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Displaying items by tag: ILCA

With racing cancelled on Day 4 at the 2022  Laser/ ILCA 4 Youth World Championship in Villamoura, Portugal and Day 5 being sailed in very tricky conditions, it was always going to be a tense finish in both the Girls' and Boys' fleets.

The final day of racing once again produced a very fickle light breeze and in these conditions, the Race Officials initially postponed the racing before eventually deciding to try and get one race in for the Gold Fleets only for the Boys and the Girls.

Unfortunately, for those hoping to make up some ground, this race did not happen and sailing in the regatta was abandoned.

The new ILCA 4 World Champions are Nicilo Cossitta and Ginerva Caracciolo both representing Italy.

In the boys, Dionysios Kalpogiannakis from Greece was second with Dutch sailor Max Frank in third. Alina Shapovalova from Ukraine was the runner-up in the girls and Petra Merendic from Croatia was third.

The leading Irish boy was Sam Ledoux who finished the regatta in 30th place and in the girls', it was Sienna Wright who finished 17th.

Published in Laser
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The final day of the Irish Laser/ILCA National Championships on Tralee Bay dawned with glorious sunshine but no wind.

PRO John Leech sent the fleet afloat for an earlier than planned start, but there was little action for nearly three hours as the AP and N flags were up and down like the stock exchange. Eventually, a sea breeze of 6 to ten knots filled in from the NW and all fleets had two good races. The ILCA 4 fleet just got off before the time limit.

In the ILCA 4 fleet, it was a field day for the ladies as they filled four of the first five places. Hannah Dudley Young from Ballyholme was the overall and ladies winner, with Maeve Leonard in second and Isabel McCarthy third.

In the 6 fleet, it was so close at the top that count back was required to determine the winner, with Fiachra McDonnel just edging Aoife Hopkins, who took the lady's title. Rocco Wright was third.

The 7 fleet was dominated by Masters, but Stephen Cunnane of the host club put up a great fight to finish fifth overall and first youth and included a race win on the last day. The overall winner was Dan O'Connell from Nick Walsh and Rory Lynch.

The team prize went to the RCYC.

Results below.

ILCA 2022 Prizewinners TBSC Photo Gallery

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The Tralee Bay ILCA/Laser National Championship race committee has cancelled racing for the day after recording gusts of 30-knots locally.

Met Éireann also advised that conditions would deteriorate as the day went on.

Racing is scheduled to continue on Saturday.

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The first day of the ILCA/Laser Irish National Championships at Tralee Bay Sailing Club in County Kerry was almost perfect; the only thing lacking was a little sunshine!

Race Officer John Leech ran three races for all fleets in winds varying from 10 to 23 knots.

A 20-degree wind shift delayed the start but thereafter, the racing was exciting and sometimes a little bit too exciting as a number of the less experienced sailors found the conditions tough to cope with.

A small number of boats also suffered damage due to the conditions but everyone was safe ashore and buzzing after a great but hard day on the water.

In the ILCA 7 fleet, Nick Walsh from the RCYC leads with two bullets and a second, followed by Dan O'Connell and Rory Lynch.

In the ILCA Six fleet, Fiachra McDonnell from Royal St. George in Dun Laoghaire is a point ahead of Aoife Hopkins (HYC), with Michael Crosbie (RCYC) in third.

Finally, the younger sailors in the ILCA Four fleet showed the way to their older colleagues, and here it is the ladies to the fore as they occupy 4 of the first five places. Hannah Dudley Young (BYC) had three bullets to lead from Maeve Leonard and Isabel McCarthy, both from RCYC.

Three further races are scheduled for Friday, and the wind looks strong again!

Published in Laser
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Tralee Bay Sailing Club in County Kerry will host this year's ILCA/Laser National Open Championship from this Thursday 18th, to Sunday 21st of August.

Eleven races are scheduled for each of the three fleets over the four-day event, and the weather forecast suggests there should be no problem completing a full programme.

The large entry includes a number of very successful sailors from the class who are sure to be at the sharp end of the fleet when the event finishes.

There is also a large entry of local sailors who have been training very hard for the event in a bid to do their home club proud.

The principal race officer is John Leech, who is well known to the class.

Published in Laser

The first of the Cork Laser/ILCA Tri Series Sprints took place last Sunday at Bantry Bay Sailing Club in West Cork.

