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Displaying items by tag: ALF Kittiwake

Dublin docklands property developer Harry Crosbie has been refused permission to relocate the former lightship Kittiwake in front of the O2 Theatre, according to a report in today's Irish Times.
Crosbie had intended to convert the 1959 built Kittiwake into a café and bar after raising the vessel from her River Liffey berth and position onto the campshire of North Quay Wall, opposite the music venue.

Dublin City Council told Crosbie that consent for the use of the campshires for the bar had not been agreed to by the board of the Dublin Dockland Development Authority (DDDA), which owns the quays, "and that said permission will not be forthcoming".

Crosbie had received a letter from the then chief executive officer of the DDDA Paul Maloney in December 2008 saying that the authority was willing to let the development go ahead, subject to consent from the authority's executive board.

This permission will not know be forthcoming but the authority does feel that the ship should be used as a bar on the Liffey itself rather than on the campshires.

The Kittiwake has laid idle since 2007 when the vessel was purchased from the Commissioners of Irish Lights. She was the second last lightship to serve in Irish waters. During the 1980's she and several other lightships were converted from manned operation into automatic light-floats or ALF's. To read more about the last Irish lightship ALF Gannet click HERE.

Published in Dublin Bay

Lambs Week Regatta on Galway Bay

With a theme of accessibility, Lambs Week was devised to celebrate the unique sailing grounds of the West of Ireland. 

It comprises five days of sailing around Galway Bay and the Aran Islands.

Big boats, small boats, fast boats and slow boats are all welcome.

The fleet, which totalled 46 for the first edition in 2021, takes in three beautiful harbours of Ros aMhil, Cil Ronain and Cloch naRon, each keen to offer a warm welcome to the competing sailors. 

Organisers Galway Bay Sailing Club match similarly rated boats to see who can get the best out of the conditions for a 'Sail in Company'.  A Pursuit Challenge around the islands for both competitive and non-competitive boats is also held.