Displaying items by tag: Northern Ureland Marine Task Force

21st April 2012

NI's Young Eco Warriors Pitch Projects in 'Dragon's Den' Style Showcase

#MARINE WILDLIFE - Young people from across Northern Ireland showcased their "green-minded" projects to a panel of judges at the 'Dragon's Den' style ECO-Den event at the Lough Neagh Discovery Centre last week.

All were hoping that their project would be the one chosen to attend the ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards at the Mansion House in Dublin next month, as the Tyrone Times reports.

Among those pitching to the panel of experts were students from Holy Trinity College in Cookstown with their project, Fighting for the Environment, for which they teamed up with the Northern Ireland Marine Task Force Schools Project to help protect local marine life.

It's not the first time that the Northern Ireland Marine Task Force has joined forces with the North's young people, as last summer it supported hundreds of schoolchildren in their Stormon protest calling for new laws to protect Northern Ireland's coastal waters.

More recently, the task force brought together interests from across the spectrum to discuss the new Marine Bill and ensure it will "deliver for all sea users".

Published in Marine Wildlife

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Irish Sailing

The Irish Sailing Association, also known as Irish Sailing, is the national governing body for sailing, powerboating and windsurfing in Ireland.

Founded in 1945 as the Irish Dinghy Racing Association, it became the Irish Yachting Association in 1964 and the Irish Sailing Association in 1992.

Irish Sailing is a Member National Authority (MNA) of World Sailing and a member of the Olympic Federation of Ireland.

The Association is governed by a volunteer board, elected by the member clubs. Policy Groups provide the link with members and stakeholders while advising the Board on specialist areas. There is a professional administration and performance staff, based at the headquarters in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.

Core functions include the regulation of sailing education, administering racing and selection of Irish sailors for international competition. It is the body recognised by the Olympic Federation of Ireland for nominating Irish qualified sailors to be considered for selection to represent Ireland at the Olympic Games. Irish sailors have medalled twice at the Olympics – David Wilkins and Jamie Wikinson at the 1980 games, and Annalise Murphy at the 2016 games.

The Association, through its network of clubs and centres, offers curriculum-based training in the various sailing, windsurfing and powerboating disciplines. Irish Sailing qualifications are recognised by Irish and European Authorities. Most prominent of these are the Yachtmaster and the International Certificate of Competency.

It runs the annual All-Ireland Championships (formerly the Helmsman’s Championship) for senior and junior sailors.

The Association has been led by leading lights in the sailing and business communities. These include Douglas Heard, Clayton Love Junior, John Burke and Robert Dix.

Close to 100 sailors have represented Ireland at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Membership of Irish Sailing is either by direct application or through membership of an affiliated organisation. The annual membership fee ranges from €75 for families, down to €20 for Seniors and Juniors.