MacDara Conroy
MacDara Conroy is a contributor covering all things on the water, from boating and wildlife to science and business
#BUYING A BOAT - With the current economy making everyone think twice before they spend, the question of whether to buy or rent a boat is one being asked more and more often in the marketplace. But what should you…
#TITANIC - In the latest edition of his history of Ireland in 100 objects in The Irish Times, Fintan O'Toole examines the legacy of an admission ticket to the launch of the Titanic in Belfast on 31 May 1911. On…
#VOLVO OCEAN RACE - Fans of the Volvo Ocean Race should expect a "very forward thinking" design for the new 65-foot one-design planned for the next two editions of the round-the-world challenge. "The overwhelming impression will be of a top-level…
#SAIL TRAINING - A new website designed to help make it easier and quicker to find boating training courses across the UK, US, Europe and worldwide has just been launched. The Boating Hub is aimed at both beginners and more…
Navigation Restrictions in Enniskillen for Hallowe'en Night Fireworks
28th October 2012 Inland Waterways
#INLAND WATERWAYS - Waterways Ireland is advising all masters and users of the Erne navigation that a fireworks display will take place at Castle Island in Enniskillen on Hallowe'en night around 8pm. Masters of vessels are advised that in there…
#FUNGIE - A new video posted to YouTube celebrates 30 years of Fungie the dolphin in Dingle. The male bottlenose dolphin appeared from out of nowhere in the Co Kerry fishing village in 1983 and soon made it his home,…
#MARINE WILDLIFE - There's still a week left to check out the Shark Week celebrations at Sea Life Bray. Till 4 November the centre on the promenade in Bray, Co Wicklow will be hosting events that take a closer look…
#MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE - It took eight years to cross the Atlantic, but a message in a bottle sent by two girls from eastern Canada finally found a recipient - in Co Waterford. As the Irish Independent reports, 10-year-old…
#MARINE WILDLIFE - Marine experts are calling on the UK public to pile pressure on their government to create Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) to help protect and restore marine wildlife in the Irish Sea and around the British coast. The…
#TALL SHIPS - TheJournal.ie this week highlighted this wonderful video of the Tall Ships Races fleet as they departed Dublin Bay on Sunday 26 August. Filmmaker Rachel O'Connor captured this footage on board the racing sloop Sceolaing along with its…
#DIVING - Naas Sub Aqua Club is looking for new members from the East coast and the Midlands as it prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary, the Leinster Leader reports. The Co Kildare-based diving club is one of the most…
#DUBLIN BAY NEWS - TheJournal.ie reports that gardaí are investigating the discovery of a human arm on a south Dublin beach on Thursday - the second such find in Dublin Bay in less than a week. The body part was…
#LIFEBOATS - Holyhead RNLI's all-weather lifeboat was dispatched late on Wednesday night (24 October) in response to a distress call from a yacht in the Irish Sea. The volunteer crew received the request from Holyhead Coastguard after a mayday call…
#FERRY NEWS - A Stena Line ferry was unable to dock in Rosslare last night after a collision with an Irish Ferries passenger craft in heavy winds. TheJournal.ie reports that the Stena Europe ferry was attempting to dock at Rosslare…
#MARINE WILDLIFE - US marine science experts have been baffled by a beluga whale whose speech-like vocalisations sound an awful lot like Donegal Irish! BBC News reports on research out of San Diego into the sounds made by a nine-year-old…
#MARINE WILDLIFE - The carcass of the fin whale that died after being trapped in Baltimore Harbour two months ago has been towed out to sea after its presence in a conservation area attracted complaints. According to the Irish Examiner,…
#MARKETPLACE - "Dog eat dog" competition on the high street prompted Dubarry's managing director to reposition the shoe company as a supplier of premium boating clothing and footwear, as The Irish Times reports. Eamonn Fagan explains how he saw an…
Irish Coast Guard Chief to Face Oireachtas as Bosses Criticise Govt Report
23rd October 2012 Coastguard
#COASTGUARD - The Irish Examiner reports today that the Irish Coast Guard has severely criticised the first draft of the 'value for money' report on the coastguard service commissioned by Transport Minister Leo Varadkar. Senior IRCG management berated the work…
#SURFING - Surfing website MagicSeaweed captured French surf pro Justine Dupont in top form at Aileens off the West of Ireland on Sunday 21 October. The 21-year-old paddled out to the secret big wave surfing spot with 2011 Billabong XXL…
#COASTAL NOTES - The remains of a leatherback turtle were among the finds reported by 'citizen scientists' taking part in the Coastwatch survey of Ireland's coastline, according to The Irish Times. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the 'eco audit' marked…