Race officer Deirdre Kingston delayed first gun by an hour to 12.55 pm to allow for a strong sea breeze to fill in before starting the first of five short sprints.

The format was an all-in start of 19 boats, both ILCA4 and 6 on a trapezoidal course in 12 to 14-knot winds with the backdrop of Bantry Bay.

The Tri Series Sprints sailors gather at Bantry Bay for a pre-race briefingThe Tri Series Sprints sailors gather at Bantry Bay for a pre-race briefing

The racing was very tight, with the ILCA 6s going down to the last race as the battle of the Daniels, where both Daniel O'Keeffe (Bantry) and Daniel Mallon (Royal Cork) were on two wins a piece. Daniel Mallon won the last race to finish first on the day, Daniel O Keeffe second and Joe O Sullivan (Royal Cork) third.

There were 12 to 14-knot winds on Bantry Bay for the first leg of the Tri-SeriesThere were 12 to 14-knot winds on Bantry Bay for the first leg of the Tri-Series

Isabel Mc Carthy was first in ILCA4, with Ethel Bateman second and Eve Mc Carthy third (All Royal Cork).

Bantry Bay Sailing Club pulled out all the stops to make everyone very welcome at the barbeque afterwards.

There were 12 to 14-knot winds on Bantry Bay for the first leg of the Tri-Series

As Afloat previously reported, the Tri-Series is open to all, with the next event being Sunday the 4th of September in Inniscarra Sailing and Kayaking Club.

Published in Laser
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This Sunday sees the first of three ILCA (Laser) Sprint Regattas being held in Cork by Bantry Bay Sailing Club, Inniscarra Sailing and Kayaking Club, and the Royal Cork Yacht Club.

This Sunday's Sprint event is in Bantry Bay Sailing Club in West Cork with the first gun at 11.55 am.

RCYC Laser Class Captain Tim McCarthy says, "there will be five short (Sprint) races each day with entry open to all here on for both ILCA 4 (Laser 4.7) and ILCA 6 (Laser Radial)". 

three ILCA (Laser) Sprint Regattas being held in Cork

Sunday, September 4th, Sprint is in Inniscarra Sailing and Kayaking Club, on the outskirts of Cork city.

Prizes will be awarded on the day and for the series at the series end on Sunday, September 18th in Crosshaven at RCYC.

The event schedule is as follows:

  • Bantry Bay Sailing club August 7th
  • Inniscarra Sailing & Kayaking Club Sept 4th
  • Royal Cork Yacht Club Sept 18th
Published in Laser
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This weekend saw a record turnout at the ILCA/Laser Ireland Leinster Championships 2022 hosted by the Royal St. George Yacht Club in association with MGM Boats.

90 sailors entered the ILCA/Laser fleet’s Leinster Championships in Dun Laoghaire this weekend making it the largest event so far this season for ILCA Ireland, the new name for the Irish Laser Association. With challenging conditions on both days for both the race management team and sailors alike, this turned out to be quite an eventful competition.

Chris Bateman (157561) and James Murphy racing in the ILCA 7s at the Leinster Championships 2022 on Dublin BayChris Bateman (157561) and James Murphy reaching in the ILCA 7s at the Leinster Championships 2022 on Dublin Bay

All the signs were that Howth’s Jamie McMahon would dominate the ILCA 7 (Standard) fleet, taking a bullet on both race one and two in 30-knot gusts on Saturday. However, an injury saw him retire on race three and cede the lead to Royal Cork’s Jonathan O’Shaughnessy who had achieved two seconds and a third. Dun Laoghaire’s Dan O’Connell won the third race and Saturday having scored a 6 and a 7 in the first two races. However, Dan continued his form into Sunday completing the hat-trick with two more bullets, giving him the championship.

Dan O'Connell ILCA 7 Leinster Champion (centre) with Royal St. George Yacht Club's Richard O'Connor (left) and Ross O'Leary of MGM BoatsDan O'Connell ILCA 7 Leinster Champion (centre) with Royal St. George Yacht Club's Richard O'Connor (left) and Ross O'Leary of MGM Boats

O’Shaughnessy, who only recently moved from the ILCA 6 (Radial) into the ILCA 7, finished one point behind and took the prize for first Under 30 and second overall. Daragh Kelleher of Skerries finished two points behind to take third overall.

