MacDara Conroy
MacDara Conroy is a contributor covering all things on the water, from boating and wildlife to science and business
The Canadian Government is challenging the European Union over its ban on seal products. Canada has reportedly asked the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to arbitrate a formal dispute to assess the EU ban, which Canada alleges is a violation of…
The Dublin Angling Initiative (DAI) is set to host an introductory course on fly fishing in Dublin next month. The event at Corkagh Park in Clondalkin on 5 March hopes to be a first step into the art of fly…
More than 20 of Ireland's and Europe's top surfers took on the monster waves at Sligo’s Mullaghmore Head at the weekend in Ireland's first ever 'big wave' surf contest. The Tow-in Surf Session was organised by the Irish Surf Rescue…
Howth Yacht Club has announced its first ever coaching development manager. Graeme Grant has been appointed to the position to help enhance the skills of members across all levels. The 36-year-old Scot comes highly experienced, with Irish Sailing Association (ISA)…
The director of a sailing firm who sent students across the Atlantic on an unsafe yacht with an unqualified captain has been fined and ordered to pay costs by a British court. According to the Isle of Wight County Press,…
The body of a man was found yesterday on an uninhabited island in Galway Bay, according to RTÉ News. http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0214/body.html The body was discovered on the shoreline of Rabbit Island, close to the entrance to Galway Harbour, by a coastguard…
The Irish surfing calendar begins on 19 February with the 2011 Irish Surf Intervarsities at East Strand in Portrush, Co Antrim. The weekend will feature contests in men's and women's surfing, bodyboarding and longboarding, as well as a novice surfing…
Watertford has unveiled its plans to celebrate the arrival of the Tall Ships Race this summer. The Irish Times reports that more than half a mllion people are expected to visit the city from 30 June to 3 July to…
Local people will voice their opposition to the proposed closure of Northern Ireland's only coastguard rescue base at a public meeting with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) next month, the Belfast Telegraph reports. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/coastguard-threat-minister-faces-a-stormy-reception-15081748.html Supporters of the Bangor facility,…
A former volunteer with Sunderland RNLI was among the five people who died in the plane crash tragedy at Cork Airport last week, according to BBC News. Twenty-seven-year-old Andrew Cantle was co-pilot of the ill-fated Manx2 flight which came down…
Kerry fishermen are calling for a cull of the local grey seal population over claims that they eat up to 10kg of fish a day, The Irish Times reports. Fishermen along the Kerry coast are arguing the the seals are…
Fáilte Ireland has come under fire for an advert that shows a whale that cannot be found in Irish waters. According to the Irish Examiner, the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) has questioned by images of humpback or fin…
A new masterplan to make Dun Laoghaire a port of call for the cruise liners of the future is on the cards, according to The Irish Times. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0205/1224289077155.html Gerry Dunne, chief executive of the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company, said Ireland's…
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) has announced the largest aggregation of killer whales to date in Irish waters. As many as a dozen killer whales, or orca, were spotted close to an Irish Naval Service vessel on patrol…
Helicopter crews with the Irish Coast Guard have been awarded full air ambulance status more than a year ahead of schedule, The Irish Times reports. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0207/1224289182601.html Under the upgrade, there will be at least one trained paramedic on board any…
Fishing boats will have to land their entire catch - whether or not the fish are in a saleable condition - according to new European Union proposals. The Guardian reports that EU fisheries commissioner Maria Damanaki has pledged to bring…
The Sara G and her crew are less than 1,000 miles from Barbados in their attempt to break the world record for the fastest Alantic crossing by an ocean rowing boat. As previously reported by Afloat.ie, the six-man crew -…
The surfing website MagicSeaweed has posted a beathtaking pictorial of boarders Al Mennie and Andrew Cotton taking on the incredible Finn MacCools wave at the Giant's Causeway. http://magicseaweed.com/Arise-Finn-MacCool-Content/3048/1/ "The funny thing is this wave has been breaking right under our…
The Velux 5 Oceans website has posted a video preview ahead of the third ocean sprint stage in the marathon round-the-world yacht race. http://www.velux5oceans.com/latest-news/#/latest-news/cape-horn-awaits-preview-to-ocean-sprint-3/1416 The third stage, which kicks off tomorrow, will take the four competing yachts across the Pacific…
The planned connection of Dublin's main coastal and canal cycling routes has been put on hold following "intensive lobbying", the Dublin Observer reports. Planning permission had already been granted by Dublin Ciy Council for the completion of the €10m project…
