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Coastal Development in Ireland
Shipwreck One Year On: MV Alta, the cargo ship (which was abandoned) grounded in Ballyandreane, Ballycotton. In March and October last year, structural assessments were carried and another assessment is being carried out this month for potential enivomental impacts posed by the shipwreck.
MV Alta, the cargo ship that grounded on the coast at Ballyandreane, Ballycotton a year ago, is according to Cork County Council to be continuing in monitoring the potential environmental and ecological impact posed by the wreck. The vessel was…
File image of Keem Bay in Achill Island, Co Mayo
An online petition claims that “untold damage, both visually and physically” would be caused by development work at Achill Island’s Keem Bay. The campaign behind the petition is appealing to Mayo County Council to U-turn on its plans for various…
Old dinghy sails are upcycled into bags for the Picker Pals initiative
Primary pupils in Ireland are taking a stand against litter in their area via a unique schools-based programme that makes used of upcycled sail cloth. And organisers are appealing for donations of used dinghy sails to transform into specialised bags…
Dingle Harbour in Co Kerry
Efforts to drive tourism in the Dingle Peninsula may be doing more harm than good, according to a newly published report. As the Irish Independent reports, the Fáilte Ireland Visitor Experience Development Plan — which was completed before the disappearance…
Surfing enthusiast Johnny Casey with the rescued sheep after her cliff slip drama
A surfer has spoken about his rescue of an “exhausted” and “marooned” sheep at risk of drowning off Lahinch, as Farming Independent reports. Johnny Casey had been catching waves off the Co Clare town when he spotted the distressed sheep…
New treatment plant at Tubbercurry, Co Sligo, one of the 19 large urban areas that failed to meet EU treatment standards in 2019
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) says it welcomes the Environmental Protection Agency’s new report on urban waste water treatment in 2019. Published this week, the EPA’s report criticises Irish Water over failure to meet pollution prevention standards at treatment facilities for 19…
A still from the Explorers Education Programme’s Wild About Wildlife film
The Marine Institute’s Explorers Education Programme is interacting with children around Ireland among events for Science Week, which continues to this weekend. Exploring the seashore will be the focus of the Explorers team as they share their Wild About Wildlife…
Doolin village and the River Arra that flows into the bay in County Clare
Michael McNamara, Independent TD for Clare, has received confirmation from Clare County Council that it is proceeding to the design stage of the proposed Doolin Pier and Village Masterplan ahead of submitting a Planning Application. The proposed plan proposes to…
The time capsule and its remarkable contents
Two surfers in west Donegal recently made a remarkable discovery in the form of a time capsule from a Russian polar expedition. As RTÉ News reports, Conor McClory and Sophie Curran initially believed the metal canister they found on the…
Research Contracts Awarded to Develop Ireland’s Seaweed Resource
Three Irish consortiums have been awarded Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts by the Marine Institute and Enterprise Ireland to develop Ireland’s intertidal seaweed resource. The Phase 1 ‘Challenge’ contracts will run over four months, and will involve scientific observations…
Explorers outreach officer Carmel Madigan at Spanish Point beach
Creating ‘ocean champions’ around Ireland is the latest mission for outreach team members from the Marine Institute’s Explorers Education Programme. The team are delivering a range of marine projects and seashore safaris in primary schools through blended learning, online activities…
Duncannon Fort on the Waterford Estuary
Ireland’s Heritage Minister recently got a first-hand look at the dedication of volunteers in Co Wexford involved in this year’s Coastwatch Ireland coastal survey, which concluded earlier this month. Today, Sunday 25 October, is the last day to submit data…
 Ireland is aiming for 30% of its maritime area to be designated MPAs by 2030
Public consultation on a new report on expanding Ireland’s marine protected areas will begin “later this year”, according to Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien. A report exploring the need to expand Ireland’s marine protected areas (MPAs)…
Courtmacsherry Rowing Club were one of the FLAG grant wnners anounced today
A third tranche of grant awards worth €558,039 to 33 local community groups and micro-enterprises were made today by the Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D. See the full breakdown of awards below. In the South,…
Fungie as seen in Dingle in July 2019
Poor weather off the Kerry coast has put on hold the search for Fungie the dolphin who has been missing from his Dingle home for almost a week, according to the Guardian. Yesterday, Sunday 18 October, RTÉ News reported that…
Bioeconomy Ireland Week Puts Spotlight on Seaweed & Other Renewable Resources
The spotlight is on seaweed and other renewable biological resources this week for Bioeconomy Ireland Week 2020 — which begins today, Monday 19 October. A series of online events from leading stakeholders within the Irish Bioeconomy Network will showcase resources…

Coastal Notes Coastal Notes covers a broad spectrum of stories, events and developments in which some can be quirky and local in nature, while other stories are of national importance and are on-going, but whatever they are about, they need to be told.

Stories can be diverse and they can be influential, albeit some are more subtle than others in nature, while other events can be immediately felt. No more so felt, is firstly to those living along the coastal rim and rural isolated communities. Here the impact poses is increased to those directly linked with the sea, where daily lives are made from earning an income ashore and within coastal waters.

The topics in Coastal Notes can also be about the rare finding of sea-life creatures, a historic shipwreck lost to the passage of time and which has yet many a secret to tell. A trawler's net caught hauling more than fish but cannon balls dating to the Napoleonic era.

Also focusing the attention of Coastal Notes, are the maritime museums which are of national importance to maintaining access and knowledge of historical exhibits for future generations.

Equally to keep an eye on the present day, with activities of existing and planned projects in the pipeline from the wind and wave renewables sector and those of the energy exploration industry.

In addition Coastal Notes has many more angles to cover, be it the weekend boat leisure user taking a sedate cruise off a long straight beach on the coast beach and making a friend with a feathered companion along the way.

In complete contrast is to those who harvest the sea, using small boats based in harbours where infrastructure and safety poses an issue, before they set off to ply their trade at the foot of our highest sea cliffs along the rugged wild western seaboard.

It's all there, as Coastal Notes tells the stories that are arguably as varied to the environment from which they came from and indeed which shape people's interaction with the surrounding environment that is the natural world and our relationship with the sea.