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A Harbour Seal photographed at Dun Laoghaire Marina on Dublin Bay, Ireland. Also known as the common seal, is a true seal found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines of the Northern Hemisphere. The most widely distributed species of pinnipeds, they are found in coastal waters of the northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans, Baltic and North seas. Photo: AfloatA photograph of a Harbour Seal taken at Dun Laoghaire Marina on Dublin Bay, Ireland. Also known as the common seal, this species can be found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines throughout the Northern Hemisphere. They are the most widely distributed species of pinnipeds and can be found in the coastal waters of the northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as well as the Baltic and North Seas. Photo: Afloat

Displaying items by tag: CarrickonShannon

Waterways Ireland is notifying all masters of vessels that diving operations will take place at Carrick-on-Shannon on Friday 18 December.

The locations of the diving operations are 1 along the quay wall some 30 metres downstream and upstream of the bridge, and along the quay wall near the boat club.

Masters of vessels and all inland waterways users are requested to proceed with additional caution in the vicinity of the diving operations.

Published in Inland Waterways

#Rowing: Portadown Regatta enjoyed almost perfect conditions today. A packed programme was run in bright, warm sunshine and on flat water. RBAI beat the host club in one of the top events of the day, the men’s junior 18 eights final, reversing the decision of last year.

Shauna Murtagh of Carrick-on-Shannon beat Kate Crawford of Portadown in the women’s junior 18 single sculls – a first win in a regatta for the 16-year-old daughter of Ireland great Frances Cryan.

The men’s junior 18 single was won by Hugh Moore of Coleraine Grammar School.

Published in Rowing

#Rowing: The Head of the Shannon enjoyed good weather and an appreciative crowd at Carrick-on-Shannon on Saturday. The timing system encountered some difficulties. Neptune’s junior 18 quadruple were the fastest crew in the first head. The pennant for this class was granted in the second head and Enniskillen took it. The Fermanagh club had a set of wins at junior level, as did Coláiste Iognáid of Galway. Commercial’s junior 16 women’s eight also came out on top.  

Head of the Shannon, Carrick-on-Shannon, Selected Results (Category winners)

Head One

Men

Eight – Jun 16: Col Iognáid. Masters: Neptune (d)

Four – Jun 18, coxed: Enniskillen

Pair – Sen: Galway. Jun 18: Enniskillen

Sculling

Quadruple – Jun 16, coxed: Sligo. Masters: Galway (e). Masters, coxed: Athlone (e).

Double – Sen: Portadown. Masters: City of Derry (d). Jun 18: Enniskillen

Single – Jun 16: Athlone (Carroll)

Women

Eight – Jun 18: Col Iognáid

Four – Club, coxed: Athlone

Sculling, Quadruple – Jun 18: Enniskillen

Double – Club: Carrick-on-Shannon. Jun 16: Commercial

Single – Club: Carrick-on-Shannon (Early). Jun 18: Enniskillen (Fee)

Head Two

Men

Eight, Jun 18: Portadown

Four – Masters, coxed: Athlone (b)

Sculling

Quadruple – Jun 18: Enniskillen

Double – Club: Enniskillen. Jun 16: Enniskillen

Single – Sen: Sligo (G Patterson). Jun 18: Carrick-on-Shannon (Early). Masters: Athlone (Gallen, f)

Women,

Eight

Club: Galway. Jun 16: Commercial. Masters: Tribesmen B (e)

Four – Jun 18: Col Iognáid.

Pair – Jun 18: Col Iognáid

Sculling

Quadruple – Jun 16, coxed: Sligo.

Double – Jun 18: Enniskillen

Single – Club: Carrick-on-Shannon (T Duggan). Jun 16: Carrick-on-Shannon (Murtagh).

Published in Rowing

#Angling - Denis Naughten, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, has officially launched two new angling developments by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) at Emlaghroyan in Roscommon and ‘The Mudflats’ at Carrick-on-Shannon in Co Leitrim.

A new match angling stretch has been provided at Emlaghroyan, on the River Suck in Roscommon, with upgraded car parking and drive-to-peg facilities.