Dan O'Connell leading the ILCA 7 fleetDan O'Connell (219127) leading the ILCA 7 fleet

In the ILCA 6 fleet, it was a weekend for the ladies. The event saw entries from Howth’s Aoife Hopkins plus guest appearances from the world’s number one ranked female ILCA 6 sailor Vasileia Karachaliou plus Ukraine’s Sofiia Naumenko. These three took the top spots in all races across the weekend bar two; with the National Yacht Club’s Benjamin Reeser taking third in race one and the Royal St. George Yacht Club’s Sean Craig taking third in the last race of the event. Hopkins started well with a bullet in the first race of the weekend however Vasileia soon showed why she is the world’s top sailor, taking all bullets for the remainder of the weekend and winning the championship. Aoife finished second overall and Sophia took third place for Ukraine.

Aoife Hopkins (left) and Vasileia Karachaliou (centre) and Sofiia Naumenko Aoife Hopkins (left) and Vasileia Karachaliou (centre) and Sofiia Naumenko

Benjamin Reeser, a USA athlete now sailing from the National Yacht Club dominated the male fleet across the weekend and was followed in the U30 category by East Antrim’s Tom Coulter and Tom Fox from Skerries. Meanwhile, Sean Craig who finished fifth overall led the Masters fleet. He was challenged by Australia and Royal Cork’s Robert Jefferies with just five points separating them at the end of day Saturday. However, Craig’s consistency on Sunday meant the trophy had his name on it by the time prizegiving came round. Conor Clancy of the Royal St. George Yacht Club was third master.

Sean Craig - Leinster Champion - ILCA 6 MasterSean Craig - Leinster Champion - ILCA 6 Master

The ladies masters fleet had a tough weekend with the strong winds. Alison Pigot of the National Yacht Club took the honours, followed by Shirley Gilmore of the Royal St. George Yacht club.

Vasileia Karachaliou Leinster ILCA 6 Champion 2022Vasileia Karachaliou Leinster ILCA 6 Champion 2022

Sofiia Naumenko of Ukraine - Third ILCA 6 ChampionSofiia Naumenko of Ukraine - Third ILCA 6 Champion

The ILCA 4 (4.7) fleet was led from the outset by Ballyholme Yacht Club’s Hannah DadleyYoung from Belfast Lough, securing two bullets and two firsts across the weekend to secure the championship.

Hannah Dadley Young Leinster ILCA 4 Champion 2022Hannah Dadley Young Leinster ILCA 4 Champion 2022

Second girl in 8th overall was Royal St. George’s Ava Ennis with third taken by Aisling Kelly of Rush Sailing Club who finished in 11th overall. The boys fleet was less clear-cut across the weekend. By the end of racing on Saturday Daniel O'Connor and Max Cantwell both of the Royal St. George Yacht Club were tied in second place on equal points. However, a second and first place in Sunday’s racing by their clubmate Krzysztof Ciborowski, saw him taking the boy’s category by just one point from Daniel with Max in third.

ILCA 4s Racing in Leinster Championships 2022Seth Walker of the Royal St. George YC competing in the ILCA 4s division of the Leinster Championships 2022

The dominant feature of the weekend was the wind, creating a unique challenge for the race team lead by the compelling triumvirate of Harry Gallagher, Richard Kissane and Liam Dineene. Relatively consistent southerly breezes on Saturday meant that three races were delivered in quick succession. Sunday was a different story with 75-degree wind shifts after race 2. This meant that laying a proper course was extremely difficult with race officers and mark layers thwarted at every turn. The ILCA 7 fleet’s first attempt at a third race had to be abandoned. Finally, after some relaying of course and false starts, the race team decided they were beat and sent everyone home for prizegiving.

Richard Kissane, Harry Gallagher, Liam Dineen, Vincent Delaney were part of the ILCA 7 Laser Leinsters race management team at the RSTGYC Richard Kissane, Harry Gallagher, Liam Dineen and jury member Vincent Delany (right) were the ILCA 7 Laser Leinster Championship race management team at the RSTGYC

Event supervisor, Kevin Doyle, praised the entire race team saying “We were privileged to have such a competent race management team led by three national race officers. It is a testament to their good race management that our national jury Vincent Delany had no hearings to deal with after racing. The event team at the Royal St. George Yacht Club has proven once again that Dun Laoghaire is the premier location in Ireland for national events.”

