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Maritime Festivals Ireland
With nearly 50 boats already moored, With nearly 50 boats already moored, the organisers hope that up to 100 boats will attend the Jamestown Heritage Festival
The Village of Jamestown in County Leitrim is holding its Third Heritage Festival from May 24 to June 2. Members of the Heritage Boat Association and Inland Waterways Association of Ireland will visit Jamestown Harbour. With nearly 50 boats already…
Central to the Foyle Maritime Festival in Derry will be the impressive fleet of Tall Ships, including the Irene (above)
The much-anticipated Foyle Maritime Festival is set to return to the historic walled city of Derry in Northern Ireland from Thursday, June 27th to Sunday, June 30th. This vibrant festival is expected to attract over 150,000 visitors from around the world…
Having served with distinction in the fishing industry, this 39 ft ketch 'The Richard' changed hands several times in the 1960s and 1980s. During that time, she cruised extensively in southern Europe and on the North Atlantic coast of Africa before heading trans-Atlantic to cruise the Caribbean. Now, largely forgotten and overshadowed by the stories of more illustrious locally built boats, this Cinderella of our maritime heritage deserves to have her story told, Baltimore Wooden Boat Festival organisers say
The Baltimore Wooden Boat Festival in West Cork will be held this weekend, starting on Friday and continuing until Sunday. “This area has a long history of engagement with trans-Atlantic sailing ships, with Eastern-bound ships picking up a Pilot off…
Cellist Naomi Berrill at Galway Bay will play at Galway’s Cellissimo 2024 festival this weekend
Marine experts have joined with musicians for a collaborative project as part of Galway’s Cellissimo 2024 festival this weekend. “Galway Bay Is Calling” is the title of a project by cellist and composer Naomi Berrill which she has worked on…
Pint of Science” global science festival - Over 130 speakers will talk at 45 events in venues extending from Dublin to Dundalk to Athlone to Mulranny, Co Mayo, and free tickets are already available through its website
Fish and chips and biodiversity, how seaweed can be a medicine, and Ireland’s underwater forests are among marine topics which will be discussed at the “Pint of Science” global science festival opening next week. The three-day event opens in 11…
A Galway hooker sails by during An Tostál Currach Racing Festival in Salthill, Galway 2023
Calico sails of Galway Hookers and currachs will be visible off Salthill promenade this weekend for “An Tóstal”, a two-day regatta celebrating maritime life. Male, female and junior traditional currach racing will take place, with Galway Hooker racing in the…
A highlight of the event is its poster, always a testament to local artistry and available for purchase in local shops. This year’s poster, crafted by Ryan Lavin, pays homage to the esteemed artist Joe Boske, known for his past iconic Fleadh na gCuach designs
Fleadh na gCuach or the Cuckoo Fleadh will transform the south Galway Harbour of Kinvara over this coming May bank holiday weekend. The traditional music and community-based art festival is known for its vibrant ambiance and exceptional talent, attracting musicians…
May 1st 2024 - May Day greetings for sailors And shore folk everywhere
May Day used to be such a focus of seasonal celebration that it's almost unfortunate it has been collared for use as the international maritime distress call-sign. But for now, with this very recently taken photo, we'll revert to celebration…
The 126-year-old traditional Dutch Sailing Barge Drie Gebroeders is one of less than a handful in Ireland
In May 2024, a 126-year-old Dutch Sailing Barge named Drie Gebroeders will set off on an epic adventure from Lough Erne in Co. Fermanagh to the eastern Scottish coast, and back again. The goal is to attend two maritime festivals…
Crowds gather on the seafront at Dun Laoghaire for the start of the first Dun Laoghaire St. Patrick's Day Parade for many decades
There was a strong maritime presence for the rebirth of Dun Laoghaire's St Patrick's Day Parade, which attracted up to 30,000 people to Ireland's biggest boating centre in the spring sunshine. Among the 46 groups participating was the Irish Navy,…
Kinsale Yacht Club played an essential role in the tenth Kinsale St. Patrick's Maritime Festival, with members' boats involved in the on-the-water parade
The picturesque town of Kinsale Harbour in West Cork was packed with spectators over the weekend as it played host to the tenth annual St. Patrick's Maritime Festival. Despite a gloomy and wet day, the town was buzzing with excitement…
Patrick McDonnell who played Eoin McLove with (from left to right) Carmel Condon, Ann Clarke, Linda Lynch all from Sligo, pictured at TedFest at Inis Mór on the Aran Islands. TedFest 2024 takes place on Thursday March 7th to Sunday March 10th 2024 as Inis Mór in the Aran Islands becomes the legendary ‘Craggy Island’ once more for a weekend of high-jinx
The legendary “Craggy Island” will once again be recreated on the Aran island of Inis Mór when it hosts the annual TedFest in March. The festival, inspired by the television series Father Ted with the late Dermot Morgan, has become…
National Seafarers' Conference - Capt Brian FitzGerald Simply Blue Group, Dr Edel O'Connor (Irish Maritime Development Office), Minister of State Niall Collins, Liz Goff ( chair of the South East Regional Inshore Fisheries Forum), and  Aodh O'Donnell (Irish Fish Producers' Organisation chief executive)
“Realising Ireland’s maritime ambition” is the theme of the third annual national seafarers’ conference in Limerick next month. The event on February 22nd - hosted by the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) and sponsored by the Simply Blue group…
Some of the organisers and volunteers pictured in the Claddagh Hall during the Galway Docklands Festival were, back row, from left: Phil McArdle, Ewa Pilarska, Colm O'Maille, Michael Flanagan (Ability West) and Loretta Croake. Middle row: left to right: Gina Gardiner and Clodagh Durkan. Front row: left to right: Collette Furey, Anna Oliver, Mary Cunningham and Maria Buckley
Galway Docklands Festival has become an established event on the west coast maritime calendar, after a successful event last weekend. Restoration work on various vessels, knot-making, and walking tours of the Claddagh area were among the themes of the three-day…
The Conamara Sea Week Festival programme of workshops, art, music, walks and talks takes place in Letterfrack from October 21st to 29th, with a climate action and biodiversity theme
Environmental broadcaster Duncan Stewart and the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group’s Fiacc O Brolcháin are among participants in this year’s Conamara Sea Week Festival. The programme of workshops, art, music, walks and talks takes place in Lettefrack from October 21st…
Boatbuilders working on restoring Galway’s maritime heritage are part of the upcoming Galway Docklands Festival
The heart of Galway's maritime heritage comes to life with the much-anticipated Galway Docklands Festival, taking place from September 29th to October 1st, 2023. As Afloat reported earlier, the three-day festival promises an unforgettable experience celebrating Galway's rich marine industry,…