News Update

Tributes have been paid to marine journalist and former BIM board member Arthur Reynolds, who died peacefully at the age of 93 in Blackrock, Dublin, earlier this month. Reynolds, who is originally from Dublin, was a keen sailor and a…

Marine journalist and sailor Arthur Reynolds has passed away peacefully in Blackrock, Co Dublin, in his 94th year. Reynolds, founding Editor/Publisher of The Irish Skipper and publisher in the mid-1970s of Ireland Afloat, was a lifetime sub-editor and a former night…

Loughs Agency has confirmed the appointment of Sharon McMahon as Chief Executive Officer. Mrs McMahon will assume the role on a permanent basis following a recent selection process, having served as the Agency’s most senior official in an interim capacity…

Inland Fisheries Ireland Board Dissolved After Resignations Left it Without Quorum
14th February 2023 News Update
Environment Minister Eamon Ryan has dismissed the remaining members of the Inland Fisheries Ireland board after multiple resignations within the past 10 months left it without quorum. As The Journal reports, five members of the board including its chair Professor…

Marine Notice: Pipeline and Debris Surveys in Celtic Sea at Kinsale Head and Seven Heads Gas Fields
11th February 2023 News Update
PSE Kinsale Energy Limited will be carrying out pipeline and debris clearance surveys commencing on or around Friday 17 February, weather depending. The approximately 10 days of surveys will take place along the routes of decommissioned — but remaining in-situ…

Revenue Commissioners' Maritime Unit Profiled in Raidio na Gaeltachta Documentary
8th February 2023 News Update
Patrols at sea by the Revenue Commissioners’ maritime unit are a key theme of a new documentary made by RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta (RnaG) on cocaine use on the west coast. Customs officers with the Revenue Commissioners’ patrol vessel were…

Atlantic Rowers, Sea Swimmer and Kayaker Among Outsider Magazine Awards
4th February 2023 News Update
Atlantic rowers Dr Karen Weekes and Damian Browne, sea swimmer Jane Curtin and kayaker Dan Clohisey are among winners at the annual Outsider magazine awards. The awards sponsored by Sport Ireland celebrate “people and organisations who are doing amazing things…

A call for fresh inquests into the deaths of 50 people in the 1979 Betelgeuse tanker explosion on Cork’s Whiddy Island has been made by international maritime expert Michael Kingston. Kingston, whose father Tim died in the explosion, has written…

The sailing world has lost a pioneering multihull designer and boat builder. Derek Kelsall, the man who during his life created the modern-day trimaran, who famously introduced Eric Tabarly to multihulls and who was one of the first to champion…

Happy New Year! Afloat Says Thank You to Our 1.9 million Readers in 2022
1st January 2023 News Update
Dear Reader, It was another busy year at Afloat.ie in 2022, and we want to express our thanks for your continued support. Because of your generous backing and our other supporters, Afloat.ie reached 1.9m unique readers last year. Our website…

Britain Tried to Claim State Immunity in Bid To Reclaim Sonar Array from Submarine Which Snagged Irish Fishing Vessel
29th December 2022 News Update
The British government tried to claim State immunity when seeking to recover a sonar array from one of its submarines which dragged an Irish fishing vessel backwards in 1989. As The Irish Independent reports, State Papers reveal that Irish civil…

We wish our followers in Ireland and worldwide a very Happy Christmas, a prosperous New Year, and great sailing and boating in 2023. Whether inshore or offshore, on sea, river, lake or canal, and whether local, regional, national or international,…

Charity Approved €1m Grant to Fund Cork City Hostel for Defence Forces Veterans
14th December 2022 News Update
A Defence Forces veterans’ charity has been approved of a €1m grant for the development in Cork city of a hostel to help ex-servicemen who have fallen on hard times. Cork City Council advanced the grant to the charity ONE,…

Marine Notice: Winter Geophysical Training and Calibration Survey in North Celtic Sea
9th December 2022 News Update
The Department of Transport has been advised that a geophysical survey will be undertaken in the north Celtic Sea, south of Co Cork, for equipment testing and training purposes. The operations are subject to weather and operational constraints but are…

George’s Dock Lido Campaigners Reveal Conceptual Images of Proposal for Heated Outdoor Pool in Dublin City Centre
1st December 2022 News Update
Campaigners for a heated outdoor swimming pool at the site of Dublin City Council’s ill-fated whitewater rafting course proposal have released conceptual images to visualise how it could transform the Docklands area. Last year the two doctors behind the plans…

The Government is investing 14 million euro to develop adventure tourism, including wild swimming and kayaking, as part of its national outdoor recreation strategy. The five-year strategy was published by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys in Castlecomer…