MacDara Conroy
MacDara Conroy is a contributor covering all things on the water, from boating and wildlife to science and business
Capsize and Battery Fire Test Mettle of America’s Cup Challenger INEOS Britannia
9th February 2023 America's Cup
INEOS Britannia have suffered a setback in their America’s Cup preparations after their T6 test boat capsized twice and caught fire on the water in Mallorca on Wednesday afternoon (8 February). According to Marine Industry News, the boat got loose…
Vendée Globe Record-Setter Clarisse Crémer ‘In Shock’ as She’s Dropped By Sponsor After Having Baby
6th February 2023 Vendee Globe
Vendée Globe competitor Clarisse Crémer says she is “in shock” after being dropped by her main sponsor just weeks after having a baby. According to Marine Industry News, the record-setter was let go by Banque Populaire in the wake of…
Royal Malta Sailing Club Moves Into Shipping Containers After Eviction
5th February 2023 Middle Sea Race
The host club of the Rolex Middle Sea Race has been forced to relocate its operations into shipping containers after it was evicted from its premises. As the Times of Malta reports, talks to delay a court-ordered eviction or find…
New Canoeing and Kayaking Club for Carrick-on-Suir Secures Start-Up Funding
22nd January 2023 Canoeing
A new canoeing and kayaking club for Carrick-on-Suir has secured start-up funding that will allow it to set up a premises in the Co Tipperary town. As Tipperary Live reports, Carrick-on-Suir Paddlers held its first AGM on Wednesday 11 January…
Two fishermen were rescued on Monday morning (16 January) after their vessel sank off Tory Island in Co Donegal. A multi-agency rescue operation was launched after a Mayday signal from the 36-foot crabbing boat shortly before 6am on Monday. However,…
Fundraiser for Family of Man Who Died in Galway Bay Kayaking Tragedy Raises More Than €25K
16th January 2023 Galway Harbour
An online fundraiser for the family of a man who died while kayaking in Galway Bay last month has surpassed its €20,000 goal. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, Mark Morley got into difficulty off Spiddal in Co Galway shortly before…
Loggerhead Turtles Washing Up on Irish Shores Are Cause for Concern
16th January 2023 Marine Wildlife
Concern has been expressed over reports of endangered loggerhead turtles washing up on Irish and British shores in recent days, as BreakingNews.ie reports. The remains of a deceased loggerhead turtle were found at Port Glais in Co Mayo over the…
An Irish rowing crew have set a new record for the fastest Atlantic crossing, as RTÉ News reports. The five-man team from Row Hard or Go Home rowed from the Canary Islands to Antigua in the West Indies in 33…
IOC Vice-President Ng Ser Miang Rejects Claims of Wrongdoing After Fine and Warning for World Sailing Vote Interference
12th January 2023 World Sailing
IOC vice-president Ng Ser Miang has rejected accusations of wrongdoing after he was found guilty of interfering in a World Sailing election. The Singaporean entrepreneur was determined by an independent panel to have had a conflict of interest in the…
Tributes Paid to Marcio ‘Mad Dog’ Freire After Big Wave Surfer’s Death at Nazaré
9th January 2023 Surfing
The surfing world has paid tribute to Brazilian big wave surfer Marcio Freire after his death at Nazaré last Thursday (5 January). According to RTÉ News, Freire fell into the water while surfing at the Portuguese swell regarded as producing…
Celebrating Conor O’Brien’s Pioneering Voyage Around the World 100 Years On
7th January 2023 Conor O'Brien
The Journal has highlighted the upcoming centenary of Irish yachtsman Conor O’Brien’s pioneering circumnavigation. In June 1923, Limerick man O’Brien set off on his yacht the Saoirse — named after the then newly created Irish Free State — on the…
Port of Kinsale’s Lobster Pot Christmas Creation Named ‘Unusual Tree of the Day’ by Alastair Campbell
7th January 2023 Kinsale
Tony Blair’s former spin doctor has bestowed an unusual honour upon the Port of Kinsale’s special Christmas tree. Earlier this week, Alastair Campbell named the lobster pot creation by local fisherman Eamonn O’Neill has his ‘Unusual Tree of the Day’…
Mystery Sailboat in 10-Year-Old Video Is Abandoned Dun Laoghaire Yacht ‘Wolfhound’
6th January 2023 Offshore
Video has recently surfaced online of ocean researchers’ encounter in the Atlantic with an abandoned Dun Laoghaire yacht — one that was the subject of headlines a decade ago. It’s nearly 10 years since Alan McGettigan and crew were rescued…
Ireland’s Links on Deck and Behind the Scenes with The Ocean Race IMOCA 11th Hour Racing
6th January 2023 Ocean Race
11th Hour Racing Team’s longtime sustainability manager Damian Foxall isn’t Ireland’s only connection to the IMOCA getting ready to foil around the world in The Ocean Race 2022-23 this month. Cork sailor James O’Mahony, a veteran of two previous editions…
Wheelchair Users Decry Delay of Access Ramp Upgrades at Dun Laoghaire Baths
6th January 2023 Dun Laoghaire Baths Project
Wheelchair users have highlighted accessibility issues at the newly reopened Dun Laoghaire Baths — with the current temporary ramps deemed as too steep. As The Journal reports, one accessibility advocate described the ramps to the lower-level amphitheatre as “disgraceful”. “They…
Sea Swimmers Warned Over Cold Water Temperatures After Rescue of Hypothermic Casualty at Howth Head
5th January 2023 Sea Swim
Howth’s Irish Coast Guard unit reminds sea swimmers to be wary of cold water temperatures after they responded to a hypothermic swimmer needing medical assistance on Wednesday morning (4 January). The casualty was taken safely from the water at Balscadden…
A harbour near Melbourne in Australia is probing the potential of its natural tides to develop a new kind of renewable energy hub. As the Bellarine Times reports, Queenscliff Harbour has partnered with the non-profit Southern Ocean Environmental Link and…
Wreck of Ghost Ship MV Alta Has Changed Our Lives for the Worse, East Cork Locals Say
26th December 2022 Coastal Notes
Locals in the area where the ghost ship MV Alta washed ashore nearly three years ago say their lives have been changed for the worse by the wreck’s presence on their doorstep. Speaking to The Journal for a special feature,…
Belated Celebration to Mark Retirement of Baltimore Lifeboat’s Former Coxswain Kieran Cotter
26th December 2022 RNLI Lifeboats
Baltimore RNLI will host a proper send-off for its retired former coxswain Kieran Cotter this Tuesday evening 27 December from 8pm at Jacob’s Bar in the West Cork village. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, Cotter retired at the end of…
Marine Casualty Investigation Board Welcomes New Structure to Carry Out Investigations
13th December 2022 MCIB
The board of the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) says it welcomes the publication of the General Scheme of Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022 and the Government’s decision to establish a new independent Marine Accident Investigation Unit…