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Displaying items by tag: Neil Hannon

#EXHIBITION TO LOST SAILORS– The exhibition 'Lost Sailors' is to tell an intriguing story told through sculpture, prose and portraits by Agnes Conway which is to run between 6-31 July (11am-5pm Tuesday-Sunday) in the National Maritime Museum of Ireland in Dun Laoghaire.

The exhibition is a display of physical elements and consists of monuments with that tell the stories of the Lost Sailors with prints of their portraits, and through the diary of the monument maker. The diary describes the finding of the sailors' relics and the making of the work associated with them.

A soundtrack was specially written for the exhibition by Cathy Davey and Neil Hannon of the 'Divine Comedy' who is to officially open 'Lost Sailors'. The exhibition is sponsored by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and for further information about the sculpture and writer visit www.agnesconway.com

As previously reported a Summer BBQ Party fundraiser in aid of the maritime museum is to be held on 14 July in the Dun Laoghaire Club, Eblana Avenue off Marine Road. The evening event starting at 8pm will be accompanied by live jazz band and where a full bar will be open. Tickets cost €12.00 and are available from the museum or the club door, for inquires call 01-2143964

Proceeds will go towards the refurbishment of the stairs leading to the spire where the bells would of rung-out across Kingstown /Dun Laoghaire from the building that was the former Old Mariners Church built in 1837 to serve the seafaring community until its closure in 1971. The Maritime Institute of Ireland which runs the museum moved in to the building four years later.

The spire with elevated views overlooking the harbour and Dublin Bay would certainly present an added visitor attraction to the venue which in April reopened its doors after several years of closure due to essential and extensive renovation work.

Published in Boating Fixtures

Marine Wildlife Around Ireland 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. 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 the location of our beautiful little island, perched in the North Atlantic Ocean there appears to be no shortage of marine life to observe.

From whales to dolphins, seals, sharks and other ocean animals this page documents the most interesting accounts of marine wildlife around our shores. We're keen to receive your observations, your photos, links and youtube clips.

Boaters have a unique perspective and all those who go afloat, from inshore kayaking to offshore yacht racing that what they encounter can be of real value to specialist organisations such as the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) who compile a list of sightings and strandings. The IWDG knowledge base has increased over the past 21 years thanks in part at least to the observations of sailors, anglers, kayakers and boaters.

Thanks to the IWDG work we now know we share the seas with dozens of species who also call Ireland home. Here's the current list: Atlantic white-sided dolphin, beluga whale, blue whale, bottlenose dolphin, common dolphin, Cuvier's beaked whale, false killer whale, fin whale, Gervais' beaked whale, harbour porpoise, humpback whale, killer whale, minke whale, northern bottlenose whale, northern right whale, pilot whale, pygmy sperm whale, Risso's dolphin, sei whale, Sowerby's beaked whale, sperm whale, striped dolphin, True's beaked whale and white-beaked dolphin.

But as impressive as the species list is the IWDG believe there are still gaps in our knowledge. Next time you are out on the ocean waves keep a sharp look out!