This development involved upgrading existing roadways and the construction of new access roadway.

Ten new match angling pegs have been provided, with a capacity for further extension.

The Suck Valley Angling Hub were recently granted additional funds through the National Strategy for Angling Development (NSAD) to extend the match venue to further promote tourism angling and facilitate match competitions in the Roscommon/East Galway area.

Together with recently unveiled developments on the River Suck at Lough Acalla, the total investment in the River Suck project was €87,000.

In Leitrim, another major 2017 development project has been completed with an investment of €103,000, providing new facilities at ‘The Mudflats’ on the main River Shannon at Carrick-on-Shannon.

The new floating angling stand is accompanied by improved roadways and parking, upgraded toilet facilities and a new slipway.

This is another important match angling venue, used widely for international match angling events such as the World Pairs and the Carrick Angling Festival.

Speaking in Carrick-On-Shannon after the ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday (Friday 1 December), Minister Naughten said: “I am delighted to mark the official opening of these developments today. Both were completed under the National Strategy for Angling Development (NSAD) and greatly enhance the angling infrastructure in both counties. They will provide a boost to angling tourism potential in the region, which in turn should increase visitor numbers.

“Furthermore, these projects would not be possible without the cooperation, agreement and vision of the respective landowners and I would like to thank all those involved for their contribution to these developments.”

More applications from the region are currently going through the NSAD assessment process, and aim to enhance the angling infrastructure in the upper Shannon areas as well as promote participation in angling.

Two weeks ago Minister Naughten unveiled new angling infrastructure in Galway and Athlone, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

Published in Angling

#Shannon - RTÉ News reports that the bodies of a man and a woman were recovered from the water at a marina in Carrick-on-Shannon yesterday afternoon (Friday 31 March) just hours after they were reported missing.

The couple, an Irish man and an English woman living in Germany, had been boating in the area since the beginning of the week, and were last seen at a restaurant near the Co Leitrim town’s marina on Wednesday night (29 March). The deaths are being treated as accidental.

Published in News Update

#Rowing - The Carrick-on-Shannon Rowing Regatta will be held on Sunday 31 July on a 400m stretch of the waterway immediately south of the town bridge.

​Hundreds of spectators and competitors are expected at the event, one of the final rowing events of the season, which is supported by Waterways Ireland through its sponsorship programme.

Events begin at 8am and will run till around 6pm. Craft wishing to make a through passage will be facilitated every two hours (approx) during the course of the regatta. Mooring restrictions will apply in Carrick-on-Shannon to facilitate the regatta.

In the interest of marine safety and to facilitate the laying of the competition course, access to the floating moorings will be restricted in the run-up to and during the event itself.

Only vessels of an overall length of 22ft/6.8m or less will be permitted on the floating jetties from Friday 29 to Sunday 31 July. Vessels berthed from Friday 29 July at 4pm will be required to remain in place until racing finishes on the Sunday evening.

The floating jetties will be closed off during this time and no vessels should approach as the entrance to the berths will be closed off and manoeuvring room will be severely restricted due to the proximity of the course. Access to the floating jetties will be monitored from Monday 25 July.

Masters are advised to proceed at slow speed and with due caution and to take note of advice from course marshals when passing through the area.

Further information can be had by contacting the Waterways Ireland inspectorate at +353 (0)87 985 2324 or North Shannon operations at +353 (0)71 96 50787.

Published in Rowing

#Rowing: The Head of the Shannon, fixed for Carrick-on-Shannon this Saturday, December 5th, has been cancelled. The organisers say that the rising water levels on the river, combined with the forecast for the weekend, has left them with no alternative. The Muckross Head is also scheduled for Saturday, at the National Rowing Centre in Cork.

Published in Rowing

#InlandWaterways - Waterways Ireland has advised all masters and users of the Erne system that the channel east of Castle Island near Enniskillen will be closed till Tuesday 11 June to facilitate a number of events on the water.

Mariners are directed to follow the marked navigation channel and signs to the west of Castle Island and proceed at a slow speed and with minimum wash. They should note any advise or instructions given by event organisers when in this section of the navigation.

