#Headlands - Boaters in the British Isles beware - as Motor Boats Monthly has listed some of the most fearsome headlands around the British and Irish coastlines.

This photo gallery details some of the most challenging spots for coastal cruisers - many of which are also these islands' most scenic and picturesque.

Take the rugged beauty of Land's End, where passage in anything but fair weather could be the end of even the most experience mariner.

Or closer to home there's Mizen Head in West Cork, notorious for the more than 80 known wrecks below the surface.

Motor Boats Monthly has more on the story HERE.

#DublinBayCruises – In addition to news of a boost in Dun Laoghaire Harbour in attracting up to 14 cruise callers this season, a new excursion operator Dublin Bay Cruises are to run trips to and from Howth Harbour, writes Jehan Ashmore.

To book your trip call 353 1 9011757 and tell them you read about it right here, on Afloat.ie !

Dublin Bay Cruises are to begin excursion trips in early April. The 90 minute trips will take in the expanse and scenic vista of Dublin Bay, passing coastal landmarks along with views of Dalkey Island in the south of the bay, Howth Peninsula to the north and Ireland's Eye off Howth Harbour.

During the cruise, passengers will have an audio guide to explain and understand how and why the modern city of Dublin developed to become the capital city of Ireland.

The itinerary departing Dun Laoghaire Harbour will be as follows: the Joyce Martello Tower – Dalkey Island – north cross the bay towards Howth head – Bailey Lighthouse-Irelands Eye-Howth Harbour.

On trips departing Howth Harbour the itinerary is in reverse: Irelands Eye- Bailey Lighthouse-south cross the bay towards Dalkey Island-Joyce Martello Tower and arriving to Dun Laogaire Harbour.

The cruise is offered as a one-way trip (in either direction) between the harbours. Passengers will be able to make their way back to the city-centre from either Dun Laoghaire or Howth harbours by taking the DART train or use of other public transport links.

Both DART stations in Dun Laoghaire and Howth are less than 300m from the berthing locations.

Dublin Bay Cruises are to operate the excursion vessel 'St. Bridget', a 26m steel-hulled vessel with a capacity for around 100 passengers. There will be a bar facility also serving light refreshments.

Interestingly, bicycles will also be carried, providing another travel mode to continue at either destinations and bringing further flexibility.

The cruise trips will also bring a whole new dynamic to crossing Dublin Bay, linking two large sailing centres and in the case of Howth Harbour which has a large fishing fleet and seafood restaurents.

St. Bridget will be the first commercial vessel to use Dun Laoghaire Harbour's new cruise-tender pontoon which was installed nearly a year ago, last April.

She is one of five passenger ships owned and operated by Dublin Bay Cruises, a sister company of Doolin2Aran Ferries which operates from the Co. Clare harbour. Earlier this month, the go ahead was granted for the construction of a new pier.

The cruise-tender pontoon located in Dun Laoghaire's 'Coal' Harbour was installed primarily to cater for the return of cruise ships sector.

The most impressive cruise caller will be the giant Cunard liner Queen Mary 2 of 151,400 tonnes, which is to make her debut call to Dublin Bay in mid-May with an 'anchorage' call. She has a capacity for 2,620 passengers and more than 1,200 crew.

In total Dun Laoghaire Harbour is to welcome up to 30,000 passengers and crew ashore in 2013.

The increase in the level of cruise calls is notable, considering last year's first season after a gap of several years, generated just two cruise calls. Both in which were carried out by the same vessel, the diminutive cruiseship Quest of 1,180 tonnes which has a capacity of only 50 passengers.

#Begnet'sBoats – A community-led project to build a pair of currachs in Dalkey, Co. Dublin is gaining momentum as locals participate in a goal to launch the boats from Coliemore Habour on 1 June, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The Begnet's Boats Project is the vision of local resident Liz Murray who was inspired to bring the community together in a creative approach and to reflect the rich maritime heritage of Dalkey and local saint of St. Begnet. There are two churches in her name, one located in the town and the other on the small island lying some 300m offshore.

Murray has assigned a team to construct the pair of 'racing' currachs and they are to be led by boat-builder Mark Reddon. In addition the community are invited to take part in accompanying projects, one in which includes a 'St. Begnet's Cookbook' which features seafaring recipes by Elaine Flood.

The highlight of the venture will be a parade of the boats which are to be carried upside down, as is the traditional manner, from Castle Street, the town's main street to the coast at Coliemore Harbour.

From there the currachs, to be named 'Naomh Beagnait 1 & 2' will ceremoniously be rowed if not raced! across Dalkey Sound to the island, where the first reference to St. Begnet on the island dates to 700 A.D.

Information in how to get involved including a reward scheme and fundraiser countdown campaign can be viewed by visiting: www.fundit.ie/project/begnets-boats-project-2013

It would seem that the only way to get to Dalkey Island these days is by privately-owned craft and as previously reported on Afloat.ie, Coliemore Harbour has not had access to a ferry boat service in recent years. The harbour has been the traditional embarkation point for generations.

Currently engineering consultants are carrying out a structural survey and report due to be completed around May. The consultants were contracted by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council who had deemed the harbour unsafe and not suitable for use by a commercial ferry operator.

The delay in restoring a licensed ferry service has led to a campaign by locals, businesses and community groups who have feared that an alternative longer term ferry service would operate instead from either Bulloch or Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

#IrishSea - A new observation tower on the Lancashire coastline with views over the Irish Sea has opened a year after construction began.

BBC News reports that the Rossall Point Observation Tower, which reaches a height of 14 metres (46ft), will act as a base for the UK's National Coastwatch Institution.

