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Historic Boats
Busy times – Pam Lee in a multi-sail challenge on Kismet’s bowsprit
Multi-talented offshore sailor Pamela Lee of Greystones has been at the heart of it in the annual late season Classics racing on the French Riviera, crewing on Richard Matthews’ 1898-vintage 48ft William Fife-designed-and-built cutter Kismet in a notably successful programme…
The mural of Shackleton by artist Eloise Gillard records Amundsen’s words on hearing of the Irish explorer’s death
A mural paying tribute to Irish and Norwegian explorers Ernest Shackleton and Roald Amundsen has been unveiled by Norwegian Ambassador to Ireland Mari Skåre in Athy, Co Kildare. The mural of Shackleton by artist Eloise Gillow records Amundsen’s words on hearing…
Ghost ship? Ilen anchored off Sandycove seems like a wraith-like image from the past
It was good to know of the sail training ketch Ilen lying serenely in the Scotsman’s Bay-Sandycove anchorage south of Dun Laoghaire Harbour last night, like a proper sailing ship of ancient times taking a useful break to await a…
Music and marine life in Galway Atlantaquaria and jazz hosted by Claddagh hooker sailors are among events with maritime themes at this year’s Culture Night in the west on Friday, September 23rd. After a summer of sailing, Bádóirí an Chladaigh…
The broken mast of Harlingen lying across its foredeck
A wooden mast which broke suddenly on a Dutch historic sailing ship and killed three people on its deck had been rotting for at least four years beforehand, the Dutch Safety Board has found. In the two years prior to…
A break-in of the former Irish Sea British Rai/'Sealink' ferry the Duke of Lancaster took place at Llanerch y Môr dock near the Port of Mostyn on the Dee Estuary in north Wales.
John Rowley who is the owner of the TSS Duke of Lancaster ship in north Wales, has slammed urban explorers who broke into the veteran vessel by "scaling the anchor chain" earlier this week.  Rowley, who owns the dry docked…
A master of a UK tug, Dan Cross has been awarded for services to the towage sector and preservation of the iconic SS Daniel Adamson, a historic steam ship, which first set sail in 1903.
Dan Cross, Master on the tug Svitzer Trident which operates in the UK, has been awarded the Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service. This is the highest medal of honour within the British maritime sector and is given for significant…
Designed and built by Maurice O’Keeffe in Schull in 1902, the restored Lady Min has been collecting silverware for Simon O’Keeffe throughout the summer
It’s a mixed blessing being the curator-owner of a boat designed and built by a direct ancestor in your home-port town 120 years ago. But Simon O’Keeffe of Schull has turned a challenge into a triumph by commissioning classic boat-builder…
The world’s largest RMS Titanic artefact, S.S. Nomadic is getting a fresh coat of paint this month, carried out by its original builders Harland & Wolff.
The charity responsible for preserving Belfast’s maritime and industrial heritage, Maritime Belfast Trust which owns the tender RMS Titanic, have brought Harland & Wolff shipyard on board to give the ship that they completed in 1911 a new coat of…
Galway hooker An Mhaighdean Mhara won the turf race in Kinvara in August 2022
A fleet of up to 25 Galway hookers will leave Galway docks on a rising tide today (Sunday, Aug 21) to compete in the Bádóirí an Chladaigh regatta. Light westerly winds are forecast for Galway Bay, with racing among the…
Fishing Galway Bay during Wartime and the Independence Struggle is the theme of Galway Hooker Sailing Club talk on 21 August at Claddagh Hall
on Nimmo's Pier, Claddagh, in Co. Galway
The risks to fishermen in Galway Bay during the first world war is theme of a Heritage Week talk by Donncha Ó hÉallaithe this Sunday evening. Ó hÉallaithe will be followed by Dr Micheál Ó Fathartaigh of the Dublin Business…
Ger O’Neill won first prize for his boat Proud Mary after it was chosen as the “Best Dressed Boat” at the Blessing of Galway Bay. Ger (left), his sister Josephine O’Neill and Cllr Niall McNelis are pictured on board the boat after the blessing.
Ger O’Neill’s Proud Mary was named “best-dressed boat” at the annual blessing of vessels in Galway Bay last weekend. Kevin O’Brien’s Blue Shark took second place in the same event, which was marked by showers of rain. Gleoitegs, púcáns and…
Dreamship from a different world – the world-girdling Colin Archer Ketch Sandefjord in Dun Laoghaire Marina this week
There’s a small but sure glow of stardust in Dun Laoghaire Marina at the moment. Rugged stardust perhaps, but unmistakably genuine stardust nevertheless. The Norwegian gaff ketch Sandefjord, the quintessential Colin Archer-created rescue vessel of 1913 vintage which added ocean…
Michael Hart alongside Stella Maris in Crosshaven. The vessel is a Northumbrian coble, built in 1971 and one of the last of that 200-year-old tradition of building cobles in Yorkshire and Northumberland
“Irish people of the sea have called for generations on the Blessed Virgin Mary as a guiding spirit while they are at sea.” That aspect of Irish maritime tradition refers to the use of the name Stella Maris on boats.…
True Light at the 2022 Cruinniú na mBád festival in Kinvara
Thunderstorms forced postponement of racing at the Cruinniú na mBád in Kinvara, Co Galway on Sunday for safety reasons, and the fleet will reconvene on Thursday. However, An Mhaighdean Mhara was first boat home in the turf race from Parkmore…
Maighdean Mhara with it's crew and cargo of turf off Parkmore during Cruinniu na mBad at Kinvara in August 2011
After a forced pandemic suspension, the Cruinniú na mBád festival of traditional craft returns this weekend to Kinvara, Co Galway. The opening ceremony tonight, Friday, August 12th, will include speakers Dr Karen Weekes, the first Irish woman to row solo…