MacDara Conroy
MacDara Conroy is a contributor covering all things on the water, from boating and wildlife to science and business
The infamous Celtic Mist is set to be used to track one of the most elusive marine animals in Irish waters. The Irish Examiner reports that one of the first duties of the yacht under its new ownership by the…
The Northern Ireland Tourist Board is highlighting the latest additions to its network of canoeing trails ahead of National Trails Day on Sunday 2 October. http://afloat.ie/watersport/canoeing/ “We are very fortunate in Northern Ireland to have so many perfect calm lakes…
Proposals Unveiled for Marine Conservation Zones in England and Wales
8th September 2011 Marine Wildlife
Proposals to create more than 100 conservation zones to protect marine wildlife and plantlife in England and Wales have been unveiled. http://www.afloat.ie/port-news/marine-wildlife/ BBC News reports that the proposals - covering waters around the English and Welsh coastlines, including parts of…
Efforts are resuming today to recover the body of a Polish man who died while cave diving near Gort in Co Galway. http://www.afloat.ie/watersport/diving/ The Irish Independent reports that Artur Kozlowski, 34, failed to emerge as expected from the flooded cave…
Beachgoers in Wales have been urged to watch out for leatherback turtles who have come to the Irish Sea attracted by the rising numbers of jellyfish. There have already been a dozen sightings of the endangered marine creatures off the…
The search will resume today for a Polish diver reported missing yesterday near Gort in Co Galway. http://www.afloat.ie/watersport/diving/ The Irish Times reports that the man, believed to be in his 30s, was exploring a cave in the area solo yesterday…
Irish Coast Guard Reveals Spike in Incidents Involving Leisure Activities, Merchant Vessels
5th September 2011 Coastguard
The Irish Coast Guard has released statistics revealing a busy summer period and a significant increase certain types of search and rescue incidents. http://www.afloat.ie/resources/organisations/irish-coast-guard/ Most notable is the increase in incidents involving leisure activities such as surfing, diving, and canoeing.…
Ireland must do more to develop its port and shipping services or risk missing out on the benefits of the growning renewable energy sector. http://afloat.ie/port-news/port-and-shipping-news/ That was the message from a new analysis compiled by the Sustainable Energy Authority of…
A new scheme to teach traditional boatbuilding skills to university level could be of huge benefit to young people from disadvantaged areas of Limerick. The Irish Times reports that degree programmes in traditional boat craft accredited by the UK's University…
RTÉ presenters Kathryn Thomas and Gráinne Seoige were among the 2,000 competitors who crossed the finish line at the Ironman triathlon in Galway yesterday. http://www.afloat.ie/port-news/galway-harbour/ According to the Irish Independent, the duo took part in the relay competition in aid…
The latest Marine Notice from the DTTAS advises all seafarers near Dundalk Bay and Carlingford Lough to give a wide berth to the hydrographic and oceanographic survey operation in the area this month. The RV Celtic Voyager (callsign EIQN) will…
More than 2,000 athletes will take part in Galway's first ever Ironman Triathon this weekend. The Ironman 70.3 event will comprise a 1.9km swim in Galway Bay, a 90km bike ride through Connemara and a 21.1km run through the streets…
The Stena Voyager high-speed ferry will make its final crossing between Belfast and Stranraer in mid-November. http://www.afloat.ie/port-news/ferry-news/ http://www.afloat.ie/port-news/belfast-lough/ BBC News cites the high cost of running the service, as well as its limited freight capacity, as reasons for the mothballing…
A new film telling the true story of Hawaiian surfer Bethany Hamilton will have its gala Irish screening following the opening ceremony of Eurosurf 2011 in Bundoran on Saturday 24 September. http://afloat.ie/watersport/surfing/ Soul Surfer stars AnnaSophia Robb as Hamilton, who…
The New York Times recently paid a visit to the River Moy in Co Sligo, where angling has experienced a resurgance in recent years. http://www.afloat.ie/watersport/angling/ Since the ban on drift netting off Irish shores in 2007, salmon numbers in the…
The wealth of marine wildlife inhabiting the shallow waters around the Irish coast is highlighted in a new book. http://www.afloat.ie/port-news/marine-wildlife/ Ireland's Hidden Depths, published by Sherkin Island Marine Station, features photography by Paul Kay, who has studied the marine wildlife…
Plans are afoot to bring powerboat racing's Harmsworth Trophy event to Cork in 2014 - over 100 years since Cork Harbour hosted the first ever edition of the race. http://www.afloat.ie/power/ http://afloat.ie/port-news/cork-harbour-news/ Regarded as the powerboat version of yachting's America's Cup,…
Singer Ronan Keating set off with a group of celebrities and 'super swimmers' on a charity crossing of the Irish Sea from Holyhead to Dublin late last night. The former Boyzone star is joined by TV presenters Jenny Frost and…
World tourism bosses and cruise line operators will be headed to Galway next month for high-powered talks aimed at transforming the city into a global destination port. http://www.afloat.ie/port-news/galway-harbour/ The Connacht Sentinel reports that execuives from Fáilte Ireland, the Galway Harbour…
The Irish Times reports that the Naval Service detained a Spanish-registered fishing vessel off the Clare coast in the early hours of Tuesday morning. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0830/breaking14.html http://www.afloat.ie/port-news/navy/ http://www.afloat.ie/port-news/fishing/ The vessel was escorted by the LE Niamh to Castletownbere in Co Cork,…
