Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Ireland's leading maritime histortian will be remembered during Conamara Sea Week, which starts next Friday. The 10-day programme celebrating the west of Ireland's rich maritime heritage kicks off just two days after the centenary of the late Dr John de…

A passenger ferry heading to Northrrn Ireland was left adrift off the coast of western Scotland early yesterday after suffering engine failure. http://www.afloat.ie/port-news/ferry-news/ The Press Association reports that the Stena Navigator was en route from Stranraer to Belfast when both…

With an asking price of just €149,000, the high quality log cabins at River Valley in Ballyconnell, Co Cavan could make the perfect getaway for river boating enthusiasts. Nestled in a scenic forest area just two hours from Dublin on…

Bookings are now available for kayaking trips on the lakes of Killarney over the winter months of 2011-2012. http://www.afloat.ie/watersport/kayaking/ Kayaking on Lough Lein can be done all throughout the winter, the locale providing some great sheltered bays to paddle. Irish…

The Irish Times' Conor Pope jumped in at the deep end when he took part in his first Liffey Descent last weekend (VIDEO BELOW). The first-time canoeist faced his many fears to tackle the challenging course from the K Club…

A campaigner on Twitter is encouraging supporters to sign an online petition against the closure of coastguard stations across the UK. http://afloat.ie/safety/coastguard/ So far almost 7,000 signatures have been added to the petition started by Twitter user @Coastguard_SOS in protest…

In a bad omen for marinas in Ireland and elsewhere in Europe, Italian marina operators are facing a further decline in fortunes, according to boat industry website IBI Plus. http://www.afloat.ie/port-news/irish-marinas/ The site highlights a report in Italian newspaper Il Sole…

Seven dead seals washed up in Donegal are believed to have died of natural causes - but concerns over a pattern of seal deaths nationwide remain. As the Donegal Democrat reports, the seven grey seals - which are a protected…

The ESB has made an agreement with Shannon Fisheries Preservation and Development Co to establish the new Shannon Fisheries Partnership, The Irish Times reports. http://www.afloat.ie/port-news/shannon-estuary/ http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/1010/1224305515678.html The new group will comprise representatives from both bodies as well as Inland Fisheries…

Northern Ireland Water has announced that some of its reservoirs will be closed to angling temporarily from next January to facilitate refurbishment work. http://www.afloat.ie/watersport/angling/ The water levels on the reservoirs in the DCAL Public Angling Estate work be lowered on…

A major search for a man thought to have gone missing while kayaking on Carlingford Lough has ended for the night, UTV News reports. http://www.afloat.ie/watersport/kayaking/ http://www.u.tv/News/Missing-person-search-in-weather-delay/40ae194e-1d61-4697-949a-cb73f2919738 Emergency services will decide this morning whether to resume the search for a kayaker…

A near-60ft long whale stranded on a beach in Scotland's Western Isles last week has died. According to The Daily Telegraph, the whale was discovered on South Uist last Monday afternoon. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/8807883/60ft-stranded-whale-dies-in-Outer-Hebrides.html Despite the best efforts of rescue volunteers from…

Wexford Sub Aqua Club has been recognised for its commitment to the environment in an awards ceremony in Dublin last week. The Wexford People reports that Minister of State Fergus O'Dowd presented the club with An Taisce's Coastguard Initiative of…

The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) advises that two Waverider buoys are set to be deployed off the west coast from tomorrow 10 October. The buoys will be operational for between 12 and…

Fishermen and farmers make up more than half of all work-related fatalities in Ireland, according to the Minister for the Marine. As The Irish Times reports, Simon Coveney TD decried it as an "absolute tragedy" in the Dáil. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/1007/1224305390030.html He…

A UK-based manufactuer of pesticides has developed a so-called 'toxic malteser' to help tackle the scourge of invasive zebra mussels. The razor-edged mussels have no natural predators in UK and Irish waters so spread rapidly and wreak havoc on water…

A former farm in Kinsale with spectacular sea views is inviting final offers by private treaty. The 370-acre waterfront property was formerly the proposed location for the Kinsale Harbour Resort. The land is laid out in flat fields with good…

Dun Laoghaire's planned new diaspora centre will rival the likes of Sydney Opera House, according to the semi-state body behind the proposal. http://www.afloat.ie/port-news/dun-laoghaire-news/ Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company estimates the cost of the project at €50 million. Most of this will…

Canadian news website Surrey Now has some smart tips for boat buyers looking to find their latest purchase online. http://www.thenownewspaper.com/news/Smart+tips+buying+boat+online/5239272/story.html It's never been easier to research the latest styles and technologies on the web, so boat buying novices can be…

Atlantic salmon have joined four other native fish on a 'red list' of endangered species compiled by the Ireland's fisheries and wildlife agencies. As the Irish Independent reports, one third of the State's 15 native fish species are considered endangered…