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
University College Cork (UCC) researchers say that cloudier sea waters, caused in part by climate change, is making it harder for seabirds to catch fish. Researchers attached tiny trackers to the feathers of Manx Shearwater seabirds on Little Saltee, off…
The Mayo offshore island of Inishturk is to secure a new helipad for use by Irish Coast Guard air-sea rescue helicopters. Funding of over €357,000 for the construction of the helipad has been approved by Minister for Rural and Community…
Water Safety Ambassador Henry O'Donnell Goes Blue for World Drowning Prevention Day
26th July 2022 Sea Swim
Sporting blue hair, painted blue eyelids and a blue wave painted on his chest, Water Safety Ireland ambassador Henry O’Donnell took to the Donegal coastline to issue a safety appeal on World Drowning Prevention day. The former Army Ranger, lifeguard,…
Early Better Stakeholder Consultation on Offshore Wind "Vital" - EU Official
26th July 2022 Marine Planning
Early and better stakeholder consultation on offshore wind installation is vital, and more quantitative studies are needed to assess the monetary loss to fishing, a European Commission official has told an international workshop. The workshop also heard how underwater noise…
Irish Yacht Danú Reaches Iceland on Passage to Greenland's Scoresby Sound
18th July 2022 Marine Science
An Irish yacht on a scientific, sailing and mountaineering expedition to the Arctic has reached Iceland en route to the world’s largest and deepest fjord system, Scoresby Sound in east Greenland. The group of independent adventurers on board the 13m…
In 30 Seconds My Row Was Over - Fergus "Gussie" Farrell on a Transatlantic Medevac
17th July 2022 Coastal Rowing
Former rugby player Fergus “Gussie” Farrell who was medically evacuated from rowing vessel Cushlamachree 600 nautical miles out in the Atlantic late last month has said he is gutted at having had to leave his rowing partner Damian Browne. Speaking…
A 20 million euro scheme to support the Irish aquaculture sector affected by Brexit has been approved by the European Commission under EU State aid rules.” The scheme is aimed at “mitigating the adverse impact on employment in the coastal…
Galway Port In Running for New West Coast Naval Service Base - Minister for Defence Simon Coveney
17th July 2022 Galway Harbour
A local Government TD says he’s “confident” that Galway will be chosen to host a new naval base for an expanded Irish Navy. Speaking to Galway Talks yesterday, Defence Minister Simon Coveney confirmed a new base will be sited along…
Galway Bay Swim Crossing for Cancer Care West and Tightrope Walking on the Claddagh Make for Busy Action on Water Today
16th July 2022 Galway Harbour
Swimmers transiting Galway Bay and tight rope walking across the city’s Claddagh basin will make for busy activity on Galway’s waterways today (Sat July 16) during the hot weather spell. A total of 130 swimmers have registered to cross the…
Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation to Become a Partner in Floating Windfarm Project off Donegal
15th July 2022 Wavelength Podcast
If you can’t beat em, join em, and that’s one view of a surprise move by the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO) to become a partner in a two-gigawatt floating wind farm project off the coast of Donegal. The KFO has…
Coral Found by NUIG Scientists on Ireland's Continental Shelf Effective Against Covid-19
12th July 2022 Marine Science
Marine Researchers at NUI Galway (NUIG) say an Atlantic coral that they discovered on Ireland’s Continental Shelf has a chemical compound which can act against the Covid-19 virus. The cauliflower coral was found on the seabed about half a mile…
Galway Docks transforms to an outdoor gallery over the next fortnight with a simulation by leading Irish artist John Gerrard. “Flare [Oceania] 2022” is the title of Gerrard’s work, which is part of the visual arts programme for the Galway…
Fishing and seafood organisations say they are “shocked and disappointed” at the Minister for Marine’s failure to address the fuel crisis facing the sector. A joint statement from eight representative organisations calls on the Government and marine minister, Charlie McConalogue,…
Birdwatch Ireland Expresses Alarm at Avian Flu Spread in Seabirds and Calls for Urgent Response Plan from Government
9th July 2022 Marine Wildlife
BirdWatch Ireland has said it is “shocked” at the spread of a highly virulent strain of avian flu in seabird colonies in Britain, and says Ireland needs to develop a response plan urgently. No cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza…
No Fish and Chips Due to High Energy Prices - Warning from Eight Seafood Sector Groups
6th July 2022 Fishing
Eight Irish fishing industry groups have warned that traditional fish and chips “may not be on Irish restaurant summer menus” due to Government inaction on high energy prices. “Rising fuel prices are crippling the Irish seafood sector, including fishermen, aquaculture…
Study to Reduce Harmful Emissions from Shipping Receives Irish Aid Enterprise Fund Support
4th July 2022 Ports & Shipping
A training programme aimed at reducing harmful emissions from shipping has won financial support in the first Irish Aid Enterprise Fund for International Climate Action. Dublin City University’s (DCU) school of law and governance, which is leading the study on…
Rowing a currach across Kerry waters features in one of five TG4 projects to be screened at this year’s Galway Film Fleadh, which opens this week. Four of the actors in the film, entitled Tarrac, take to their oars on…
Skellig Michael has reopened to visitors after the recent rockfall forced a temporary suspension of visitors to the UNESCO world heritage site off the Kerry coast. This year’s season on the island 12 km off the Kerry coast began on…
Ireland’s Met Éireann director Eoin Moran has been elected chairman of Europe’s meteorological satellite agency, EUMETSAT. The 30-member-state EUMETSAT council made the decision to appoint him to the post for two years at its 101st meeting late this week. The…
The world’s deepest shipwreck on record has been found by a team of explorers in the Philippine Sea. The hull of the USS Samuel B Roberts, or Sammy B as it was known, was located at 22,916 feet (6984.7 metres)…
