MacDara Conroy
MacDara Conroy is a contributor covering all things on the water, from boating and wildlife to science and business
Writing in the Irish Independent on Saturday, WM Nixon welcomes the introduction of Sail Training Ireland as a big step towards getting Ireland back into tall ship sailing. Nixon also pays tribute to Ireland's previous square-rigger, Asgard II, which held…
The British government could be ready to change its plans for the streamlining of the UK coastguard service. The Belfast Telegraph reports that while there will be no turning back on reforms, concessions such as closing fewer stations and keeping…
Mini sailboats could soon be spotted in Irish waters if a US school project goes according to plan. The Bangor Daily News in Maine reports on the Educational Passages programme, through which middle school students will equip miniature sailboats with…
A private lighthouse overlooking Waterford Harbour will be up for auction in June valued at €345,000. The Duncannon north lighthouse - some 20km from New Ross, Co Wexford - is thought to be one of the only privately-owned lighthouses still…
The latest Maritime Law Seminar hosted by the Irish Maritme Law Assocition (IMLA) will take place on Thursday 12 May 2011 in The Gibson Hotel at The Point Village in Dublin's Docklands. Also open to non-members, the day will feature…
The Government has three months to start cleaning the toxic waste site in Haulbowline or risk court action by the European Commission, the Irish Examiner reports. The site at the former Irish Steel plant contains an estimated 500,000 tonnes of…
Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116 was on hand Wednesday to save a woman seen in the water close to cliffs near the Baily Lighthouse on Howth Head. http://www.afloat.ie/resources/organisations/irish-coast-guard/ SAR Ireland reports that the helicopter was on a training exercise…
Irish musician Paul Brady has confessed to a second love - scuba diving. The 'Nobody Knows' hitmaker explained to The Irish Times how he had "always felt at home in the water" since a young age, and did his first…
The winners of the 2011 Port of Cork Schools Initiative have been announced. St John the Baptist National School in Midleton took the prize for best project in this year's contest, with the theme of ‘Making Cork Harbour a Green…
The yacht sailed by late former Taoiseach Charles Haughey has been offered as gift to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) as a research vessel. The Irish Times reports that 52ft Celtic Mist had been on sale in the…
Three anglers were recovered by the Kilmore Quay lifeboat last weekend after an engine failure on their vessel close to the Saltee Islands. SAR Ireland reports that three males were on board the cheekily named Crafty Bitch on a fishing…
Members of the publuc are invited to attend a major flood evacuation training exercise this Saturday at Broadmeadow Esturary in Swords, Co Dublin. Rescue and boat rescue crews from the Irish Coast Guard are sceduled to join teams from the…
Trade at Dublin Port is set to more than double over the next 30 years, according to its chief executive Eamonn O'Reilly. In an interview with The Irish Times last week, O'Reilly elaborated on the new 'master plan' for the…
Top British architects have won the commission to develop an ambitious master plan for Dun Laoghaire Harbour. The Dun Laoghaire Gazette reports that Metropolitan Workshop have been tasked examining the feasibility of redeveloping the port to attract cruise liners carrying…
The bodies of two fishermen missing off the Skerries coast since last Friday have been found. Ronan Browne, 26, and David Gilsenan, 41, had not been seen since setting out from Skerries harbour on the morning of 1 April. As…
ESB International is seeking foreshore liecences to develop a new wave energy project on the west coast. The Irish Times reports that the scheme is part of a strategy to generate 150MW of electricy from the sea by 2020, in…
BoatTest.com has posted a guide to getting the best long-term value from your next boat purchase. With boat buyers increasingly seeing their purchases as personal assets and investments for the future in this tough economic climate, making the right choice…
The Department of Transport's latest marine notice advises on the start of offshore drilling operations by Shell Ireland at the Corrib gas field in Co Mayo. Drilling is scheduled to begin on or around 13 April, to last for approximately…
Ireland's new safety framework for oil and gas extraction and production will be informed by lessons learned after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, The Irish Times reports. A report published last week by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER)…
Entry closes this Sunday for the Canoeing Ireland slalom team trials and selection races, scheduled for 16-17 April. Canoeists hoping for selecton must compete in a total of three events over the weekend. at the Sluice Weir in Lucan, Co…
