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Historic Boats
The restored 1926-built Conor O'Brien 56ft trading ketch Ilen is active today as a sail training vessel for Sailing Into Wellness
While most of Cork was partying to all things Jazz on the Bank Holiday Monday writes Darryl Hughes, a small group of Ballycotton and Crosshaven RNLI volunteers - together with partners and friends - enjoyed an afternoon sail on the…
The restored 46ft steel ketch Meermin of 1951 vintage racing last year in the Illes Baleares Classics of Club de Mar, Palma. Normally based in Pollenca in Mallorca, Meermin was owned for several years by Dr Rory O'Hanlon of Dun Laoghaire, who cruised her north of the Arctic Circle to Jan Mayen
Brian Cudmore of Crosshaven was boat-spotting recently as he ambled along the waterfront at Pollenca in Mallorca, and brought to a halt by a beautifully-maintained dark blue 46ft ketch called Meermin. She rang a bell, even if deep childhood memories…
Ruth Heard in the galley of Rory O'Hanlon's Tjaldur during a Transatlantic passage from Newfoundland to Ireland in 1968

Ruth Heard RIP

11th October 2024 News Update
We regret to record the death of Ruth Heard, nee Ruth Healy, a leading figure in the Irish maritime, inland waterways and marine heritage movements for very many decades, and widow of Douglas Heard, founding President in 1946 of the…
Cumann Huicéirí na Gaillimhe Sailor of the year, Cian Mac Donnacha at the annual prizegiving ceremony Photo: Máire Ní Éinniú/Cumann Huceirí
Cumann Huicéirí na Gaillimhe celebrated a highly successful sailing season at its annual prizegiving ceremony. The festive event with food and music by John Beag was managed by Donal Green and committee, as chairman Cathal "Cookie" Griffin was absent due…
The annual wreath-laying at the recovered anchor of the RMS Leinster in October 2022
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in association with the National Maritime Institute of Ireland and the RMS Leinster Memorial Committee will mark the 106th anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Leinster on Thursday 10 October with a wreath-laying ceremony beside…
The superbly re-built Dublin Bay 24 Zephyra sailing in Maine
The approach of the final Dublin Bay Sailing Club "routine Saturday" race this weekend (Saturday 28th September) is a reminder that, in their heyday from 1947 to 2000, the best way to see and experience the classic Dublin Bay 24s…
The Galway Docklands Festival programme includes Galway Hooker workshop visits, where guests can explore the rich history of the traditional craft and see one under restoration
The annual Galway Docklands Festival will mark the RNLI’s 200 years of lifeboat service during its event next weekend. Galway Hooker Sailing Club and the Galway RNLI lifeboat station are hosting the festival on Saturday, September 28th, from 12 noon…
A screengrab from a video of the National Monuments Service interacting with the Armada remains
Strengthening co-operation between Ireland and Spain on the 1588 Armada wrecks is the theme of a National Monuments Service (NMS) seminar in Sligo on Friday, September 20th. The NMS and the Ministry of Culture, Spain are working to protect and…
Simon Boote, Ger Deely and Domhnaill MacDonnacha after finishing the Frefighters from Galway Fire and Rescue service Connemara currach fund raising rowing event in aid of Cancer Care West on the Corrib
Galway firefighters not only rowed a currach up and down the river Corrib for charity – they also built the vessel themselves. Galway Fire and Rescue Service members had decided to undertake a row for Cancer Care West, in memory…
Have you ever wondered what the ocean-facing
Everything you've ever heard about County Clare is true, yet no matter how much info you've taken on board about the Banner County, it will only ever be the half of it. Boatbuilder Steve Morris of Kilrush may hail from…
A 40-year-old West Clare currach was restored by the Mens Shed in Mountjoy Prison's Training unit
The project to restore a 40-year-old West Clare currach was completed with the launch of the finished boat 'Spleodar' (Spleodar means Joy, excitement in Irish) on the River Liffey in Dublin this weekend. Working with the Mens Shed in Mountjoy…
Participants in the 2024 Cong-Galway Race include local sea scouts and dinghy sailors from many clubs
Two Galway Hookers are among a fleet of 40 boats entered for the Cong-Galway race which takes place on Saturday (Aug 31). Six cruisers are among entries from all over the country, with participants including local sea scouts and dinghy…
Hal Sisk racing his Water Wag Good Hope, new-built for him in 1976. Since then his historic projects have included restoring the 1884 Fife Cutter Vagrant, reviving interest in the 1796 Bantry Boat with many sister-ships built on both sides of the Atlantic, re-creating the 1663 Dublin Bay catamaran Simon & Jude, restoring/re-building the 1894 37ft Carrickfergus-built Watson cutter Peggy Bawn and, with Fionan de Barrra, giving the 1902 Mylne-designed Dublin Bay 21 class a completely new lease of life
While it would be something of an exaggeration to say that it has taken the Dublin Bay Water Wags 147 years to become an overnight success, there's no doubting the increasing vigour of the world's oldest One-Design class as we…
Is this the coolest TradBoat ever? With stylish grey spars, this new hooker in Rossaveal is a fashion icon
When a usually ultra-reliable source of information about the west in general - and Galway Bay in particular - admits that the stylish new hooker St Katherine glimpsed in Rossaveal is a complete mystery to him, then anyone's interest would…
Droleen 'Windyridge sailed by Vincent Delany of RStGYC, who won the Droleen championship at the Bray Sailing Club hosted 2024 12-Foot Dinghy Championship
For the first time in its recent history, The Irish 12-foot Dinghy Championship moved 12km away from Dun Laoghaire to Bray Sailing Club on Saturday, 25 August. Four different 12-footers competed: (a) International 12-Foot Dinghies (b) DBSC 12-Foot Dinghies (same…
The revived Féile na mBád Arainn planned for Inis Mór on Saturday, August 24th, has had to be rescheduled due to the forecast for this weekend
Weather has forced postponement of two key events in the west this weekend. The revived Féile na mBád Arainn planned for Inis Mór on Saturday, August 24th, has had to be rescheduled due to the forecast for this weekend. A…