Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Maritime Festivals Ireland
The heart of Galway's maritime heritage will come to life at the end of the month in the three-day Galway Docklands Festival, which will be held from September 29 to October 1. It will be “an unforgettable experience celebrating Galway's…
One of Hanneke Frenkel's sea stacks on Turbot Island that will be exhibited at InisturbART from September 16th
New residents of a Connemara island, which was once depopulated, have put an offshore exhibition together for the Clifden Arts Festival. Four artists on Turbot Island are hoping their work will be viewed on the island, and have organised a…
On the 7th of September, the O’Connell Centenary Cup was presented by the Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire- Rathdown, Denis O’Callaghan, to the winning crew from St. Michael’s Rowing Club. The race was held for the first time in 1875, when a trophy was presented to the people of Kingstown (Dún Laoghaire) and Dalkey, to commemorate the centenary of Daniel O’Connell’s birth. The race will be held every year, with more crews joining next year. The cup has now gone on public display in the entrance area in County Hall in Dun Laoghaire.
On September 7th, the O’Connell Centenary Cup was presented to the winning crew from St. Michael’s Rowing Club by Denis O’Callaghan, the Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. The presentation ceremony was held at the County Hall and attended by councillors, members…
Two young girls dressed in nautical clothes and hats look ahead to this weekend’s Belfast Maritime Festival
Visitors can discover a treasure trove of free activities at this weekend’s Belfast Maritime Festival on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September. Taking place along the city’s Maritime Mile, with entertainment stretching across Queen’s Quay to HMS Caroline in the…
The Spanish Armada Festival Remembrance Parade, where people are invited to walk a trail to pay tribute to those lost in the tragedy. Over 1,100 men lost their lives at Streedagh during the shipwrecks, one of the greatest maritime tragedies to have taken place on the Irish coast
The annual Spanish Armada festival returns this September for the 14th consecutive year and will occur in Grange, Streedagh, Cliffoney and Sligo Town. With lots of events taking place covering arts, history, culture, music and the spoken word, Remembering the…
An aerial view of Dublin city and its port
The ICRA National championships will be the main “on water” feature of the Howth Maritime and Seafood Festival, which takes place over the weekend of the 8th and 10th of September. The ICRA Commodore, David Cullen, has reported 52 entries for…
An Norah Bheag, an Feichin and Báid Choil Beag competing at the 44th annual Cruinniú na mBád festival in Kinvara, Co Galway
Tight competition marked the 44th annual Cruinniú na mBád festival in Kinvara, Co Galway at the weekend. In spite of a dark and overcast day, the festival was a success on and off water, with An Norah taking the top…
Streedagh Strand, Co. Sligo near the village of Grange, has an impressive 3km long sandy beach where the Spanish armada vessels sank in September, 1588
This year's Spanish Armada Festival returns next monthand will be the 14th consecutive year that the annual event has taken place in Co. Sligo. The event runs from Thursday 14th to Saturday 17th September and this will involve four locations:…
Loop Head Lighthouse at the entrance to the Shannon Estuary is an ideal location for long-distance radio communication attempts due to its isolated location on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean
Amateur radio enthusiasts from across Ireland's midwest gathered at Loop Head Lighthouse Experience on the Shannon Estuary in County Clare over the weekend to participate in the 26th annual International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend (ILLW). The event, which saw the…
As part of the Belfast Maritime Festival, Afloat adds, there are several Sail Training opportunities aboard one of the vessels that will be open to the public, the Brian Ború, a sail training ketch, for further details see below
Discover Belfast’s rich maritime history and the spirit of innovation which will take centre stage with a host of free family festival activities on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September. The Belfast Maritime Festival will take place along the city’s…
Maritime Kinsale - The presence of the superyacht at Kinsale Marina along with the historic Ilen, Ireland's last trading ketch, at the town quay, added to Kinsale's festive maritime summer scene for the Kinsale Regatta weekend
The south coast regatta season is in full swing, and Kinsale was the place to be at the weekend for sailing activities and a spectacular fireworks display set off from the commanding position of James Fort at Kinsale Harbour. The…
The Lord Mayor of Dublin and Honorary Admiral of Dublin Port, Cllr. Daithí de Róiste pictured performing the ‘Casting of the Spear’ in Dublin Bay with Dublin Port CEO Barry O’Connell and ‘Captain Pirate’. The tradition dates back to 1488 when the city’s boundaries were marked eastwards
The Lord Mayor of Dublin Daithí de Róiste performed the ‘Casting of the Spear’ into Dublin Bay, upholding a 535-year tradition. The Casting marks the launch of the 36th South Docks Festival, which runs this week for a full five…
Maritime folklorist Criostoir McCarthy
The naturally-sheltered and historic little port of Carrigaholt on the south shore of the Loop Head peninsula in far southwest County Clare is where sea and land and the outer Shannon Estuary colourfully interact to provide a unique sense and…
Dun Laoghaire's West Pier lighthouse is dressed in Coastival colours to welcome this week's Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta
Met Éireann is forecasting southerly to south-easterly winds for Dublin Bay during the Volvo Dun Laoghaire regatta this week. However, it cautions that the forecast is “more uncertain than usual for later this week, so the probability for change is…
Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School students in an RS Quest dinghy in Dun Laoghaire Harbour
As part of this week's Dun Laoghaire Harbour Coastival Festival, the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School team is hosting a free public talk in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Lexicon this Monday evening, the 3rd of July, from 6.30 pm. “Getting…
Dun Laoghaire's West Pier lighthouse was dressed in Coastival colours to welcome today's classic yacht parade
Due to strong winds, Sunday's (July 2) classic boat/yacht parade at Dun Laoghaire Harbour was cancelled this afternoon. This event was arranged in association with Dun Laoghaire's Coastival Festival, a week-long series of events and activities that culminates in the…