As reported last year on Afloat.ie, a viewing platform at the top will be open to the public providing ample vistas of the Irish Sea's marine wildlife for birdwatchers and more.

The view from the top will also be projected on a screen in the education centre to be located in the tower's ground floor for those whose mobility prevents them from accessing the top level.

#CoastalNotes - A new Irish short film shot on location on the south-west coast will have its premiere in Chicago this weekend, as the Southern Star reports.

The Blow-Ins is a 15-minute adventure comedy that was shot in Courtmacsherry, Kilbrittain and other picturesque coastal spots in West Cork.

It fictionalises story of the notorious Kilbrittain whale that washed ashore in 2009, as a family of 'blow-ins' from the capital attempt to rescue the stranded cetacean.

Written and directed by CJ Scuffins for Story Factory, The Blow-Ins will premiere at the 14th Chicago Irish Film Festival from Friday 1 March after its recent acclaim at the recent Corona Cork Film Festival.

The Southern Star has more on the story HERE.

#DalkeyOilProspect – Providence Resources, who have been planning to explore for oil and gas in Dublin Bay, has surrendered its foreshore licence to the Department of the Environment, reports The Irish Times.

The Dublin based exploration company had planned to drill off the coast of Dalkey, in the Kish Basin.

In a statement this afternoon, the company said it made the decision to surrender the licence when it became clear that elements of an EU directive on environmental impact assessment (EIA) "were not transposed correctly in 1999 by the Irish Government". For more on this story click HERE.

#MuseumCampaign – Fisherman who donated four 28-pound cast iron cannon balls of over 200 years old, are in need of a 'permanent' home as the Balbriggan Maritime Museum is currently based out of a local tourist office , writes Jehan Ashmore.

The cannon balls which were located within a quarter of a mile on the seabed, may be significant, in that they were possibly fired from a Martello Tower, as these cannon balls were too heavy for most warships in service in the early 19th century.

It is known that no Martello tower in Ireland (built from 1805) has ever fired its cannon in anger. However, could these cannon ball discoveries have resulted from the testing of the Martello Tower mounted guns in anticipation of a French invasion?

Whatever is the explanation, the display of the prized Napoleonic cannon balls, will no doubt generate much interest, however many more maritime related exhibits from Fingal's rich maritime heritage remains out of sight.

"We are grateful to Balbriggan Tourist Office for the use of part of their premises in Quay Street to give the public a sample of the wealth of historic items which are currently in cold storage", said a former Green Party leader Trevor Sargent, who is chairperson of Balbriggan Maritime Museum.

Trevor Sargent, chairperson (right) of the museum stands beside the display of Napoleonic cannon balls 

Today marks the museum's first anniversary, when Minister for Heritage Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan TD, opened a one-day long 'pop-up' version of the maritime museum in Balbriggan, at the Bracken Court Hotel. Since then, until a proper museum building can be secured, there will be a unique rotating exhibition on display, albeit using limited space, with the kind support of Balbriggan Tourist Office.

Johnny Woodlock, marine conservationist and treasurer of the museum committee said 'We urge everybody to visit the latest historic display in the Balbriggan Tourist Office". He called on those viewing the display to leave a comment in the visitor's book so to assist in drawing a stronger campaign to establish a proper maritime museum, benefitting tourism and the public in general.

For further details about the proposed museum, contact Frank Duffy, Honorary Secretary of the Balbriggan Maritime Museum on 083 114 65 31 and www.balbrigganmaritimemuseum.com

#DalkeyIslandPROSPECT – An Oilwatch Q&A Information Workshop, about the issues of drilling for oil and gas in Dublin Bay will be held this Sunday (3 February) between 1-5pm in the Kingston Hotel, Dun Laoghaire.

A panel of speakers will present the following topics; oil industry, financial reward, legal matters and the environment. The event is organised by Save Our Seafront and with the support of other groups. All are welcome to the event, for further details click HERE.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the issue of a Foreshore Licence granted to Providence Resources for the Dalkey Island 'Prospect' is the subject of a judicial review that An Taisce will be bringing to the High Court on 19 February.

#MartelloLecture-"The Martello Towers of Dublin" is the opening lecture of this year's Howth Peninsula Heritage Society winter series, which takes place next Tuesday (22 January)

Tim Carey, Heritage Officer of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLRCoCo), will present his talk on the fascinating history of the maritime coastal defence features which dot along Dublin Bay.

Carey is one of four co-authors who contributed to the excellent publication 'The Martello Towers of Dublin' which was launched last year by the French Ambassador to Ireland in Dun Laoghaire Town Hall.

The lecture takes place at 8.00 p.m. in the Howth Angling Centre, at the harbour's West Pier which is a few minutes-walk from the DART station. All are welcome and a non-society member admission fee of €4 is payable at the door.

#CoastalNotes - Minister for Natural Resources Fergus O’Dowd has welcomed the launch of a public consultation by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the proposed terms of reference for more detailed research to be carried out on the potential impacts of unconventional gas exploration and extraction on the environment, especially for inland and coastal fisheries. 

Speaking last Friday, Minister O’Dowd said that he is particularly pleased that all interested parties, including individual members of the public, will have an opportunity to comment on the scope and objectives of this further research, thereby facilitating consideration of the broadest possible range of views.

Minister O’Dowd went on to say that “the detailed research to be commissioned by the EPA will build on other studies and research in this area and will inform future decision-making on any application that proposed the use of hydraulic fracturing in Ireland.”

Minister O’Dowd reiterated that until the EPA study has concluded and there has been time to consider its findings, the use of hydraulic fracturing in exploration drilling will not be authorised in Ireland.