Public jetties in the vicinity will remain accessible throughout, though some minor restrictions may be in place as and when required. Further information is available from the Lough Erne warden at 028 6632 3004.

Elsewhere, there will also be restricted mooring for masters and owners on the River Shannon at Carrick-on-Shannon to facilitate spectator viewing of the Carrick 400 event.

On Sunday 2 June the quay wall from the downstream face of the town bridge to the floating moorings will be out of bounds for mooring from 7pm till midnight.

In other waterways news, recent water quality testing has shown the harbour at Kilcock on the Royal Canal to now be within normal bathing water standards.

Published in Inland Waterways

# ROWING: Trinity’s intermediate eight were the fastest crew in the first head at the Carrick-on-Shannon Head of the River today. They had almost eight seconds to spare over the second-placed NUIG intermediate eight.

CARRICK-ON-SHANNON HEAD, SATURDAY
1 Dublin University BC mens intermediate 8+12:48.624:23.5 11:34.9 
2 NUI Galway BC mens intermediate 8+13:12.924:55.6 11:42.7 
6 St. Josephs College RC mens intermediate 8+15:21.527:25.4 12:03.9 
5 Dublin University BC Cmens intermediate 8+15:01.927:36.6 12:34.7 
26 Bann RC mens J16 8+28:55.441:38.9 12:43.5
3 NUI Galway BC mens senior 4-13:42.026:31.0 12:48.9
7 Dublin University BC Dmens intermediate 8+16:05.129:00.2 12:55.1
27 Colaiste Iognaid RC mens J16 8+29:42.042:49.6 13:07.6
4 Dublin University BC mens senior 4-14:04.927:25.8 13:21.0
38 Commercial RC mens J16 4X+36:05.549:31.5 13:25.9
12 Athlone BC - Athlone BC/City of Derry BC (e 457)mens masters 8+19:13.732:43.012:16.313:29.3
30 NUI Galway BC mens novice 4+31:49.245:34.0 13:44.8
9 Colaiste Iognaid RC mens J18A 4+18:10.432:00.8 13:50.4
28 St. Josephs College RC mens J16 8+30:15.944:10.4 13:54.5
13 Lady Victoria BC (f 486)mens masters 8+19:37.133:56.412:40.314:19.3
25 Athlone BC mens J16 8+28:21.242:45.2 14:24.0
15 Athlone BC mens J18A 2X20:52.735:21.2 14:28.4
18 Bann RC mens senior 2-23:16.737:45.3 14:28.6
31 Dublin University BC mens novice 4+32:30.447:03.8 14:33.3
14 Commercial RC mens J18A 2X20:15.234:49.5 14:34.3
34 Commercial RC womens intermediate 4+34:09.048:49.7 14:40.8 
37 NUI Galway BC womens intermediate 2X35:34.450:19.8 14:45.4 
52 Dublin University BC B (Jacques)mens intermediate 1X42:14.757:01.3 14:46.6 
51 Commercial RC B (Yeomans)mens intermediate 1X41:36.156:26.6 14:50.6 
56 Dublin University BC D (Acheson)mens intermediate 1X43:46.958:38.8 14:51.9 
50 Three Castles Rowing Club (Corcoran)mens intermediate 1X41:08.156:00.3 14:52.3 
33 NUI Galway BC womens intermediate 4+33:39.648:37.1 14:57.5 
20 Commercial RC mens senior 2-24:16.039:15.8 14:59.8 
21 Commercial RC Bmens senior 2-24:53.539:55.7 15:02.2 
58 Dublin University BC E (Hughes)mens intermediate 1X44:33.159:45.7 15:12.6 
32 NUI Galway BC Bmens novice 4+33:13.248:27.9 15:14.7Boat tipped
35 NUI Galway BC Bwomens intermediate 4+34:36.449:53.0 15:16.7 
