MacDara Conroy
MacDara Conroy is a contributor covering all things on the water, from boating and wildlife to science and business
DiscoverIreland guest blogger Kirsten Fruit has posted a quick guide highlighting Ireland's abundance of world-class angling spots. http://www.afloat.ie/watersport/angling/ "For years, fishing fanatics from around the world have found a haven of sorts in Ireland’s waterways," she writes, "and it isn’t…
BBC News reports that two seasick sailors and their yacht had to be towed to safety yesterday by the Alderney lifeboat in the Channel Islands. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-14588649 The 12m yacht Astazou - which was returning to mainland England from Guernsey -…
Though they failed to track down the elusive humpback whales, IWDG members were recently treated to their first sighting of fin whales in Co Kerry's inshore waters. With permission from the Haughey family to land on Inis Mhic Aoibhleáin -…
An injured man fisherman airlifted to hospital yesterday from a boat off Kerry coast, The Irish Times reports. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0818/breaking56.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter The Shannon-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter was dispatched to assist the crewmember on the UK-registered fishing vessel Achieve, some 110 miles…
Two Mayo fishermen stranded at sea after their boat capsized were not assisted after they used flares, a Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) report has found. http://www.afloat.ie/safety/mcib/ The report, released earlier this week, recounted that the 33m crabber Léim an…
The US Coast Guard's training barque Eagle returned to her home port of New London, Connecticut last week after a summer-long voyage to Europe. Last May the ship and its crew paid a visit to Waterford ahead of this year's…
Newstalk reports that an experienced windsurfer was rescued from Galway Bay on Sunday night. http://www.newstalk.ie/2011/news/galway-windsurfer-rescued-during-high-winds/ The crew of Galway's RNLI lifeboat were alerted at 4pm on Sunday afternoon after the windsurfer had been caught out by strong north-westerly winds. The…
Members of the Haughey family were on hand to present prizes to the winners of this year's Dingle Regatta at the weekend. The Irish Independent reports that Conor Haughey was joined by brothers Ciaran and Sean, sister Eimear and their…
Darragh Coffey will be among a group of hardy souls who are set to swim unaided from Lambay Island to Rush Harbour - all for a good cause. The group will be covering the 4.5km of open sea in aid…
An Australian crewmember on the stricken Rambler 100, which capsized in high winds during yesterday's Rolex Fastnet Race, has told reported that he feels "lucky to be alive". http://afloat.ie/sail/events/fastnet-race/ Mike Motti was one of five crew who were separated from…
A US entrant in this year's Rolex Fastnet Race capsizsed near Fastnet Rock off the Cork coast earliert this evening, The Irish Times reports. http://www.afloat.ie/sail/events/fastnet-race/ http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0815/breaking49.html Further to our previous report, The Irish Times notes that 22 people were on…
The Irish Independent reports that some 100 bottlenose dolphins have made a new home off the Donegal coast in the past week. The pod of bottlenoses - a rare treat in Irish waters compared to the near ubiquitous common dolphin…
Breaking News reports that the Courtmacsherry RNLI Lifeboat towed a yacht to safety yesterday afternoon after it got into difficulties in poor weather. http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/courtmacsherry-lifeboat-called-out-to-assist-stricken-yacht-516476.html http://www.afloat.ie/resources/organisations/rnli-ireland/ http://www.afloat.ie/safety/lifeboats/ The lifeboat was called out at 1.15pm to the 37ft yacht, with three people…
The largest, most diverse fleet of racing boats ever in offshore yachting set sail this morning in the Rolex Fastnet Race. http://www.afloat.ie/sail/events/fastnet-race/ The biennial flagship event of the Royal Ocean Racing Club, a tradition since 1925, will take the fleet…
The UK's shipping industry has rejected the European Union's new emissions trading scheme, claiming it is unworkable in a global business. http://www.afloat.ie/port-news/port-and-shipping-news/ The Guardian reports that campaigners have called for the inclusion of an emissions trading scheme as part of…
Denis O'Toole has spoken of his amazement at catching a record 16-pound sea trout from the Acova River in Co Wicklow. The angling hobbyist and professional fly dresser told the Bray People how he had spent the day fishing with…
All are invited to take part in the All-Ireland Whale Watch Day next Sunday 21 August. The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) is organising 13 land-based whale watches from headlands around the Irish coast on the day from 2pm-5pm…
The Marine Institute will be hosting an ARCOPOL oil spill modelling workshop in Galway on Tuesday 13 September. This one-day workshop is an opportunity to discuss the development of common procedures, techniques and decision tools for the management of response…
Plans are afoot to power Edinburgh with a giant offshore windfarm, the Edinburgh Evening News reports. http://www.afloat.ie/resources/business/power-from-the-sea/ The £1.2 billion (€ billion) project proposed by Irish group Mainstream Renewable Power could see as many as 130 turbines generate power for…
A rare blue lobster has become and unlikely tourist attraction in Co Clare, the Irish Times reports. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0808/1224302024065.html The lobster - its blue hue believed to be caused by a genetic trait similar to albinism in humans - avoided the…
