Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Close to 130 hardy souls will take to the waters of Galway Bay tomorrow (Saturday 20 July) for the 14th annual Frances Thornton Memorial Galway Bay Swim. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the early sell-out event is one of Ireland’s…

As open water sea swimmers prepare for a Galway Bay crossing this weekend, Irish Water has said there is “no proven link” between a recent serious pollution incident in the city and the quality of bathing water off Galway’s beaches…

'Forty-foot' can mean different things to different people on Dublin Bay. In sailing terms, it might very well be a nick-name for 'Class Zero' but for most of the Capital's citizens, it's the stronghold for sea bathers on the southern tip of…

‘Marathon Man’ Alan Corcoran has reached Howth and Dublin Bay, 36 days into his 500km open water swimming challenge from the Causeway Coast to Tramore. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, Alan took on the mammoth task after completing an already…

Heavy rains in recent days have led to another wastewater overflow at the Ringsend treatment plant, as well as other pumping stations, that has prompted a new swimming ban at several Dublin Bay beaches. It marks the second time this…

Husband-and-wife pair Tom Healy and Rachel Lee took top honours in the annual Boyne Swim through Drogheda yesterday (Saturday 15 June). Tom claimed the overall race title with a time of 27.25 minutes, while his wife Rachel Lee finished a…

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has put up warning signs in the lifeguarded area of Sandycove in south Dublin after sightings of lion’s mane jellyfish in the water. Though the notice was put in place yesterday (Thursday 13 June), it’s emerged…

Guy O’Leary’s challenge to swim a mile each day during the month of May has so far raised a whopping €70,000 for Cancer Research UK. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, Guy — son of Dun Laoghaire Marina developer and local sailing stalwart…

The Frances Thornton Memorial Galway Bay Swim in aid of Cancer Care West returns to the waters of Galway Bay this July. Now in its 14th year, the now sold-out event on Saturday 20 July will see close to 130…

Galway City Council is investigating whether a testing fault has resulted in high levels of bacteria being reported at several of its beaches. As Afloat reported earlier today, a swimming ban has been imposed at Silver Strand, Salthill and Blackrock,…

High levels of bacteria detected in inner Galway Bay have resulted in swimming restrictions being imposed on four Galway city beaches writes Lorna Siggins. The popular beaches at Silver Strand and Salthill and Blackrock diving board are all affected by…

A trio of self-described ‘ordinary’ women will be attempting the extraordinary later this summer when they set out to swim the length of the River Shannon for charity. Fló Beo, which means ‘the living flow’, developed from an idea that…

Guy O’Leary is back on his feet after more than a year of cancer treatment — and to prove it he’s challenged himself to swim a mile each day during the month of May. Beginning this Wednesday 1 May, each…

This summer, Waterford’s ‘marathon man’ will attempt a 500km open water swimming challenge from the Causeway Coast to Tramore to raise funds for stroke and cancer support. Alan Corcoran made headlines in 2012 when be became the first man to run…

Some of us here in Viking Marine are braving the Forty Foot bathing place on Dublin Bay every morning and have to admit to nearing addiction on the daily plunge writes Ian O'Meara. Porridge is even back on the breakfast…

#WaterSafety - For many in Ireland a festive dip in the sea is part of a Christmas tradition. But the RNLI reminds anyone planning for a seaside swim next week that the sea is at its coldest, and potentially most…