44 Carrick-on-Shannon RC B (Leyden)mens intermediate 1X38:49.854:10.9 15:21.1 
23 Commercial RC womens J18A 4X-26:08.041:30.8 15:22.7 
77 Commercial RC mens J15 2X51:02.906:30.0 15:27.1 
16 Colaiste Iognaid RC mens J18A 2X21:39.637:10.8 15:31.2 
48 Carrick-on-Shannon RC A (Cox) mens intermediate 1X40:10.555:41.7 15:31.2 
8 St. Josephs College RC mens J18A 2X22:16.137:47.7 15:31.7 
17 Commercial RC Bmens J18A 2X22:57.138:33.6 15:36.5 
40 Commercial RC womens novice 8+37:21.352:59.1 15:37.9 
22 Colaiste Iognaid RC womens J18A 4X-25:20.740:59.1 15:38.4 
39 Sligo RC mens J16 4X+36:41.852:27.7 15:45.9 
55 Commercial RC D (Carroll)mens intermediate 1X43:21.859:11.5 15:49.7 
64 Carrick-on-Shannon RC (Carthy)mens J18A 1x46:25.902:15.6 15:49.7 
47 Bann RC (Whoriskey)mens intermediate 1X39:40.955:32.9 15:52.0 
60 Dublin University BC G (Pounch)mens intermediate 1X45:21.901:22.1 16:00.2 
61 Athlone BC mens J15 4X+45:54.201:55.7 16:01.5 
75 Lagan Scullers Club B (b 79)mens masters 2X50:09.506:11.915:54.316:02.3 
24 Athlone BC womens J18A 4X-26:49.342:55.3 16:06.0 
122 St. Michaels Rowing Club (e 230)mens masters 4+27:18.743:32.714:55.016:14.0 
72 Carrick-on-Shannon RC womens J16 2X48:51.805:08.8 16:17.0 
57 Commercial RC E (D'Estelle-Roe)mens intermediate 1X44:08.000:28.9 16:20.9 
59 Dublin University BC F (Mc Cormick)mens intermediate 1X44:55.201:17.7 16:22.4
67 Carrick-on-Shannon RC A (Hartigan) mens J16 1X47:39.004:08.7 16:29.7
41 NUI Galway BC womens novice 8+38:10.754:55.3 16:44.6
73 Colaiste Iognaid RC womens J16 2X49:12.405:57.6 16:45.2
65 Carrick-on-Shannon RC (Kelly)womens J18A 1X46:49.803:43.0 16:53.3
29 St. Josephs College RC Bmens J16 8+31:08.348:14.5 17:06.2
49 Belfast BC (Lockwood)mens intermediate 1X40:35.157:46.3 17:11.2
46 Athlone BC (Molloy)mens intermediate 1X39:16.456:40.8 17:24.4
177 Athlone BC womens J15 2X53:03.310:48.0 17:44.7
69 Commercial RC B (O Rourke)mens J16 1X48:06.505:57.1 17:50.6
74 Sligo RC womens J16 2X49:42.707:36.6 17:53.8
54 Dublin University BC C (Dolan)mens intermediate 1X43:04.701:10.7 18:06.0
70 Carrick-on-Shannon RC B (Jordan)mens J16 1X48:27.406:45.8 18:18.4
76 Lagan Scullers Club A - Belfast RC/Lagan Scullers Club (h 146)mens masters 2X50:39.509:00.614:55.118:21.1
66 Commercial RC A (Byrne) mens J16 1X47:21.005:46.9 18:25.9
10 Dublin University BC mens senior 2X18:21.237:01.2 18:40.0
163 Garda Siochana BC womens novice 4+52:42.611:23.0 18:40.4 
80 Belfast BC (Lockwood) (f 62)womens masters 1X51:53.410:52.116:34.718:58.7Time Only
78 Carrick-on-Shannon RC (Brogan)womens J15 1X51:27.110:44.8 19:17.7
Published in Rowing

ROWING: Carrick Rowing Club are delighted that more than 100 crews have entered the Apollo Duck Head of the Shannon in Carrick on Shannon on Saturday, February 18th. There will be two time trial events on the day with crews racing over a 5km stretch of river from south of Carrick back into town. The finish line and viewing area is situated at the boardwalk where crews will be seen going hard for the last few hundred metres.

