earlier today, a swimming ban has been imposed at Silver Strand, Salthill and Blackrock,…
![The popular beaches at Silver Strand and Salthill and Blackrock diving board are all affected by a prohibition placed by Galway City Council.](/media/k2/items/cache/0423515ce553ff343b80e636bdb21468_Generic.jpg)
High levels of bacteria detected in inner Galway Bay have resulted in swimming restrictions being imposed on four Galway city beaches writes Lorna Siggins. The popular beaches at Silver Strand and Salthill and Blackrock diving board are all affected by…
![Inland Fisheries Ireland chief executive Dr Ciaran Byrne and Minister of State with responsibility for inland fisheries Seán Canney at the announcement of the new pilot programme for catch and release of bluefin tuna by a limited number of sea angling vessels](/media/k2/items/cache/2aa3310e18a72ca221f13d2cfe208d1b_Generic.jpg)
The rapid swimming migratory Atlantic bluefin tuna may be targeted by a limited number of Irish recreational craft under a pilot scientific research programme run by several State agencies writes Lorna Siggins. Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and the Marine Institute are…
![The small cruise ship Star Legend (212 guests) arrives into Dun Laoghaire Harbour](/media/k2/items/cache/ccd0f5b694e7d4e632cb3915a37a5168_Generic.jpg)
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council on Cruise Berth Withdrawal
23rd May 2019 Dun Laoghaire Harbour News
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has said that “significant commercial, technical and environmental risk” had influenced its decision to withdraw a planning application for a 30 million euro cruise liner berth in Dun Laoghaire on Dublin Bay writes Lorna Siggins In a…
![The cruise liner Serenissima arrives at Dun Laoghaire Harbour. The luxury liner is the length of a soccer pitch, has 59 cabins and a passenger and crew complement of 160 people](/media/k2/items/cache/7f8b96f23570cd7284dd9b8ffa4ed9a7_Generic.jpg)
Tourism interests have said Dún Laoghaire will still be a cruise ship destination, in spite of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council’s decision to withdraw controversial plans for a 30 million euro cruise berth in the south Dublin harbour writes Lorna Siggins…
![Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Michael Creed](/media/k2/items/cache/c15694408411910b82ddd91a545e440d_Generic.jpg)
Over 270 coastal projects have been awarded grants totalling four million euro in EU and State funds just five days before the European Parliament elections. The grants to 274 projects across seven coastal regions were announced yesterday by Minister for Agriculture,…
![European Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly](/media/k2/items/cache/e08026b8d8faea92bcc80eecd97c86fd_Generic.jpg)
European Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly has initiated an investigation into the lack of transparency around EU ministerial decisions on annual fish quotas. “The famous all-night meetings of ministers in Brussels are completely behind closed doors, and yet make important decisions for…
![Dozens of projects qualifying for grants totalling up to 4 million euro this year are awaiting letters of approval from Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM)](/media/k2/items/cache/2f52da722f23403e7f993066a4085058_Generic.jpg)
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Michael Creed has denied that a roll-out of several million euro for coastal projects has been delayed to tie in with his party’s European election campaign. Dozens of projects qualifying for grants totalling up…
![Endangered species – Angel Shark](/media/k2/items/cache/619c16aac922f0aa7eeae5e775523fd2_Generic.jpg)
Angel shark are in such a perilous state of decline in Irish waters that a group of marine environmentalists has appealed for urgent action by Minister for Fisheries Michael Creed writes Lorna Siggins Sharks, rays and skates are the most threatened…
![Lough Corrib, second largest lake in Ireland after Lough Neagh, which is the focus of a new community partnership to transform it into Ireland's lake district for walkers](/media/k2/items/cache/87e767e51a160d4fff923aa143d4fa13_Generic.jpg)
New Community-Led Plan for The Corrib, Ireland's Second Largest Lake
29th April 2019 Inland Waterways
Oscar Wilde’s surgeon dad waxed lyrical about it, Vikings lost their weapons in it, and poitín makers and anglers have shared their knowledge of its rocks and islands. The Corrib – this island’s second largest lake after Lough Neagh –…
![The first episode of Taoide will be broadcast on TG4 on Wednesday, May 1st, at 9.30pm, with two further episodes on May 8th and 15th](/media/k2/items/cache/eb16f0967e2b2b3307361fa2ee25ea9c_Generic.jpg)
The “power and mystery” of the Earth’s tides is the theme of a new three-part television series involving TG4 and several broadcasters, with Chinese backing writes Lorna Siggins. Marine Institute scientist MacDara Ó Cuaig is presenting the Irish language version…
![Minister for Marine Michael Creed](/media/k2/items/cache/e02ca3b5665edc2aaa4a774e39e7ef39_Generic.jpg)
Minister for Marine Michael Creed has discontinued a license held by Norwegian multinational Mowi for a fish farm in Co Kerry. A breach of license conditions at a smolt hatchery run by the Norwegian aquaculture company’s Irish division in Donegal…
![The restored 137 year-old Gleoiteog, the Lovely Anne, sails to Claddagh Quay during it's re-launch in Galway city. The boat, built in 1882, was restored as part of a community training project between Bádóirí an Cladaig and Galway Hooker 2020.](/media/k2/items/cache/2683d387e3f59e94f3642c7d00f97f21_Generic.jpg)
Galway Gleoiteog 'Lovely Anne' Restored for Sail Training by Bádoirí an Cladaig
22nd April 2019 Historic Boats
King of the Claddagh Michael Lynskey (88) and his community took to the Galway waterside at the weekend to welcome home a historic workboat which plied the Atlantic during two world wars writes Lorna Siggins The 8m-long gleoiteog named Lovely Anne has…