#LectureSmuggling – Joe Varley will be presenting a lecture "Smuggling in the 18th Century", next Wednesday (13 February) starting at 20.00hrs in the Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club, Ringsend, Dublin Port.

The illustrated lecture will demonstrate why the 18th century is regarded as the golden age of smuggling. This contention will be examined from mainly the viewpoint of the smuggler. Examples of Irish and British smuggling activity will be given, including a detailed example of wool smuggling from Roundstone in Connemara in the 1730's.

The lecture is part of the Les Public Les Glénans Irish Winter Lecture Series. Entry of €5 in aid of RNLI, for further details at 087 2129614.

#LectureCoastguards – The Old Dublin Society's next Spring lecture is "History of HM Coastguard Service in Britain and Ireland" presented by John Holohan, next  Wednesday, 13 February.

The lecture starting at 18.30hrs, is to be held in the Conference Room of the Dublin City Library and Archive, 138-144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2. All are welcome – no admission fee.

For further details about the society visit: www.olddublinsociety.ie/ and the library lecture click HERE.

#LighthouseLecture- An illustrated lecture: 'Round Ireland Lighthouses Tour' by John Donnelly and Brian Maguire will be held next Wednesday (16th Jan.) at Poolbeg Yacht & Boat Club, Ringsend, in the heart of Dublin Port.

Donnelly and Maguire worked as Engineers for the Commissioners of Irish Lights (CIL). Between them they have seventy year's experience covering the period when the lighthouses were manned and their subsequent automation.

Their presentation will feature the history of the various lighthouses along with numerous photographs and personal anecdotal memories.

The lecture starting at 20.00hrs is part of Public Les Glenans Irish Winter Lecture Series and an entry fee of €5 will be in aid of the RNLI.

#LECTURE – Captain Bligh is the topic of the next lecture organised by the Dublin Bay Old Gaffers Association, held in the Poolbeg Yacht & Boat Club, Dublin Port on 20 November.

The illustrated talk (8pm) is to be presented by Sean Cullen, Senior Hydrographer, INFOMAR and whose predecessor was the Irish National Seabed Survey.

In addition limited copies of a new stunning publication "Warships, U-Boats & Liners - A Guide to Shipwrecks Mapped in Irish Waters" will be made available to purchase. The book which was launched today, showcases some of the more spectacular and important shipwrecks in Irish waters.

All are welcome to attend the DBOGA lecture programme noting there will be a door contribution for the RNLI.

#LECTURE - The Autumn Lecture of the Irish Maritime Law Association will be held on 24 October at the offices of Dillon Eustace Solicitors, Dublin. The lecture will be given by Robin Middleton and will be on the subject of SOSREP, noting the lecture is for members of the association.

The Irish Maritime Law Association was formed in May 1963 for the purpose of allowing Ireland to input into important international shipping conventions. The association takes a very active part in Comite Maritime International (CMI) conferences which are drafted to bring about conformity in private international maritime law.

These include draft conventions on Maritime Liens and Mortgages, Civil Liability for Oil Pollution, Combined Transport, Carriage by Sea of Passengers and Off-shore Mobile Craft, Salvage, and Arrest of Ships. Many of the CMI drafts are later adopted by governments to form a uniform international maritime law.

#MARINE HERITAGE – Up and down the country, events are been held for the annual National Heritage Week including a series of maritime lectures as previously reported on Afloat.ie

Below is a full detailed description of the varied topics of the lecture programme which is to be held in the Dun Laoghaire Club, Eblana Avenue (off Marine Road) on the final day (Sunday 26th August) of the heritage week.

12 noon The 'Kowloon Bridge' and her sisters – by Garda Diver Peter Brady.

1.15 pm A West of Ireland view of the Battle of the Atlantic – by Dr. Michael Kennedy, Royal Irish Academy.

3.00 pm Early navigation in Ireland / maritime archaeology of Sligo harbour and bay.- by Auriel Robinson DAHG.

4.15 pm Captain Bligh and Dublin Bay- speaker, Terry Cummins of the Irish Naval Association.

6.00 pm The greatest naval catastrophe in England's history-concealed throughout history by Elizabethan propaganda historiography.

This lecture is to be presented by special guest speaker; Dr. Luis Gorrochategui Santos – who is visiting Ireland especially for the heritage week lectures organised by the Maritime Institute of Ireland (M.I.I.) which runs the National Maritime Museum of Ireland.

For further information about the day's lecture contact Barney Yourell on 087 9007466                                                                                                         

Admission is free, noting there is a recommended donation of €10

#MARITIME LECTURES – Next weekend sees the annual National Heritage Week (18-26 August) take place. As part of the week-long event, the Maritime Institute of Ireland is organising a programme of maritime themed lectures on the final day (Sunday 26th).

The line-up of five lectures is timed between 12 noon and the final lecture is scheduled at 6pm. The wide-ranging topics and speakers of the lecture programme will be held at the Dun Laoghaire Club, 3 Eblana Avenue, off Marine Road, noting the nearby landmark of the St. Michaels Church spire.

There is an entrance free and a recommended donation €10. For further information contact Barney Yourell 087-9007466 and www.mariner.ie/maritime-lectures-national-heritage-week-2012

For information on the rest of the diverse programme during the heritage week visit www.heritageweek.ie

#MARITIME MUSEUM BBQ – Live music and a full bar are to accompany a Summer BBQ party to be held on Saturday 14 June (8pm) in the Dún Laoghaire Club, in aid of the town's National Maritime Museum of Ireland (NMMI).

Tickets for the barbecue cost €12.00 and are available from the NMMI located in the former Old Mariners Church on Haigh Terrace or at the door of the Dún Laoghaire Club on Eblana Avenue off Marine Road.

For further information of the mid-July evening event contact: 01-2143964 and in general for opening times and activities of the museum which is run by the Maritime Institute of Ireland visit www.mariner.ie

#JUNE JAZZ JETTY – The Waterways Visitor Centre in the heart of the Grand Canal Dock, Dublin is the place to be with the venue buzzing to the sounds of the 'Jazz on the Jetty in June'. The free event this Wednesday (27th) is between 12.30 - 2.00pm.

Gavin Kerins will be entertaining those on the jetty in the inner basin which is close to the DART station at Grand Canal Dock. Also on the quayside there will be an Irish Village Market with a wide variety of food stalls, giving an option to buy your lunch during the musical event.

For further information and about the visitor centre click HERE.

Alternatively walkers are welcomed to take the walk in the reverse direction starting at Howth and terminating at Dun Laoghaire. The walk takes approximately 4-hours to complete. The 16.4 mile route that skirts the shores of Dublin Bay will offer great views!

The walk last year was taken by families, friends and individuals and provided participants with a great sense of achievement!

For this year's event, walkers are invited to take part by booking places in advance online. Entries (€10 per person) close at midnight on Sunday 13 March, click HERE. Late registration will also be available on the morning of the walk  (€15 per person) or email [email protected]

To read more about Aware click http://www.aware.ie (noting the locall Aware Helpline Tel: 1890 303 302 / calling from overseas +353 1 6766 166) and further information about the Helpline click HERE