Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

#Lifeboats - As noted by Tom MacSweeney in his latest podcast, Wicklow is the last RNLI station with a Tyne class lifeboat in service. Before the current Tyne lifeboat Annie Blaker is officially taken off service later this year, it will be…

When Baltimore Lifeboat Station in West Cork was established the First World War was raging in Europe. That was back in 1915 when the original station was built, but due to the War no lifeboat arrived in Baltimore until 1919…

The “All In A Row 2018” event on the capital’s River Liffey was supported by teams rowing 40 boats including skiffs, kayaks, canoes and currachs to exceed a 1,000km in eight hours, raising €12,000 for these charities. Starting from St.…

#Lifeboats - RNLI volunteers at Lough Ree have launched their sixth Lap of Lough Ree charity cycle which will take place this year on Sunday 28 April. The annual 85km cycle raising funds for the lifesaving service in Athlone will…

#Lifeboats - Bangor RNLI was delighted yesterday (Tuesday 29 January) Yesterday afternoon, Bangor RNLI was delighted to welcome a delegation led by Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Chairman of the RNLI Operations Committee. Sir Tim and other top RNLI officials met…

The crew of Donaghadee RNLI lifeboat put to sea on Sunday (27 January ) morning for their fortnightly exercise and also to lay a floral tribute on behalf of the Sir Samuel Kelly Project. The volunteer crew paid their respects…

#Lifeboats - Dun Laoghaire RNLI responded to a stand-up paddle boarder who got into difficulty between Bray Head and Greystones yesterday afternoon (Sunday 27 January). The volunteer lifeboat crew were requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat at 12.03pm and were on…

#Lifeboats - Hundreds gathered on the high wall in Dunmore East on Sunday evening (20 January) to welcome the town’s all-weather lifeboat Elizabeth and Ronald back home after more than a year out of service. On 1 December 2017, Dunmore…

#Lifeboats - The RNLI's all-weather lifeboat from Courtmacsherry rescued a fishing vessel which got into difficulty today with two people onboard yesterday afternoon (Monday 21 January). The lifeboat was called out at 1.15pm to go to the aid of the 40ft…

#Lifeboats - Youghal RNLI is looking for new volunteer crew members to join its search and rescue service in East Cork. The lifeboat station will be hosting an open day at the lifeboat station in Youghal this coming Sunday 27 January…

An important piece of Ireland’s maritime history, the 100-year-old Dunleary Lifeboat, is the subject of a new exhibition in DLR LexIcon from this Monday 21 January to Monday 4 February. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, this exhibition — which has…

Rosslare Harbour RNLI rescued a windsurfer who fell off his board and got into difficulty on Sunday afternoon, ending up in the water for an hour and a half. The volunteer crew was requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat by…

#Lifeboats - The first callout of 2019 for the RNLI crew at Crosshaven was a medevac for a fisherman taken ill on a large fishing vessel in the early hours of Sunday 6 January. Shortly after 5.30am volunteers from Crosshaven…

Hello and welcome to my weekly Podcast …. Tom MacSweeney here …. Ireland’s State commitment to maritime safety has been strongly questioned. Safety must not be taken casually and, at the start of a New Year, when most leisure craft…

Lough Ree RNLI and Athlone Sub Aqua Club volunteers responded to reports of a person in the water in Athlone town late last night. At 11.25pm on the 30 December 2018 Lough Ree RNLI volunteers were alerted by the Irish…

Bangor RNLI has paid tribute to its dedicated lifeboat volunteers after what’s hoped to be its final callout of 2018. Just after 6.30am this morning (Monday 31 December) the lifeboat was called to assist in the rescue of a vulnerable…