
Tom MacSweeney
Tom MacSweeney writes a weekly column for Afloat.ie. He presents the monthly programme Maritime Ireland on Podcast services and Irish radio stations.

Royal Cork Yacht Club Encouraging Boat Ownership as Mixed Dinghies Make Return
26th March 2023 Royal Cork YC
The Mixed dinghy fleet will be returning to the water at the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven, Cork Harbour, in April. The club wants to encourage boat ownership, and “this fleet is all about fun while learning to sail with…

Marine Casualty Investigation Board Warns About Auxiliary Engines on Racing Yacht
23rd March 2023 MCIB
The Marine Casualty Investigation Board has recommended that the Minister for Transport should amend or update the Code of Practice for the Safe Operation of Recreational Craft to advise owners to ensure that auxiliary engines fitted to racing yachts provide…

Fishing Organisations Call on Oireachtas Committee for Fair treatment on Marine Protected Areas
10th March 2023 Marine Planning
The country’s major fishing organisations have called on the Oireachtas Committee dealing with the development of Marine Protected Areas to listen to them as it has to environmental organisations. The country’s major fishing representative organisations have claimed that the Committee’s…

Kinsale Yacht Club Sailors Make Good Speed on Shindig's Caribbean Voyage
6th March 2023 Tom MacSweeney
“Shindig is an old boat, very traditional, down-to-earth, you wouldn’t have the luxury of the super yachts around down here, some of which are massive cruising machines with every gadget known to man, but she suits us perfectly and makes…

Kerry solo sailor Pat Lawless has decided not to enter this year’s Global Solo Challenge Race, which he had intended to do. After withdrawing from the Golden Globe Race at Cape Town due to self-steering failure, he announced that he…

A humpback whale seen in Irish waters in January of 2010 and not reported again for thirteen years has been spotted off Newfoundland. Sighted on January 17, 2010, inshore off Hook Head, County Waterford, by Irish Whale and Dolphin Group…

The Irish Cruiser Racing Association’s survey of members has identified the biggest barriers to racing as being the costs involved in travelling to events and the lack of crews. The online survey asked members their views “to improve, support and…

Ireland is facing into the worst year in its fish processing history; it is better to have no deal than to have a bad deal, according to the country’s major fish producer organisations as EU-Norway fisheries talks enter a fifth…

Undaunted after being forced out of the Golden Globe Race at Cape Town in November, Pat Lawless is going to try again to sail solo, non-stop around the world. This time he will enter the Global Solo Challenge Race, with…

The Department of Defence is seeking tenders to recycle decommissioned Naval Service Vessels. Three were decommissioned at the same time last Summer - LÉ Eithne and two coastal patrol vessels LÉ Orla and LÉ Ciara. This was described at the…

There is a “strong need for safety considerations at dinghy events”, according to a Race Official Policy Group (ROPG) that has issued a new set of policy recommendations for those responsible for planning club or class events. The national sailing…

SCORA Will Provide a Platform for More Offshore Racing Says Commodore
22nd January 2023 Tom MacSweeney
The Commodore of the South Coast Offshore Racing Association (SCORA) says it has a number of aims for the season ahead – getting more boats off the marinas and out racing, creating links between dinghy sailors and keelboat racing and…

The results of the Irish Cruiser Racing Association’s (ICRA) national survey of members to get their views about racing are being compiled. They are expected to be completed and released within the next week. The survey has been carried out…

The Fight for the Offshore Islands Continue - Why Are They Not a Single Region?
19th January 2023 Tom MacSweeney
Islanders are unique people. I have often tried to make the point that we Irish should be particularly proud to claim that uniqueness because we live on an island at the edge of Western Europe. It is not a claim…

Courtmacsherry’s new lifeboat will arrive to the West Cork harbour on Sunday next after having been deferred from last weekend due to bad weather. Vincent O'Donovan, Courtmacsherry RNLI Lifeboat Station Duty Launch Authority & Press Officer, says the new arrival…

A former Admiral and President paid tribute to a former Admiral and President at the 302nd annual general meeting of the oldest yacht club in the world. It was rather unique as David O’Brien, former President of the Irish Sailing…

Sovereign's Cup Sponsors Briefing on Floating Wind Project South of Old Head of Kinsale
14th January 2023 Sovereign's Cup
The sponsors of the Sovereign's Cup at Kinsale are to hold a public consultation meeting about their Emerald Floating Offshore Wind Project in the town next Thursday. This is proposed for a location 35 km south of the Old Head…

The arrival of Courtmacsherry's new Shannon Class lifeboat, "Val Adnams," originally due in this Sunday, has been cancelled due to predicted severe weather on the crossing from RNLI Headquarters in Poole to West Cork. The RNLI decision to postpone the…

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group are planning major modifications to their flagship, Celtic Mist. This is the former yacht of Charlie Haughey, which was donated to the Group by the Haughey family in his memory. The 56-foot motor sailing…

The 'Holy Ground Lady' of Cove Sailing Club Sails in Cork Harbour's Christmas Dinghy Race
18th December 2022 Tom MacSweeney
The ‘Holy Ground’ is a legendary part of Cobh, renowned in song and remembered in the Cork Harbour town’s folklore. Now the ‘Holy Ground Lady’ is part of Cove Sailing Club, a boat built by local shipwright Mark Richard in…