MacDara Conroy
MacDara Conroy is a contributor covering all things on the water, from boating and wildlife to science and business
RTÉ One Screening 'A Grand Experience' on the Royal Canal Tomorrow Night
15th October 2012 Maritime TV
#MARITIME ON TV - Be sure to tune in to RTÉ One tomorrow night (Tuesday 16 October) for a special one-off TV documentary following three very different artists on a voyage of inspiration along the Grand Canal. A Grand Experience,…
#WATER SAFETY - The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) has published a Marine Notice addressed to all pleasure and recreational craft owners, masters and users to remind the public of the law in relation to being under the…
#INLAND WATERWAYS - Ballygarrett National School in Co Wexford fended off competition from 125 other primaries nationwide to win the 'Something Fishy' education programme for 2012. The school claimed the award and a cheque for €500 for their project ‘Fishylympics’,…
#SURFING - Top press photographer Charles McQuillan recently travelled to Northern Ireland to capture big wave surfing pro Al Mennie in training for the winter season, as The Irish Times reports. McQuillan set out to document every aspect of Mennie's…
#RESCUE - An unconfirmed number of men from Ireland were among 22 people rescued from a sinking passenger boat in San Francisco Bay in the early hours of this morning. KGO-TV News reports that the hull of The Neptune was…
#GALWAY FISH FARM - Galway Bay FM reports that a full public consultation on proposals for what's set to be Europe's largest fish farm off the Aran Islands is scheduled to begin next week. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the…
#VOLVO OCEAN RACE - Minister for Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar has ruled out any Government bailout to cover the €400,000 in debts owed by organisers of the Volvo Ocean Race finale in Galway, as the Galway City Tribune reports.…
#MARINE WILDLIFE - A marine wildlife conference in Cumbria aims to delve deep into the Irish Sea to uncover some of its fascinating secrets. The Living Seas North West Conference takes place at the Netherwood Hotel in Grange-over-Sands next Friday…
#MARINE WILDLIFE - Might there be evidence of coral reefs in the Irish Sea? Johnny Woodlock of the Irish Seal Sanctuary believes so. Writing for Wildlife Extra, the Sea Fishery Advisory Group member recalls seeing a piece of coral that…
#ANGLING - Northern Ireland anglers have balked at proposals to secure protected region of origin status for 'Irish salmon' so that only farmed salmon can use the name. As the Belfast Telegraph reports, the Ulster Angling Federation (UAF) has lodged…
#SEASICKNESS - A surprising 62% of crew members on board yachts taking part in the Global Challenge experienced seasickness at least once along the 27,000-mile route. Those are the findings of a survey undertaken by Yachting World of the 223…
#RESCUE - A lifeguard at Galway's Leisureland has been praised for his part in the rescue of a canoeist who got into difficulty in the water off Salthill, as The Connacht Sentinel reports. Ian Brennan raced to the water after…
#MARINE WILDLIFE - The Globe and Mail reports that Canada is keeping tabs on an EU plan to "manage" Europe's seal population amid growing controversy over the issue. Last month the European Parliament approved a resolution on the Common Fisheries…
#MARINAS - The new shore block at Stranraer Marina is the latest project to benefit from the Sail West initiative across western Scotland, Northern Ireland and the northwest coast of Ireland. As the Galloway Gazette reports, the new waterfront building…
Marine Notice: Safety Recommendations for Fishing Vessels from 'Ainmire' Report
8th October 2012 Fishing
#MARINE NOTICE - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) draws mariners' attention to the official report on the sinking of the fishing boat Ainmire and its recommendations for safety on board all fishing…
#ANGLING - The Irish Times' angling columnist Derek Evans revisits the Darndale fishing ponds in north Dublin which have been given a new lease of life thanks to a community-led project to rid the angling spot of an invasive weed.…
#BELFAST HARBOUR - Mariners using Belfast Harbour are advised of a number of changes made to buoys placed in Belfast Lough to aid in navigation and traffic management. The existing Fairway Buoy has been moved east northeast (ENE) to a…
#MARINE WILDLIFE - The board of directors of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) has announced the appointment of three new officers to cover the roles of conservation, Northern Ireland and the Irish language. The new IWDG conservation officer…
#MARINE WARNING - The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) has been advised that subsea rock installation works will shortly commence along a pipeline route from the Corrib Gas Field in Broad Haven Bay off Co Mayo. Works will…
#FISHING - Inland Fisheries Ireland has in the last week seized illegally caught bass off the Wexford coast and illegal fishing nets off the Waterford coast. While the specifics of these cases are not being released for legal and operational…