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Historic Boats
Alan Robinson, CEO of Docklands Business Forum, at one of the Georgian Graving Docks at the Grand Canal Basin, Dublin
#SaveDryDocks - Dublin’s Grand Canal Basin which features three Georgian drydocks writes Lorna Siggins of The Irish Times could be regenerated for theatre space, children’s recreation and marine repairs, according to a docklands business group. The Grand Canal Basin in the…
The 38th Cruinniú na mBád Festival was celebrated at the weekend
Although this year's 38th Galway Hooker racing at Cruinniú na mBád was cut short due to the high winds there was still plenty of activity at Galway's maritime sailing festival. 'Aisling Geal', Bob Quinn's original 1979 film of the first Cruinniu…
The elegantly swept lines of the clinker planking makes the ever-young IDRA 14 a proper classic. This is IDRA 14 Number 38, Starfish, a multiple championship winning boat. See champions list below.
It takes a leap of the imagination to realise what a remarkable breakthrough the introduction of the Irish Dinghy Racing Association 14ft One Design represented in 1946 writes W M Nixon. But the 70th Anniversary celebrations of this ever-young classic…
Jonathan O’Rourke’s top Mermaid class Tiller Girl from the National YC will be racing the Mermaid Nationals 2016 as part of the Howth Classic One Design Regatta from August 4th to 7th.
For many years now the 1898-founded Howth 17s have spun quite an event out of their annual “National Championship” writes W M Nixon. It may only be a weekend series for a vintage one-design class at its home port, but…
The Galway Hooker An Lady Mor being re-launched after restoration in Howth by Mick Hunt in 1985. Photo: W M Nixon
The traditional Galway Hooker is usually a much-restored craft writes W M Nixon. The climate of Ireland’s Atlantic seaboard is cruel for wooden boats built using basic materials, and the shipwrights of Connemara are skilled in replacing bits and pieces…
The International 12 foot Dinghy Class and Dublin Bay 12 footer Irish Championships will be hosted on August 30th
The historic International 12 foot Dinghy Class and Dublin Bay 12 footer Irish Championships will be hosted by the Royal St. George Yacht Club on August 30th.  Only one race is required to be completed to constitute a series and…
Glandore as it can be when summer arrives. This weekend sees its well-established biennial Maritime Summer School include an expert presentation by Vincent O’Shea of Met Eireann on Ireland’s Atlantic weather.
If you’ve been wondering just when the current spell of unsettled weather might give way to better conditions, not to mention what has been causing it all in the first place, then the lovely natural harbour and pretty village of…
The Cot is finished  Some of the building team, from left to right – Tommy McMahon, Rowing Club Belturbet – Seamus Connelly, Cavan Men’s Shed – Jonny Brown, Cavan Men’s Shed – Kevin Brady, Cavan Men’s Shed – George Morrissey, Belturbet Community Association, Historian, Author and member of Lough Erne Heritage – Bert Robinson, member of Lough Erne Heritage – Michael Lee, Cavan Men’s Shed – Fred Ternan, Lough Erne Heritage.
In early 2015 a number of Fermanagh people, some whose families go back for generations working and living on and around Lough Erne, were brought together to discuss their concerns that the history and heritage of wooden boat building on…
Colleen Deas from Glandore Harbour Yacht Club
Colleen Deas, from Glandore Harbour Yacht Club, a replica of the traditional Dublin Bay class that dates from the 1800's, was sailing in the summer sunshine in Cork Harbour yesterday.
One of a pair of 6"inch bow-mounted guns of HMS Caroline, the recently opened newest visitor attraction in Belfast's Titanic Quarter
#EnjoyNI2016 – A must see is Belfast’s newest visitor attraction HMS Caroline, a World War 1 light battle cruiser, uniquely the last survivor of the 1916 Battle of Jutland, berthed in the city’s Titantic Quarter, writes Jehan Ashmore. The slaughter…
IDRA 14 Number 166 is launched – 'Wicked Sadie' on her maiden sail at Clontarf Yacht & Boat Club
Following the launch of the new build IDRA 14 wooden dinghy on Saturday, after a three year long project, the Clontarf Yacht & Boat Club team lead and novice boat builder Ronan Melling has thanked all of those involved in…
Breezing along – Dave Nixon aboard the Howth 17 Deiliginis yesterday, approaching the South Rock with fellow HYC boat and Volvo Round ireland racer Euro Car Parks just visible ahead. Photo: Dave Nixon
What do former round Ireland trophy winners do when they don’t have time to do the race itself? Former regular in the Round Ireland fleet Dave Nixon of Howth tells us the best thing to do is sail a 109–year–old…
IDRA 14 No.38 Starfish competing in June's DMYC Regatta on Dublin Bay. The first new build in 50 years of this 70–year–old clinker dinghy type will be launched in Clontarf on June 25th
To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the wooden dinghy IDRA 14, a group of amateur boat builders from Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club (CY&BC), led by Ronan Melling have built the first boat in almost 50 years. The clinker boat…
From the tracker – just after the start of ISORA Race Five
Innovation by necessity in windless conditions led ISORA to start Friday's race from Dublin to the Isle of Man by Virtual Race Management (VRM). The ground breaking move that brought about a silent start and finish could revolutionise race management,…
HMS Caroline, the sole surviving vessel from the Battle of Jutland, is opening to the public tomorrow, 1 June
#Jutland100th - The last surviving Battle of Jutland naval ship provided a fitting backdrop writes the Belfast Telegraph for a commemoration honouring its centenary and all the Irish sailors who served in the First World War. The event today at…
The Battle of Jutland was fought off the north coast of Denmark
#Jutland100th - Descendants of Irish sailors will gather in Belfast at Alexandra Dock on Tuesday for a commemoration marking their role during the First World War. The event writes the Belfast Telegraph will also mark the centenary of the Battle…