 The entry features a great representation from Ulster: Bann, Belfast Rowing Club, Belfast Boat Club, Lagan Scullers, City of Derry and Lady Victoria. Portora Club from Enniskillen are also travelling the shorter distance, as are Sligo Rowing Club. Athlone Rowing Club have entered lots of crews, from Junior 15 boys and girls right through to masters rowers.

From Galway, Tribesmen Rowing Club and St. Joseph’s School are set to travel with many up-and-coming rowers. Commercial, Three Castles and Garda Siochana travel from the east of the country.

 The influx will provide a welcome boost to the local economy at a time when things are generally quiet. Details can be found at the event website www.HeadoftheShannon.com while the club welcomes any offers of help on the day.

Published in Rowing
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For all you need on the Marine Environment - covering the latest news and updates on marine science and wildlife, weather and climate, power from the sea and Ireland's coastal regions and communities - the place to be is Afloat.ie.

Coastal Notes

The Coastal Notes category covers a broad range of stories, events and developments that have an impact on Ireland's coastal regions and communities, whose lives and livelihoods are directly linked with the sea and Ireland's coastal waters.

Topics covered in Coastal Notes can be as varied as the rare finding of sea-life creatures, an historic shipwreck with secrets to tell, or even a trawler's net caught hauling much more than just fish.

Other angles focusing the attention of Coastal Notes are Ireland's maritime museums, which are of national importance to maintaining access and knowledge of our nautical heritage, and those who harvest the sea using small boats based in harbours where infrastructure and safety pose an issue, plying their trade along the rugged wild western seaboard.

Coastal Notes tells the stories that are arguably as varied as the environment they come from, and which shape people's interaction with the natural world and our relationship with the sea.

Marine Wildlife

One of the greatest memories of any day spent boating around the Irish coast is an encounter with Marine Wildlife. It's a thrill for young and old to witness seabirds, seals, dolphins and whales right there in their own habitat. And as boaters fortunate enough to have experienced it will testify, even spotting a distant dorsal fin can be the highlight of any day afloat. Was that a porpoise? Was it a whale? No matter how brief the glimpse, it's a privilege to share the seas with Irish marine wildlife.

Thanks to our location in the North Atlantic, there appears to be no shortage of marine life to observe. From whales to dolphins, seals, sharks and other ocean animals, the Marine Wildlife category documents the most interesting accounts around our shores. And we're keen to receive your observations, your photos, links and video clips, too!

Also valuable is the unique perspective of all those who go afloat, from coastal sailing to sea angling to inshore kayaking to offshore yacht racing, as what they encounter can be of great importance to organisations such as the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG). Thanks to their work we now know we share the seas with dozens of species who also call Ireland home. But as impressive as the list is, the experts believe there are still gaps in our knowledge. Next time you are out on the ocean waves, keep a sharp look out!

Weather

As an island in the North Atlantic, Ireland's fate is decided by Weather more so than many other European countries. When storm-force winds race across the Irish Sea, ferry and shipping services are cut off, disrupting our economy. When swollen waves crash on our shores, communities are flooded and fishermen brace for impact - both to their vessels and to their livelihoods.

Keeping abreast of the weather, therefore, is as important to leisure cruisers and fishing crews alike - for whom a small craft warning can mean the difference between life and death - as it is to the communities lining the coast, where timely weather alerts can help protect homes and lives.

Weather affects us all, and Afloat.ie will keep you informed on the hows and the whys.

Marine Science

Perhaps it's the work of the Irish research vessels RV Celtic Explorer and RV Celtic Voyager out in the Atlantic Ocean that best highlights the essential nature of Marine Science for the future growth of Ireland's emerging 'blue economy'.

From marine research to development and sustainable management, Ireland is developing a strong and well-deserved reputation as an emerging centre of excellence. Whether it's Wavebob ocean energy technology to aquaculture to weather buoys and oil exploration, the Marine Science category documents the work of Irish marine scientists and researchers and how they have secured prominent roles in many European and international marine science bodies.

Power From The Sea

The message from the experts is clear: offshore wind and wave energy is the future. And as Ireland looks towards the potential of the renewable energy sector, generating Power From The Sea will become a greater priority in the State's 'blue growth' strategy.