Full results are available below.

Next up for the ILCA fleet is the 2022 National Championships this year being held at Tralee Bay Sailing Club from August 18-21

Published in Laser
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A record ILCA/Laser fleet is expected in Dun Laoghaire on July 23-24 for the Leinster Championships 2022, hosted at the Royal St. George Yacht Club and proudly supported by MGM Boats.

Organisers of the ILCA Ireland Leinster Championships are expecting a record attendance at next weekend’s event. With over a week to go, already over 30 visiting boats have registered and more are expected in advance of the early bird entry closing on Sunday evening.

Competition across all fleets is expected to be intense, with most focus on the Radial (ILCA 6) fleet where Howth Olympic campaigner Aoife Hopkins will be the one to watch across the two-day event.

Meanwhile, in the Master’s category, local champion Sean Craig will be eager to maintain his winning ways and demonstrate to some of the younger sailors that age is no barrier to success in a Laser.

The 2021 National Champion in the Radial fleet, Royal Cork’s Jonathan O’Shaughnessy has recently transitioned to the Standard (ILCA 7) rig and is eager to make his mark here. Young Daniel O’Connor from the host club has shown some consistency already this year in the 4.7 (ILCA 4) fleet, but he can expect some stiff competition from visitors from across the country.

While many will be focused on the competition at the top of each fleet, this year’s event recognises the stiff competition that takes place right through the racecourse. The organisers have indicated that honours will be awarded across 8 categories broken down by fleet (ILCA 4, ILCA 6 & ILCA 7), gender (Female, Male) and age (U30, Master).

This year’s sponsor MGM Boats is supporting the extension of prizes from the traditional fleet-only approach.

Speaking at the announcement of the event Ross O’Leary, Sales Director at MGM Boats said, “We’re delighted to be able to support the Royal St. George Yacht Club in broadening out the competition and recognising abilities right across the national fleet.”

ILCA Ireland has recently announced that sailors between the ages of 18 and 30 can participate in all regional and national events at no cost for the 2022 season. The Leinster Championships team is expecting a larger volume of young adult sailors to Dun Laoghaire for this event. In recognition of this a full food and entertainment package is being laid on by the host club to ensure there are lasting memories of the event both off and on the water.

Further details of the event are available on the ilcaireland.com website with early bird entry closing on Sunday, July 17.

Published in Laser

The ILCA/Laser Ulster Championships took place at Strangford Lough Yacht Club at the weekend. Over twenty individual clubs were represented from all four provinces, showing the continued strength of the class throughout the island of Ireland, with all age categories represented from youths through to great grandmasters.

Saturdays South/South Westerly proved tricky for the race committee as the wind shifted this way and that off the land in a breeze which averaged around ten knots and hit up to twenty-two knots in the brisk squalls. Nonetheless, RRO Angela Gilmore and ARO Scott Rogers persevered and served up three races for all three ILCA rigs.

In the ILCA 4’s, Krzysztof Ciborowski (RSGYC) was the leading overnight sailor on three points, with Hannah Dadley Young (BYC), Daniel O’Connor (RSGYC) and Daniel Palmer (BYC) in a three-way tie on four points each.

In the ILCA 6’s, Benjamin Reeser (NYC) led on two points, with Sean Craig (RSGYC) in second on three points and Lucas Nixon (BYC) in third place on five points.

In the ILCA 7’s, Conor O’Farrell (CLYC) led overnight on five points, while Gavan Murphy (RSGYC) and Dan Sheriff (BYC) were tied on seven points for second and third.

What started with a glorious Westerly in ten to fifteen knots on Sunday soon turned out to follow a similar weather pattern to the Saturday with very shifty conditions coming off the shore.

Nonetheless, the race committee persevered and managed to squeeze in a series, thanks in no small part to rib drivers and their crews, who were busy moving marks and start lines throughout the day.

In the ILCA 4’s, Hannah Dadley Young (BYC) came out blazing to take the overall win. In contrast, Daniel O’Connor (RSGYC) and Krzysztof Ciborowski (RSGYC) took home second and third, respectively, Ciborowski just pipping Daniel Palmer (BYC) on count back. At the same time, Lucy Ives (CSC) was the second-placed girl overall.

