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Displaying items by tag: Galway

Volvo Ocean Race organiser John Killeen is to be honoured by NUI Galway this June with an honorary doctorate.

The Let’s Do It Ireland Chairman, who was responsible for bringing the hugely successful Volvo Ocean Race to Galway, is on a list that includes  Seán Ó’hUiginn, the Irish diplomat and former Ambassador to the US and Germany, VHI chairman Bernard Collins, and Anne Maria Dennison, head of the Irish Countrywoman’s Association.

The ceremony will take place on Friday June 25th.

Killeen is also CEO of the Colas Group, chairman of the Galway Docklands Redevelopment Committee and a former president of the Academy of Engineering and the Institution of Engineers of Ireland.

 

Published in Galway Stop
Spiddal Sailing Club (Cumann Seoltóireacht an Spidéil) is holding an open day to lure more potential sailors onto the water ahead of the Volvo Oceanr Race's return for 2012. The cumann is throwing open its doors to anyone who harbours an intent to get on the water in the next 12 months, and will welcome newcomers to the club on Sunday afternoon 16 May.

The club is recognised by the ISA, and runs ISA-approved youth training courses for its members every year, ranging from an introduction to sailing to more advanced techniques. Its course programme this year runs from 28 June to 9 July.

Weather permitting, there will be opportunities to try your hand at crewing or helming in Spiddal harbour from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.
Published in Boating Fixtures
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Galway will play host yet again to a major water sport event this June with 3 events in one starting with the PI Powerboat Grand Prix of Galway on the bay 05-07 June, the start of the Around Ireland Powerboat Race on 07 June and the P750 Zapcat Challenge in the Bay 12-13 June. Alongside the activity on the bay, Galway will yet again host a major festival in the Race Village at Galway Harbour and in Salthill with free concerts, amusements, bars, food and crafts.  www.aroundireland.org www.aroundireland.org

Britain’s most exciting new motorsport, the Powerboat P1 SuperStock Championship, is the newest addition onto the heavyweight bill for the Around Ireland Offshore Powerboat Race, beginning in Galway Bay on 5 June. Kick-starting the bank holiday weekend celebrations, round two of the 2010 SuperStock Championship will see some of the UK’s biggest thrillseekers tackle the challenging elements of the Atlantic Ocean, which is certain to provide an unforgiving racecourse for the Irish powerboat racing festival.  

"The event will showcase the beauty of the Irish coastline and present our teams with a fantastic opportunity to race in the heart of an effervescent city, watched by thousands of powerboat racing fans.” Stated SuperStock Championship spokesman, Sam Feasey

Bringing additional coverage to Galway, the Powerboat P1 SuperStock Championship will be screened on British Eurosport, further highlighting Galway’s credentials to host world class events.

Following on from the success of the Volvo Ocean Race’s stopover in Galway in 2009, Feasey added that Powerboat P1 is confident that its racing fleet will augment Galway’s 

passion and pride for its maritime activity. 

Consisting of two race classes, 150 and 300, up to twenty identical powerboats measuring between 21 and 27 ft respectively, will entertain locals, tourists and motorsports fans for three enthralling races on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.  

On Bank Holiday Monday 07 June 2010 at 0900, offshore powerboats will leave Galway Bay in pursuit of the Around Ireland Offshore Powerboat title. The race will circumnavigate the entire coast of Ireland and will be the toughest endurance powerboat race on the International circuit.

The 5 days of racing will be a true test of man and machine and there will be 5 stages with events at each of the stopovers:

Galway to Killybegs (07 June)

Killybegs to Belfast (08 June)

Belfast to Waterford (09-10 June)

Waterford to Fenit (11 June)

Fenit to Galway (12 June) Fenit Sea Breeze Festival will run Friday 11- Sunday 13 June

Onshore in Galway a festival programme of music and entertainment, and food and craft markets will ensure fun for all the family against the backdrop of the programme on the water. Likewise at each of the stopover stages similar festival programmes will greet the race on arrival and ensure excitement and drama for each re-start.

