Tom MacSweeney
Tom MacSweeney writes a column for Afloat.ie. He is former RTE Marine Correspondent/Presenter of Seascapes and now has a monthly Podcast on the Community Radio Network and Podcast services
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…
Marine Science Must Improve Its Message to Engage with Irish Society
6th December 2022 Tom MacSweeney
There is a huge amount of research being done in Irish waters. But are marine scientists getting their message across to the general public? “We have to get into a space where we put the complexity aside and move to…
Kinsale Yacht Club honoured its Under 25 team and presented them with awards for their achievement to mark the success of the club’s project which, through the support of members, bought a J24, which they named Kinsailor and sailed successfully…
Asgard Restoration Lecture in Cork by Marine Conservationist John Kearon
28th November 2022 Historic Boats
John Kearon described in one of several interviews I had with him during the conservation of Asgard at the National Museum how he had “crawled in desperation to the aftermost beams, hoping to find some evidence to prove the beams…
Cork has become the first city to sign up to the European Commission’s Charter to restore oceans and waters. Under the ‘Horizon Europe Programme,’ the Commission has launched several ‘Missions’ which it says are focused on “critical areas, to bring…
Cork’s community boatyard, Meitheal Mara, has appointed writer, sailor and adventurer, Jasper Winn, as its “writer-in-motion”. His task is to write a book about its history since foundation in 1993, analysing what it has achieved and looking to its future.…
"Outrageous" Attempt by Norway to Get More Access to Irish Fishing Waters
16th November 2022 Fishing
The Irish fishing industry is being threatened with another major impact on its waters This is from Norway a non-EU Membet State which wants to get its fleet into Irish waters to fish for the valuable blue whiting. Norway has…
Ireland’s solo sailor Pat Lawless has retired from the Golden Globe round the world race. This follows the problems with his self-steering Aries system which developed on his Saga 36 Green Rebel on Sunday night. He confirmed a bearing problem…
Ireland's Golden Globe Racer Pat Lawless Has Self Steering Problems
8th November 2022 Golden Globe Race
Ireland’s Pat Lawless is reported to be having problems with the self-steering system on his 36-foot Green Rebel. Two messages received at Golden Globe Race headquarters indicated the difficulties encountered on the way to Cape Town, the next point for…
The “Spatial Squeeze” is a term you can expect to hear quite a lot about in the immediate future. It’s all to do with the increasing competition for space in the offshore sector. Wind energy developers require space for wind-generating…
The housing needs of the offshore islands are being surveyed because they are seen as “the main challenges facing the island communities,” according to the Irish Islands Federation, Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann. As Afloat reported in July, the survey is…
Praise for Royal Cork Yacht Club Race Communications and Offshore Sailing on the South Coast in 2023
20th October 2022 Tom MacSweeney
The Royal Cork Yacht Club (RCYC) at Crosshaven has received a lot of praise for the running of Sunday’s Autumn League during a “weather window” in Cork Harbour, getting the fleet home before a gale hit the Cork area which…
Fishing Industry Opposed to “Grab” of Areas by Wind Farm Developers
15th October 2022 Marine Planning
The Irish fishing industry is not being consulted properly about the development of offshore wind farms, according to the Chief Executive of the longest-established fish producer’s organisation in the State, the Irish Fish Producers Organisation. According to Aodh O Donnell,…
The Autumn League will resume at the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven on Sunday, after cancellation last week due to weather conditions, but First Gun will be an hour earlier. Fog was a particular problem last weekend, wind conditions…
Having sold two of its vessels - the fast Ferry Dún na Séad II and the Dún Aengus, Cape Clear Ferries in West Cork is buying the Spirit of Doolin from O’Brien’s Ferry Company in Clare. This will replace the…