In the ILCA 6’s, Benjamin Reeser (NYC) continued his overnight form and took the win, while Lucas Nixon (BYC) came flying out of the blocks with two first-place results to take second overall from Sean Craig (RSGYC), who finished third overall.

Charlotte Eadie (BYC), sister Kaitlyn Eadie (BYC) and Shirley Gilmore (RSGYC) were first, second and third-placed ladies overall.

In the ILCA 7’s, Conor O’Farrell (CLYC) remained true to form and maintained his overnight lead to take the win overall from Colin Leonard (SLYC) on count back, with Gavan Murphy (RSGYC) in third overall.

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Page 7 of 10

Ireland's offshore islands

Around 30 of Ireland's offshore islands are inhabited and hold a wealth of cultural heritage.

A central Government objective is to ensure that sustainable vibrant communities continue to live on the islands.

Irish offshore islands FAQs

Technically, it is Ireland itself, as the third largest island in Europe.

Ireland is surrounded by approximately 80 islands of significant size, of which only about 20 are inhabited.

Achill island is the largest of the Irish isles with a coastline of almost 80 miles and has a population of 2,569.

The smallest inhabited offshore island is Inishfree, off Donegal.

The total voting population in the Republic's inhabited islands is just over 2,600 people, according to the Department of Housing.

Starting with west Cork, and giving voting register numbers as of 2020, here you go - Bere island (177), Cape Clear island (131),Dursey island (6), Hare island (29), Whiddy island (26), Long island, Schull (16), Sherkin island (95). The Galway islands are Inis Mór (675), Inis Meáin (148), Inis Oírr (210), Inishbofin (183). The Donegal islands are Arranmore (513), Gola (30), Inishboffin (63), Inishfree (4), Tory (140). The Mayo islands, apart from Achill which is connected by a bridge, are Clare island (116), Inishbiggle (25) and Inishturk (52).

No, the Gaeltacht islands are the Donegal islands, three of the four Galway islands (Inishbofin, like Clifden, is English-speaking primarily), and Cape Clear or Oileán Chléire in west Cork.

Lack of a pier was one of the main factors in the evacuation of a number of islands, the best known being the Blasket islands off Kerry, which were evacuated in November 1953. There are now three cottages available to rent on the Great Blasket island.

In the early 20th century, scholars visited the Great Blasket to learn Irish and to collect folklore and they encouraged the islanders to record their life stories in their native tongue. The three best known island books are An tOileánach (The Islandman) by Tomás Ó Criomhthain, Peig by Peig Sayers, and Fiche Blian ag Fás (Twenty Years A-Growing) by Muiris Ó Súilleabháin. Former taoiseach Charles J Haughey also kept a residence on his island, Inishvickillaune, which is one of the smaller and less accessible Blasket islands.

Charles J Haughey, as above, or late Beatle musician, John Lennon. Lennon bought Dorinish island in Clew Bay, south Mayo, in 1967 for a reported £1,700 sterling. Vendor was Westport Harbour Board which had used it for marine pilots. Lennon reportedly planned to spend his retirement there, and The Guardian newspaper quoted local estate agent Andrew Crowley as saying he was "besotted with the place by all accounts". He did lodge a planning application for a house, but never built on the 19 acres. He offered it to Sid Rawle, founder of the Digger Action Movement and known as the "King of the Hippies". Rawle and 30 others lived there until 1972 when their tents were burned by an oil lamp. Lennon and Yoko Ono visited it once more before his death in 1980. Ono sold the island for £30,000 in 1984, and it is widely reported that she donated the proceeds of the sale to an Irish orphanage

 

Yes, Rathlin island, off Co Antrim's Causeway Coast, is Ireland's most northerly inhabited island. As a special area of conservation, it is home to tens of thousands of sea birds, including puffins, kittiwakes, razorbills and guillemots. It is known for its Rathlin golden hare. It is almost famous for the fact that Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, retreated after being defeated by the English at Perth and hid in a sea cave where he was so inspired by a spider's tenacity that he returned to defeat his enemy.

