Lorna Siggins
Lorna Siggins is a print and radio reporter, and a former Irish Times western correspondent. She is the author of Search and Rescue: True stories of Irish Air-Sea Rescues and the Loss of R116 (2022); Everest Callling (1994) on the first Irish Everest expedition; Mayday! Mayday! (2004); and Once Upon a Time in the West: the Corrib gas controversy (2010). She is also co-producer with Sarah Blake of the Doc on One "Miracle in Galway Bay" which recently won a Celtic Media Award
New RNLI Clifden Lifeboat Due with Names of 10,000 Loved Ones On Its Hull
13th May 2022 Wavelength Podcast
A newly built all-weather lifeboat with over 10,000 names on its hull which is due to arrive at the RNLI’s Clifden station in Connemara on Saturday has already recorded its first rescue mission. The Shannon-class lifeboat named St Christopher escorted…
Is Derry on the island of Ireland? That’s a question being asked by fishing industry representatives in a bitter row over how the State’s sea fisheries regulator has been handling landings of valuable blue whiting. The Irish Fish Producers’ Organisation…
Former Army Ranger Henry O'Donnell Completes First Solo Finswim Around Ireland
8th May 2022 Sea Swim
Donegal-born former Army Ranger, lifeguard, diver and swim instructor Henry O’Donnell has become the first man to finswim around Ireland. The solo swimmer completed 1,569 kilometres, equivalent to 847 nautical miles, when he landed at Carrickfin beach in the Donegal…
Slipping out into Galway Bay before sunrise, several traditional craft from Galway Hooker Sailing Club participated in the Darkness into Light national fundraiser on Saturday. “When a community comes together, it’s amazing what can be done,” the club said after…
A French yawl built from a late 18th-century replica will be on display in Galway as part of a “Mini Brittany Fest” which runs from May 7th to 14th. Mayor of Lorient Fabrice Loher will lead a delegation to Galway…
Mapping Ireland's Seabed and Predicting Flooding Themes of Geological "Open Day"
6th May 2022 Marine Science
Mapping Ireland’s seabed, how scientists predict flooding and how to grow your own volcano are themes of an open day hosted by the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) and National Museum of Ireland this weekend. The free “Down to Earth”…
The European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) and the EU’s agency for the space programme (EUSPA) have signed a cooperation agreement for an initial two years. The memorandum of understanding will allow the EFCA to benefit from Galileo, the European global…
Irish Wildlife Trust Questions Why MEPs Did Not Support Ban on Bottom Trawling in Marine Protected Areas
5th May 2022 Marine Wildlife
The Irish Wildlife Trust has welcomed a European Parliament report calling for action on bottom trawling but has questioned why most MEPs did not support a ban on the fishing technique in marine protected areas (MPAs). A report by Portuguese…
Oyster Reefs a Natural Solution to Storm Surges and Coastal Protection - NUI Galway study
3rd May 2022 Marine Science
There are many reasons to love oysters, and now an NUI Galway scientist has suggested another one. Apart from its nutritional benefits, the shellfish also provides a cost-effective solution to the impacts of climate change. Natural reefs built from oysters…
Six River Catchments the Focus of €20m Project to Improve Water Quality
2nd May 2022 Inland Waterways
Six river catchments are the focus of a 20 million euro project to reverse long term decline in Ireland’s “high status” waters. The Waters of LIFE project involves 16 partners, including government departments, state agencies, local authorities, and local development…
Galway Bay Environment to Benefit from New Wastewater Treatment at An Spidéal
1st May 2022 Galway Harbour
Water quality in Galway Bay may be improved when a new wastewater treatment plant is completed in An Spidéal next year, Minister for Housing and Local Government Darragh O’Brien has predicted. The project will eliminate the discharge of more than…
State Sea Fisheries Regulator Defends its Actions in Continuing Row over Blue Whiting Landings in Donegal
30th April 2022 SFPA
The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) has confirmed that it has withdrawn permits for two fish processors in the continuing row over weighing of pelagic landings. The SFPA also says it will “not accept the misuse” of the weigh after…
Four new rowing boats have been named in tribute to alumni and current student athletes at NUI Galway. Chris O’Dea and the late Dr Donagh O’Donoghue, both of whom are former rowers with Coláiste Iognáid and NUI Galway Boat Club,…
Dun Laoghaire Senator Calls for More Transparent and Accountable Marine Casualty Investigation Board
30th April 2022 MCIB
Dun Laoghaire senator Victor Boyhan has called for a more transparent and accountable Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB). He has also called for a new mechanism to appoint members to the MCIB board. Speaking during a debate on the Merchant…
Water Quality May Benefit from New Scheme to treat Waste Water in Smaller Communities
28th April 2022 Coastal Notes
Water quality may benefit from a new 50 million euro funding scheme to provide treatment in small communities without access to public wastewater infrastructure. Some 547 villages and settlements may be eligible for the scheme which aims to reduce risks…
The Eurocean Youth Network and the Work of Irish Maritime Ambassador Domonique Gillen
28th April 2022 Wavelength Podcast
Several months ago, images of a long silver streak on the water surface of the Bay of Biscay went viral on social media. The streak was created by an estimated 100,000 dead fish dumped by Dutch-owned trawler Margiris, one of…
Sod Turned on River Corrib's New Bridge for Cyclists and Pedestrians in Galway city
25th April 2022 Galway Harbour
The first sod has been turned on constructing a new pedestrian and cycleway across the river Corrib – the first new bridge over the Atlantic coast river in over 30 years. The new Salmon Weir crossing will “draw pedestrians and…
Bearna Community Welcomes Decision to Overturn Moves to Allow Development Within 15 metres of the Coastline
25th April 2022 Marine Planning
Community group SOS Bearna has welcomed a decision by Galway county councillors to overturn a decision to permit the building to within just 15 metres of the shoreline. A setback of 30 metres from the shore has been reaffirmed for…
Rosslare Europort to Outline €200m Plan for South-East Offshore Renewable Energy Hub
22nd April 2022 Rosslare Europort
Rosslare Europort has announced a 200 million euro investment plan to establish an offshore renewable energy (ORE) hub with potential creation of 2,000 jobs. A total of 350 million euro will be invested with implementation of a Rosslare Europort masterplan,…
MCIB Report Finds Unattended Electronic Device on Charge May Have Caused Extensive Fire on Fishing Vessel
19th April 2022 MCIB
An unattended electronic device, possibly a mobile phone on charge, may have ignited a fire on a west Cork fishing vessel which sank last year. The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) report into the sinking of the fishing vessel Horizon…
