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Dublin Bay Boating News and Information

Excursion Cruises of Dublin Bay Finally Start With Sailings Underway Today!

8th June 2020
Former Aran Islands Ferry: St. Bridget of Dublin Bay Cruises sets off from Dun Laoghaire Harbour on services also based out of Dublin Port and Howth Harbour. In addition to cruises around Dalkey Island  but based only out of Dun Laoghaire. Former Aran Islands Ferry: St. Bridget of Dublin Bay Cruises sets off from Dun Laoghaire Harbour on services also based out of Dublin Port and Howth Harbour. In addition to cruises around Dalkey Island but based only out of Dun Laoghaire. Credit: File / Jehan Ashmore

A breath of fresh air can at long last be availed from off the Irish capital as operator Dublin Bay Cruises opened today albeit with a later start this season due to Covid19 restrictions, writes Jehan Ashmore

According to Dublin Bay Cruises, over recent weeks they have put preparation in place to implement various measures regarding social distancing and hand hygiene on board their excursion vessel St. Bridget. Originally, the season on Dublin Bay was to have launched on St. Patrick's Day. 

DBC are confident that passengers will be able to relax and enjoy the views and that sea breeze that we have all so longed for so much over the past three months.
Up until then St. Bridget wintered in Dublin Port (Grand Canal Dock Basin) and Afloat latterly spotted in Dun Laoghaire Harbour alongside St. Micheal's Wharf.

Also in Dun Laoghaire at the nearby East Pier, this morning saw the first scheduled cruise depart. In total there are five cruises as part of a network, that take in Dublin, Dun Laoghaire, Howth Harbour and views of Ireland's Eye. In addition a cruise off Dalkey Island but only departing Dun Laoghaire.

For further details of each cruise route consult online.

Due to Covid-19, DBC had to adapt to a different sailing schedule than normal. There will be strict social distancing measures on board, hence a significant reduction in passenger capacity to ensure the health and safety of all customers. For this reason, the operator advise booking as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

In recent weeks, Afloat tracked St. Bridget make preparatory sailings throughout Dublin Bay and transits through Dalkey Sound leading to Killiney Bay.

The former Aran Islands passenger ferry when named Galway Bay, also served as part of a career along the western seaboard to Inishbofin off Co. Galway. As St.Bridget, the vessel still retains it's west of Ireland origins given Galway is the port of registry. 

A deployment to the East coast of the former ferry began almost a decade ago on this venture which has so far taken thousands of Irish and overseas tourists onto the impressive Bay. How many other European capitals can boost such an asset.

Published in Dublin Bay
Jehan Ashmore

About The Author

Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals. 

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Dublin Bay

Dublin Bay on the east coast of Ireland stretches over seven kilometres, from Howth Head on its northern tip to Dalkey Island in the south. It's a place most Dubliners simply take for granted, and one of the capital's least visited places. But there's more going on out there than you'd imagine.

The biggest boating centre is at Dun Laoghaire Harbour on the Bay's south shore that is home to over 1,500 pleasure craft, four waterfront yacht clubs and Ireland's largest marina.

The bay is rather shallow with many sandbanks and rocky outcrops, and was notorious in the past for shipwrecks, especially when the wind was from the east. Until modern times, many ships and their passengers were lost along the treacherous coastline from Howth to Dun Laoghaire, less than a kilometre from shore.

The Bay is a C-shaped inlet of the Irish Sea and is about 10 kilometres wide along its north-south base, and 7 km in length to its apex at the centre of the city of Dublin; stretching from Howth Head in the north to Dalkey Point in the south. North Bull Island is situated in the northwest part of the bay, where one of two major inshore sandbanks lie, and features a 5 km long sandy beach, Dollymount Strand, fronting an internationally recognised wildfowl reserve. Many of the rivers of Dublin reach the Irish Sea at Dublin Bay: the River Liffey, with the River Dodder flow received less than 1 km inland, River Tolka, and various smaller rivers and streams.

Dublin Bay FAQs

There are approximately ten beaches and bathing spots around Dublin Bay: Dollymount Strand; Forty Foot Bathing Place; Half Moon bathing spot; Merrion Strand; Bull Wall; Sandycove Beach; Sandymount Strand; Seapoint; Shelley Banks; Sutton, Burrow Beach

There are slipways on the north side of Dublin Bay at Clontarf, Sutton and on the southside at Dun Laoghaire Harbour, and in Dalkey at Coliemore and Bulloch Harbours.

Dublin Bay is administered by a number of Government Departments, three local authorities and several statutory agencies. Dublin Port Company is in charge of navigation on the Bay.

Dublin Bay is approximately 70 sq kilometres or 7,000 hectares. The Bay is about 10 kilometres wide along its north-south base, and seven km in length east-west to its peak at the centre of the city of Dublin; stretching from Howth Head in the north to Dalkey Point in the south.

Dun Laoghaire Harbour on the southside of the Bay has an East and West Pier, each one kilometre long; this is one of the largest human-made harbours in the world. There also piers or walls at the entrance to the River Liffey at Dublin city known as the Great North and South Walls. Other harbours on the Bay include Bulloch Harbour and Coliemore Harbours both at Dalkey.

There are two marinas on Dublin Bay. Ireland's largest marina with over 800 berths is on the southern shore at Dun Laoghaire Harbour. The other is at Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club on the River Liffey close to Dublin City.

Car and passenger Ferries operate from Dublin Port to the UK, Isle of Man and France. A passenger ferry operates from Dun Laoghaire Harbour to Howth as well as providing tourist voyages around the bay.

Dublin Bay has two Islands. Bull Island at Clontarf and Dalkey Island on the southern shore of the Bay.

The River Liffey flows through Dublin city and into the Bay. Its tributaries include the River Dodder, the River Poddle and the River Camac.

Dollymount, Burrow and Seapoint beaches

Approximately 1,500 boats from small dinghies to motorboats to ocean-going yachts. The vast majority, over 1,000, are moored at Dun Laoghaire Harbour which is Ireland's boating capital.

In 1981, UNESCO recognised the importance of Dublin Bay by designating North Bull Island as a Biosphere because of its rare and internationally important habitats and species of wildlife. To support sustainable development, UNESCO’s concept of a Biosphere has evolved to include not just areas of ecological value but also the areas around them and the communities that live and work within these areas. There have since been additional international and national designations, covering much of Dublin Bay, to ensure the protection of its water quality and biodiversity. To fulfil these broader management aims for the ecosystem, the Biosphere was expanded in 2015. The Biosphere now covers Dublin Bay, reflecting its significant environmental, economic, cultural and tourism importance, and extends to over 300km² to include the bay, the shore and nearby residential areas.

On the Southside at Dun Laoghaire, there is the National Yacht Club, Royal St. George Yacht Club, Royal Irish Yacht Club and Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club as well as Dublin Bay Sailing Club. In the city centre, there is Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club. On the Northside of Dublin, there is Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club and Sutton Dinghy Club. While not on Dublin Bay, Howth Yacht Club is the major north Dublin Sailing centre.

© Afloat 2020