No. The Aran islands have a regular ferry and plane service, with ferries from Ros-a-Mhíl, south Connemara all year round and from Doolin, Co Clare in the tourist season. The plane service flies from Indreabhán to all three islands. Inishbofin is connected by ferry from Cleggan, Co Galway, while Clare island and Inishturk are connected from Roonagh pier, outside Louisburgh. The Donegal islands of Arranmore and Tory island also have ferry services, as has Bere island, Cape Clear and Sherkin off Cork. How are the island transport services financed? The Government subsidises transport services to and from the islands. The Irish Coast Guard carries out medical evacuations, as to the RNLI lifeboats. Former Fianna Fáíl minister Éamon Ó Cuív is widely credited with improving transport services to and from offshore islands, earning his department the nickname "Craggy island".

Craggy Island is an bleak, isolated community located of the west coast, inhabited by Irish, a Chinese community and one Maori. Three priests and housekeeper Mrs Doyle live in a parochial house There is a pub, a very small golf course, a McDonald's fast food restaurant and a Chinatown... Actually, that is all fiction. Craggy island is a figment of the imagination of the Father Ted series writers Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews, for the highly successful Channel 4 television series, and the Georgian style parochial house on the "island" is actually Glenquin House in Co Clare.

Yes, that is of the Plassey, a freighter which was washed up on Inis Oírr in bad weather in 1960.

There are some small privately owned islands,and islands like Inishlyre in Co Mayo with only a small number of residents providing their own transport. Several Connemara islands such as Turbot and Inishturk South have a growing summer population, with some residents extending their stay during Covid-19. Turbot island off Eyrephort is one such example – the island, which was first spotted by Alcock and Brown as they approached Ireland during their epic transatlantic flight in 1919, was evacuated in 1978, four years after three of its fishermen drowned on the way home from watching an All Ireland final in Clifden. However, it is slowly being repopulated

Responsibility for the islands was taking over by the Department of Rural and Community Development . It was previously with the Gaeltacht section in the Department of Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht.

It is a periodic bone of contention, as Ireland does not have the same approach to its islands as Norway, which believes in right of access. However, many improvements were made during Fianna Fáíl Galway West TD Éamon Ó Cuív's time as minister. The Irish Island Federation, Comdháil Oileáin na hÉireann, represents island issues at national and international level.

The 12 offshore islands with registered voters have long argued that having to cast their vote early puts them at a disadvantage – especially as improved transport links mean that ballot boxes can be transported to the mainland in most weather conditions, bar the winter months. Legislation allowing them to vote on the same day as the rest of the State wasn't passed in time for the February 2020 general election.

Yes, but check tide tables ! Omey island off north Connemara is accessible at low tide and also runs a summer race meeting on the strand. In Sligo, 14 pillars mark the way to Coney island – one of several islands bearing this name off the Irish coast.

Cape Clear or Oileán Chléire is the country's most southerly inhabited island, eight miles off the west Cork coast, and within sight of the Fastnet Rock lighthouse, also known as the "teardrop of Ireland".
Skellig Michael off the Kerry coast, which has a monastic site dating from the 6th century. It is accessible by boat – prebooking essential – from Portmagee, Co Kerry. However, due to Covid-19 restrictions, it was not open to visitors in 2020.
All islands have bird life, but puffins and gannets and kittiwakes are synonymous with Skellig Michael and Little Skellig. Rathlin island off Antrim and Cape Clear off west Cork have bird observatories. The Saltee islands off the Wexford coast are privately owned by the O'Neill family, but day visitors are permitted access to the Great Saltee during certain hours. The Saltees have gannets, gulls, puffins and Manx shearwaters.
Vikings used Dublin as a European slaving capital, and one of their bases was on Dalkey island, which can be viewed from Killiney's Vico road. Boat trips available from Coliemore harbour in Dalkey. Birdwatch Ireland has set up nestboxes here for roseate terns. Keep an eye out also for feral goats.
Plenty! There are regular boat trips in summer to Inchagoill island on Lough Corrib, while the best known Irish inshore island might be the lake isle of Innisfree on Sligo's Lough Gill, immortalised by WB Yeats in his poem of the same name. Roscommon's Lough Key has several islands, the most prominent being the privately-owned Castle Island. Trinity island is more accessible to the public - it was once occupied by Cistercian monks from Boyle Abbey.

©Afloat 2020