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
The Bantry inner harbour development scheme has re-generated interest in the West Cork town as a marine leisure and sailing centre. Bantry Bay Port Company, operated by Cork Port, has a sheltered marina with 40 berths there. But the town…
Cork Harbour Dinghies Ready for Ballinacurra Race and The Schooner Brooklands
12th May 2022 Cork Harbour
The home of Ireland’s last engineless freight-carrying schooner, the Brooklands, will be the centre of the popular Ballinacurra Race in Cork Harbour this Sunday. Creenan’s hostelry in Ballinacurra village near Midleton in East Cork will be the mecca for dinghy…
“People who swim at beaches, lakes and rivers,” are being asked to tell the Council if they think “existing designated bathing waters” should be maintained or new ones identified.” Local authorities must identify official bathing areas in their area every…
Glandore Harbour Yacht Club has accused Cork County Council of endangering the future of sailing in the West Cork harbour by changes it plans to make at the village pier. "This has been drawn up without any consultation whatsoever with…
Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation Calls for Immediate Action on Russian Trawlers
26th April 2022 Fishing
The Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO) has called on the European Commission to act immediately on the presence of Russian trawlers in waters intended primarily for oil and gas exploration. A fleet of Russian midwater freezer trawlers are currently operating in…
There are not many sailing clubs which have experienced the vicissitudes of misfortune to the extent that Cove Sailing Club has in recent years. Back in March of 2018, Afloat reported that “Cork Harbour will have a new name in…
The €86 million new container terminal at Ringaskiddy is to be brought into operation tomorrow by the Port of Cork company. Conor Mowlds, the Port’s Chief Commercial Officer says this will be “a monumental milestone, the largest investment in our…
The Norwegian expedition cruise liner, Maud, arrived in Waterford Port this morning, the first cruise vessel in over two years, due to Covid pandemic disruption. It is the maiden voyage of the vessel, from the Norwegian cruise line company Hurtigruten.…
The Royal Cork Yacht Club has appointed a long-time club member to a new full-time role as Head of Sailing Development Eddie Rice has been a long time Crosshaven club member, competing and winning in the Laser, National 18 and…
May 10 has been set as the start date for decommissioning works on the subsea structure in the Kinsale and Seven Heads Gas Fields on the South Coast. The Kinsale Energy company which will undertake the work has told the…
Wednesday, May 4, has been set as the start date for Midweek Sailing at Kinsale Yacht Club in Cork. Dragons and Squibs will have their own racing on Thursdays. The club committee has told members: "We have an amazing amount…
Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation Lodges Complaint Against European Commission
13th April 2022 Fishing
The Chief Executive of the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO) has called on the Marine Minister and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority to stand-up for Irish fishermen and the fishing industry against the European Commission. CEO Sean O'Donoghue says the KFO…
The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority row with fishing processors and exporters in Killybegs in County Donegal intensified after a second international vessel disputed the State agency’s fish weighing requirements for landings. After the Danish Maja left with its catch of…
Brittany Ferries is doubling its service from Cork to France. In addition to the regular Saturday sailing to Roscoff there will be an additional midweek service overnight on Wednesdays as part of a three-year deal signed today between the French…
No other community has experienced such a dramatic population decline as the offshore islands, according to the Islands’ Federation In 1841, the population on the islands was 34,219. By 2016 that number had reduced to 2,627. “These figures have not…
The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority has acknowledged that the Master of the Danish Fishing Vessel MV Ruth objected to the SFPA's process for weighing upon landing, at Killybegs in County Donegal on Thursday, March 31st. In a statement, the Authority…
Hook Head Sighting of Basking Sharks is "Incredible Start" to 2022 (Podcast)
1st April 2022 Tom MacSweeney
The sighting of a big number of basking sharks off Hook Head is “an incredible start” to the 2022 basking shark season, according to the Irish Basking Shark Group. It is one of a number of sightings in the past…
The Chairman of the Irish Fishing & Seafood Alliance has accused the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority of causing serious losses and the temporary closure of a processing factory in Killybegs. The Danish fishing vessel MV Ruth, arrived to land 1,270…
The Irish South and West Fish Producers’ Organisation has advised its members not to sign up to the Irish Fishing Master Register. “This is akin to what happened in South Africa in the 1950s and also in Germany in the…
Schull Harbour Sailing Club is already preparing for Calves Week in August and has issued the Notice of Race for the West Cork major annual event. “After all the uncertainty which the pandemic created for the past few years, we…
