Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

The Limerick Trading ketch Ilen has reached Galway in the first stage of a programme which will eventually see her call at all the Irish ports which, in Mediaeval times, were a remarkable mixture of defensive walled towns and actively-functioning…

In the UK plans to save a "unique" D-Day historic vessel moored in Southampton have been unveiled - ending years of anxiety over its future, having as Afloat reported also spent a career tending to trans-Atlantic liner passengers in Galway…

The Island of Ireland has twelve medieval walled towns with sea harbours on Atlantic and Irish Sea waters writes Gary McMahon of the Ilen Project The historic Irish sailing ship Ilen will voyage this summer between some of these towns…

If you were to bring together even half of the boats built with the involvement of the late great George Bushe of Crosshaven, you'd have the makings of a fascinating maritime museum. The master boatbuilder – whose skills live on…

When you see the projects which have been featuring on the Big DIY Challenge sponsored by Ronseal and hosted by comedian and Dun Laoghaire lifeboat crewman P J Gallagher on RTE 1 every Thursday at 8.30 pm, you'll have marvelled at…

Owners of a former Irish Sea (Dun Laoghaire-Holyhead) ferry, Duke of Lancaster, announce tickets will go on sale for the first festival to take place at the home of the dry-docked historic ship in more than 30 years. The anticipated 'Fun…

Off the north Wales coast a historic vessel which got into difficulties has now been declared a "wreck" after suffering further damage in stormy weather. The 100ft tall ship Zebu, which dates back to the 1930s, was towed into the…

A historic tall ship which ran aground on the Port of Holyhead's breakwater, according to NorthWalesLive, could still be saved as hopes have been raised.  The 83-year-old tall ship Zebu got into difficulties on May 15 and the ship had to…

In the decidedly unsettled weather of this 2021 Spring and early Summer, the restored 56ft trading ketch Ilen of Limerick is acquiring the reputation of being a lucky ship in finding gentler conditions when sea work has to be done…

In Holyhead, a stricken tall ship which ran aground last week at the north Wales port's breakwater is set to be dismantled. It is understood that the 83-year-old tall ship Zebu has been too badly damaged to be salvaged. A…

These evocative photos of the Heron Class in their prime in the early 1960s at Kilbarrack Sailing Club are a reminder that there are concerns about the well-being of avian herons in general in the north Dublin Bay region. Our…

In the Isle of Man, a historic boat is to return to the Nautical Museum. Moving an 18th century schooner back to the Nautical Museum in Castletown is expected to cost more than £5 million. The Peggy was removed for…

It’s been confirmed that two of three logboats spotted by drone in the River Boyne in recent weeks are new discoveries, and could date from medieval times. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, citizen archaeologist Anthony Murphy captured the first of…

Veteran skipper Rob Mason, from Milford Haven in southwest Wales, made a dramatic impact on the Irish sailing scene in 2017, when he turned up at the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta during its special year of the Kingstown Bicentenary, sailing…

Most people’s memories of the already pandemic-constricted Bank Holiday Weekend will be of Monday's wet and windy storm. But the training crew on the restored Conor O’Brien ketch Ilen of Limerick have only pleasant memories, as a fair weather passage…

The Dublin 'docklands' developer, Harry Crosbie is launching a campaign for the return of the 134ft (floating) landmark, Kittiwake. The former lightship which he (had berthed) alongside the Liffey and (opposite) of The Point Depot, now the O2, then one…