The Galway Race Village will open from 1000 -2230 daily and there is a full programme of entertainment including the now famous Crystal Swing on the main stage on Sunday 06 June at 1730. In total over 20 acts are scheduled to perform over the 8 day festival including - the Cartoon Thieves, the Timber Tramps, Joe Furey and The Hayride and Emmet Scanlan and What the Good Thought

For the finale on 12 June, prepare to be amazed and in awe at the P750 Cross Border Championship and make sure you are at the dock to welcome back the winner of the Around Ireland Powerboat Challenge on Saturday 12 June. 

 

30th September 2009

Ballinduff Bay Watersports Club

Ballinduff Bay Watersports Club

Ballinduff Bay Watersports Club, c/o Keith Collins, Grange, Corrandulla, Co Galway. Tel: 086 601 9862, email: [email protected]

Have we got your club details? Click here to get involved

Published in Clubs

Welcome to the CRYC web site which we hope will be of interest to members and visitors alike. Established in 1864, the CRYC is one of the oldest inland waterway clubs in the British Isles. Located in the centre of Galway City it continues to provide facilities for water-based recreational activity for almost 300 members.

Corrib Rowing & Yachting Club, Earls’ Island, Distillery Road, Newcastle, Galway. Tel: 091 564560, email: [email protected]

(Details courtesy of Corrib Rowing & Yachting Club) 

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Published in Clubs
Page 34 of 34

Ferry & Car Ferry News The ferry industry on the Irish Sea, is just like any other sector of the shipping industry, in that it is made up of a myriad of ship operators, owners, managers, charterers all contributing to providing a network of routes carried out by a variety of ships designed for different albeit similar purposes.

All this ferry activity involves conventional ferry tonnage, 'ro-pax', where the vessel's primary design is to carry more freight capacity rather than passengers. This is in some cases though, is in complete variance to the fast ferry craft where they carry many more passengers and charging a premium.

In reporting the ferry scene, we examine the constantly changing trends of this sector, as rival ferry operators are competing in an intensive environment, battling out for market share following the fallout of the economic crisis. All this has consequences some immediately felt, while at times, the effects can be drawn out over time, leading to the expense of others, through reduced competition or takeover or even face complete removal from the marketplace, as witnessed in recent years.

Arising from these challenging times, there are of course winners and losers, as exemplified in the trend to run high-speed ferry craft only during the peak-season summer months and on shorter distance routes. In addition, where fastcraft had once dominated the ferry scene, during the heady days from the mid-90's onwards, they have been replaced by recent newcomers in the form of the 'fast ferry' and with increased levels of luxury, yet seeming to form as a cost-effective alternative.

Irish Sea Ferry Routes

Irrespective of the type of vessel deployed on Irish Sea routes (between 2-9 hours), it is the ferry companies that keep the wheels of industry moving as freight vehicles literally (roll-on and roll-off) ships coupled with motoring tourists and the humble 'foot' passenger transported 363 days a year.

As such the exclusive freight-only operators provide important trading routes between Ireland and the UK, where the freight haulage customer is 'king' to generating year-round revenue to the ferry operator. However, custom built tonnage entering service in recent years has exceeded the level of capacity of the Irish Sea in certain quarters of the freight market.

A prime example of the necessity for trade in which we consumers often expect daily, though arguably question how it reached our shores, is the delivery of just in time perishable products to fill our supermarket shelves.

A visual manifestation of this is the arrival every morning and evening into our main ports, where a combination of ferries, ro-pax vessels and fast-craft all descend at the same time. In essence this a marine version to our road-based rush hour traffic going in and out along the commuter belts.

Across the Celtic Sea, the ferry scene coverage is also about those overnight direct ferry routes from Ireland connecting the north-western French ports in Brittany and Normandy.

Due to the seasonality of these routes to Europe, the ferry scene may be in the majority running between February to November, however by no means does this lessen operator competition.

Noting there have been plans over the years to run a direct Irish –Iberian ferry service, which would open up existing and develop new freight markets. Should a direct service open, it would bring new opportunities also for holidaymakers, where Spain is the most visited country in the EU visited by Irish holidaymakers ... heading for the sun!