Developments and activities in existing and planned projects in the pipeline from the wind and wave renewables sector, and those of the energy exploration industry, point to the future of energy requirements for the whole world, not just in Ireland. And that's not to mention the supplementary industries that sea power projects can support in coastal communities.

Irish ports are already in a good position to capitalise on investments in offshore renewable energy services. And Power From The Sea can even be good for marine wildlife if done properly.

Aside from the green sector, our coastal waters also hold a wealth of oil and gas resources that numerous prospectors are hoping to exploit, even if people in coastal and island areas are as yet unsure of the potential benefits or pitfalls for their communities.

Changing Ocean Climate

Our ocean and climate are inextricably linked - the ocean plays a crucial role in the global climate system in a number of ways. These include absorbing excess heat from the atmosphere and absorbing 30 per cent of the carbon dioxide added to the atmosphere by human activity. But our marine ecosystems are coming under increasing pressure due to climate change.

The Marine Institute, with its national and international partners, works to observe and understand how our ocean is changing and analyses, models and projects the impacts of our changing oceans. Advice and forecasting projections of our changing oceans and climate are essential to create effective policies and management decisions to safeguard our ocean.

Dr Paul Connolly, CEO of the Marine Institute, said, “Our ocean is fundamental to life on earth and affects so many facets of our everyday activities. One of the greatest challenges we face as a society is that of our changing climate. The strong international collaborations that the Marine Institute has built up over decades facilitates a shared focusing on our changing ocean climate and developing new and enhanced ways of monitoring it and tracking changes over time.

“Our knowledge and services help us to observe these patterns of change and identify the steps to safeguard our marine ecosystems for future generations.”

The Marine Institute’s annual ocean climate research survey, which has been running since 2004, facilitates long term monitoring of the deep water environment to the west of Ireland. This repeat survey, which takes place on board RV Celtic Explorer, enables scientists to establish baseline oceanic conditions in Irish waters that can be used as a benchmark for future changes.

Scientists collect data on temperature, salinity, water currents, oxygen and carbon dioxide in the Atlantic Ocean. This high quality oceanographic data contributes to the Atlantic Ocean Observing System. Physical oceanographic data from the survey is submitted to the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) and, in addition, the survey contributes to national research such as the VOCAB ocean acidification and biogeochemistry project, the ‘Clean Atlantic’ project on marine litter and the A4 marine climate change project.

Dr Caroline Cusack, who co-ordinates scientific activities on board the RV Celtic Explorer for the annual survey, said, “The generation of long-term series to monitor ocean climate is vital to allow us understand the likely impact of future changes in ocean climate on ecosystems and other marine resources.”

Other activities during the survey in 2019 included the deployment of oceanographic gliders, two Argo floats (Ireland’s contribution to EuroArgo) and four surface drifters (Interreg Atlantic Area Clean Atlantic project). The new Argo floats have the capacity to measure dissolved ocean and biogeochemical parameters from the ocean surface down to a depth of 2,000 metres continuously for up to four years, providing important information as to the health of our oceans.

During the 2019 survey, the RV Celtic Explorer retrieved a string of oceanographic sensors from the deep ocean at an adjacent subsurface moored station and deployed a replacement M6 weather buoy, as part of the Irish Marine Data Buoy Observation Network (IMDBON).

Funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the IMDBON is managed by the Marine Institute in collaboration with Met Éireann and is designed to improve weather forecasts and safety at sea around Ireland. The data buoys have instruments which collect weather and ocean data including wind speed and direction, pressure, air and sea surface temperature and wave statistics. This data provides vital information for weather forecasts, shipping bulletins, gale and swell warnings as well as data for general public information and research.

“It is only in the last 20 years, meteorologists and climatologists have really began to understood the pivotal role the ocean plays in determining our climate and weather,” said Evelyn Cusack, Head of Forecasting at Met Éireann. “The real-time information provided by the Irish data buoy network is particularly important for our mariners and rescue services. The M6 data buoy in the Atlantic provides vital information on swell waves generated by Atlantic storms. Even though the weather and winds may be calm around our shores, there could be some very high swells coming in from Atlantic storms.”