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
Failure To Disinfect Group Water Schemes Put Health of 5,500 People At Risk - EPA
20th October 2023 Island News
The health of about 5,500 people was put at risk by e.coli in private drinking water schemes in Ireland last year due to failure of disinfection systems, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says. Meeting E.coli standards is a basic requirement…
Joint Seafood Submission on South Coast Offshore Wind Warns of Spatial Squeeze
20th October 2023 Marine Planning
If Government targets on offshore wind are met by 2050, Ireland’s seas will have turbines stretching for at least twice the length of Ireland, according to calculations by a group of seafood organisations. A submission to the Department of Environment…
Scientists Recommend How to Offset Negative Impact of Climate Change on Rivers
18th October 2023 Marine Science
Riverside planting, recreating natural channels and reconnecting groundwater links could help offset high thermal extremes caused by climate change in rivers, a new study recommends. The study led by the University of Birmingham, along with the University of Nottingham and…
Study to Assess Need for Licensing Certain Marine Environmental Surveys
17th October 2023 Marine Planning
The Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) has initiated a study with the Marine Institute on whether certain marine environmental surveys require a licence. The study will focus on marine environmental surveys “for the purposes of scientific discovery and research”, and…
BirdWatch Ireland has welcomed the announcement of a new scheme for the protection and conservation of breeding waders. €30 million has been set aside for the Breeding Wader EIP (European Innovation Partnership), according to the Minister of State for Heritage…
Arklow Fisherman Appeals to Politicians to Submit His Experience to EU Fishing Vessel Safety Review
4th October 2023 Fishing
The owner of former beam trawler Mary Kate has said his experience should inform the EU’s review of fishing vessel safety. Arklow fisherman CJ Gaffney has written to national and local politicians and MEPs to ask that they present his…
Former President Mary McAleese Recalls RNLI Connections in Bicentenary Podcast Series
4th October 2023 RNLI Lifeboats
Former president Mary McAleese recalls her close family connections with the lifeboat service in the latest episode of the RNLI “200 Voices” series. McAleese was born in Belfast, grew up on the shores of Carlingford Lough and now lives close…
Plans for Deepwater Port at Bremore, Co Louth, To Be Unveiled Next Week
3rd October 2023 Bremore Port
Plans for a deepwater port at Bremore in Co Louth are to be unveiled by Drogheda Port Company and a private developer next week. Ronan Group Real Estate is participating in a joint venture at Bremore with Drogheda Port Company.…
Coastal Watch Revitalised by Garda and Revenue Customs on Atlantic Seaboard
29th September 2023 Galway Harbour
A “Coastal Watch” to detect and prevent importation of illegal drugs has been revitalised by the Galway Garda division and Revenue Customs Service. Communities living along 500 km of coastline in the west, along with maritime businesses and those working…
Dublin Port Heritage Director Lar Joye on New Life for the Redbrick Substation With Its Two Distinctive Portholes
27th September 2023 Wavelength Podcast
How did Dublin’s East Wall get its name, and where did Dublin City once stop and the port begin? These and other interesting questions were answered at last week’s opening of the renovated 18th-century Dublin Port Substation by the Minister…
EU Issues "Red Card" on Illegal Fishing to Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
26th September 2023 Fishing
The European Commission has given a “red card” to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago over illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The “red card” relates to an EU regulation on IUU which provides for a co-operation framework. This aims to…
Dublin Port Opens Refurbished Substation as Interpretive Centre on Culture Night
22nd September 2023 Dublin Port
The Irish economy “couldn’t function” without the “central role of Dublin Port”, Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe has said. Speaking at the opening of Dublin Port’s Substation as an interpretive centre and venue, Mr Donohoe said that Dublin began…
International Agreement on High Seas MPAs Signed by Tánaiste at United Nations
20th September 2023 Marine Wildlife
A “landmark agreement” on global ocean conservation has been signed at the United Nations in New York by Tánaiste Micheál Martin. The Agreement on Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) marks “a significant milestone in international cooperation as the first…
Island Perspective on National Issues the Focus of Oireachtas Public Meeting on Donegal's Arranmore
18th September 2023 Island News
A parliamentary committee has selected Arranmore Island, Co Donegal, for its first-ever public meeting outside of the Oireachtas. The islands perspective on key national issues is the focus of the meeting by the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and…
Unions for Irish Coast Guard SAR Bases to Meet Bristow Ireland Over Jobs Later This Month
13th September 2023 Coastguard
Unions representing Irish Coast Guard search and rescue (SAR) air crew and engineers are due to meet Bristow Ireland later this month in relation to employment under the new SAR contract. Trade union Fórsa, representing air crew, and Unite, representing…
New Islanders on Connemara's Turbot Host Exhibition Offshore for Clifden Arts Festival
11th September 2023 Island News
New residents of a Connemara island, which was once depopulated, have put an offshore exhibition together for the Clifden Arts Festival. Four artists on Turbot Island are hoping their work will be viewed on the island, and have organised a…
Department of Transport Says It Was Notified About "Safety Stand Down" by CHC Ireland SAR Crews
9th September 2023 Coastguard
The Department of Transport says it was notified by CHC Ireland about a “safety stand down” at search and rescue (SAR) helicopter bases on Friday. The department said it is “actively engaged with all stakeholders, including CHC” to “enable the…
CHC Search and Rescue Helicopters "Off Line" At All Four Bases For Two Hours Today
8th September 2023 Coastguard
Irish Coast Guard helicopters will be “offline” from 12 noon to 1400 hours today at all four search and rescue bases, amid concerns among its air crew about future employment. A statement from CHC Ireland this morning said it was…
Seabirds Increasingly Targeting Fishing Vessels for Catch, UCC-led Study Finds
7th September 2023 Marine Wildlife
Seabirds are targeting fishing boats far more often for food, a new international study involving University College Cork (UCC) scientists has found. UCC scientists worked with colleagues from Norway, Scotland and Iceland to track over 250 northern fulmars from across…
Three Decades of Marine Data Published By Sherkin Island Marine Station
6th September 2023 Island News
“A dream come true” is how Matt Murphy, founder of one of Ireland’s longest-running coastal research stations, describes publication of 35 years of key environmental data. Phytoplankton records for the south-west Irish coast dating back to 1980 have been published…
