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
Goodwill messages have been pouring into Pat Lawless, Ireland’s solo skipper in the Golden Globe Race, over the past week at Gijon, where he has been preparing for the SITraN Challenge Charity event today (Sunday), a 280-mile race to Les…
Marine Casualty Investigation Board Warns That Regulations May Be Necessary for Watersports
12th August 2022 MCIB
The Chairperson of the Marine Casualty Investigation Board has warned that regulation may well be required for watersports in the leisure marine sector if voluntary standards set by accredited bodies are not adhered to. That serious warning is contained in…
Cobh People’s Regatta, with Cove Sailing Club, is on this weekend with events ashore and afloat. Sailing races begin with the young sailors of the Optimist fleet on Friday morning, starting at 10 a.m. The cruisers will race that evening…
In Spain, Kerry Solo Sailor Pat Lawless Prepares for the Golden Globe
7th August 2022 Golden Globe Race
Kerry solo sailor Pat Lawless is in Gijon, Spain, to take part in the Golden Globe prologue race on Sunday, August 14, from there to Les Sables d'Olonne in France from where the Golden Globe Race itself will start on…
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group has decided to hold All-Ireland Whale Watch Day again. “We are delighted to announce the return of our popular All-Ireland Whale Watch Day,” says Padraig Whooley, Sightings Officer at IWDG. “This event comprises free…
Kinsale Yacht Club in West Cork is well pleased with its Under 25 development programme following the team's success at the J24 National Championships raced in Foynes YC, Co.Limerick. Named ‘Kinsailor’ when it was launched last year, the KYC yacht won the…
The first appearance of a Galway Hooker on the Dutch canals is likely to create a lot of attention and there may even be links found between the traditional West of Ireland boat and historic vessels in Holland The ‘Galway…
Pat Lawless Leaves Cork Harbour for the Golden Globe Race (Interview)
27th July 2022 Golden Globe Race
As Pat Lawless left Crosshaven this morning to take part in the Golden Globe Race, it was somewhat fitting that he was surrounded by National18s heading for the start line of their National Championships and, accompanied by Crosshaven lifeboat giving…
Pat Lawless and Green Rebel in the Golden Globe Race: The Mast and Sailing 'By the Seat of Your Pants'
19th July 2022 Tom MacSweeney
The mast is everything to Pat Lawless. So, before his yacht, Green Rebel, went back into the water this week on Valentia Island and he headed for Dingle in “a nice light breeze” on his final preparations to take part…
Housing Survey of the Offshore Islands to be Conducted by Islands Federation and UCC
18th July 2022 Island News
The offshore islands are “very far down the list of priorities for our policymakers” according to the Islands’ Federation, Comhdháil Oileán na hEireann, which has decided to carry out a survey of the housing needs of the islands. “There is…
New RV Tom Crean Research Vessel Heading for Galway After Official Hand Over in Spain
9th July 2022 RV Tom Crean
Ireland's new Research Vessel Tom Crean in Vigo, Spain, was officially handed over to the Marine Institute yesterday and the Irish flag raised. The new state-of-the-art Ship leaves Vigo for its new home port of Galway next week. Dr Paul…
Galway Bay Sailing Club Welcomes The Optimist Class: "It has been the starting point for generations of sailors…”
7th July 2022 Galway Harbour
Johnny Shorten, Commodore of Galway Bay Sailing Club, has no doubts about the importance of the Optimist dinghy class Connacht Championships which his club is hosting this Saturday and Sunday, As Afloat reported previously, a hundred competitors are expected at…
Expedition Yacht Northabout Returns to Dun Laoghaire and Heads for Greenland
1st July 2022 Tom MacSweeney
Northabout, the 47-foot Westport expedition yacht of Jarlath Cunnane from Mayo, which with a crew, many of them Galway Hooker sailors, completed an Arctic circumnavigation of the world with a transit of the Northeast Passage north of Russia, has been…
Data from the M3 and M5 buoys off the South Coast is being recovered for analysis by the Marine Institute to ascertain whether it can explain the cause of a tidal drop of 70 cms reported at Union Hall and…
Industry Leaders Warn That Irish Fishing Fleet Resilience is Under Threat
17th June 2022 Tom MacSweeney
Irish fishing industry leaders have warned that the costs of marine diesel are so high they are challenging the resilience of the Irish fishing fleet. CEOs of the main Irish industry organisations say fishing operations are being made uneconomical and…
This year's Cong-Galway sailing race, set for Saturday, June 25, will mark two significant anniversaries. It is 140 years since the inaugural sailing of the race and 50 years since it was revived in its current form. It is the…
Cork County Council has engaged a contractor for the removal of the wreck of the fishing trawler, MV Sceptre, at Union Hall, West Cork and work has commenced. The wreck will be removed by barge for transport to an overseas…
“There was a lot of work, hull planking, fitting the stem post, caulking, filling, fairing, sanding, priming and painting. We lost over two years on the project due to Covid and this old girl was in a worse condition than…
Two local giants, Mahain and Binne, from old Irish folklore are the names of the cranes at Cork Port’s Ringaskiddy container terminal, chosen by Crosshaven Boys’ National School. The two names were voted most popular, as part of a recent…
Wicklow Sailing Club: Family Oriented & Run By Volunteers with a Love for Sailing
29th May 2022 Tom MacSweeney
The Round Ireland Race is the dominant focus of Wicklow Sailing Club at the moment, but there is a lot more to the club. The members take pride in describing their club as “a small family-oriented sailing club run by…
