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A Harbour Seal photographed at Dun Laoghaire Marina on Dublin Bay, Ireland. Also known as the common seal, is a true seal found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines of the Northern Hemisphere. The most widely distributed species of pinnipeds, they are found in coastal waters of the northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans, Baltic and North seas. Photo: AfloatA photograph of a Harbour Seal taken at Dun Laoghaire Marina on Dublin Bay, Ireland. Also known as the common seal, this species can be found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines throughout the Northern Hemisphere. They are the most widely distributed species of pinnipeds and can be found in the coastal waters of the northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as well as the Baltic and North Seas. Photo: Afloat

Displaying items by tag: National Championships

#j109 – Perhaps the fact J109s race for IRC handicap honours as part of the ICRA national championships and separately for the class national championship title may have contributed to wires getting crossed at last weekend's Sovereign's Cup and ICRA Nationals event in Kinsale.

Irish J109 fans are currently on a high with Royal Corks' Jelly Baby winning the UK National Championships and the National Yacht Club's Ruth winning offshore in the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race but after another good showing of the class last weekend (first and third for Js in ICRA Div one) there was confusion over the status of the Irish championship when Kinsale Yacht Club declared Joker II the winner of the J109 national championships. [See KYC press release HERE].

John Maybury's Joker II won the ICRA division one crown off Kinsale in fine style, but J109 class captain Martin Carey has been quick to point out the 2015 J109 National Championships – a season highlight – has not yet been sailed. The J109 Irish championships will be sailed next week as part of Dun Laoghaire Regatta. 'The Nationals are part of Volvo Dun Laoghaire, they always were going to be, as we get our own start,' Carey told Afloat.ie

Published in Racing

UCD are the new Irish men’s senior eights champions. In extremely difficult conditions at the National Rowing Championships in Cork, the big crew saw off an early challenge by Queen’s University and a late charge by NUIG/Grainne Mhaol to win their first Big Pot in 38 years.

The UCD women’s senior eight completed a great day for the college when they beat Muckross in their final.

National Rowing Championships, National Rowing Centre, Cork -  Day Three

Men

Eight – Senior: 1 UCD (S Craven, P Grogan, D Pierce, D Neale, F Manning, S Jacob, G Duane, T Doyle; cox: J Lynch) 5:39.5, 2 NUIG/Grainne Mhaol 5:41.8, 3 Queen’s University 5:44.2, 4 Trinity 6:08.7.

Four – Novice, coxed: 1 NUIG, 2 Cappoquin, 3 UCC.

Pair – Intermediate: 1 Queen’s University (A Little, K Duffy) 6:58.4, 2 NUIG 8:03.9, 3 Carlow 7:01.1. Junior 18A: 1 Bann 6:53.2, 2 St Joseph’s College  6:57.1, 3 Presentation College 7:06.9.

 Sculling, Quadruple – Junior 18A: 1 Castleconnell 6:06.2, 2 Skibbereen 6:12.0, 3 Offaly 6:12.8. Junior 16, coxed (non-Championship): 1 Galway 6:45.4, 2 Tribesmen 6:48.0, 3 Cork 6:51.8

Double – Intermediate: 1 Carlow 6:40.5, 2 Skibbereen 6:41.0, 3 Queen’s 6:55.0.

Single – Senior: 1 Muckross (S Casey) 6:56.0, 2 Skibbereen A (P O’Donovan) 6:56.5, 3 Muckross (C Moynihan) 7:20.8, 4 Skibbereen (Murphy) 7:28.3, 5 Skibbereen (McCarthy) 7:37.0. Lee Valley (Keohane) did not start.

Women

Eight – Senior: 1 UCD (C Tanner, K Joy, C Ni Reachtagain, N Fearon, S Bennett, L Gannon, L Reid, A Gilligan; cox: E Craven) 6:29.9, 2 Muckross 6:34.1, 3 St Michael’s 6:38.6, 4 NUIG 6:40.5, 5 Queen’s 6:42.2, 6 Trinity 7:07.8.

Intermediate: 1 Queen’s University 6:33.8, 2 Trinity 6:41.1, 3 St Michael’s 6:44.2. Novice: 1 Galway 6:42.6, 2 Queen’s 6:50.2, 3 Carrick-on-Shannon 7:01.5. Junior 16 (non-Championship): 1 Galway 6:49.2, 2 Cork 6:59.6, 3 Portora 7:09.0.

Pair – Junior 18: 1 St Michael’s 7:43.9, 2 Portora 7:52.4, 3 Commercial 8:41.3.

Sculling, Quadruple – Novice: 1 Commercial 7:56.3, 2 Neptune 8:06.0, 3 Clonmel 8:11.9. Junior 18A: 1 Skibbereen 6:58.7, 2 Cork 7:05.5, 3 Neptune 7:13.5.

Single – Senior: 1 City of Derry (L D’Urso) 7:56.5, 2 Three Castles (E Moran) 8:10.9, 3 Portora (H Nixon) 8:20.4, 4 Three Castles (Quinn) 8:28.6, 5 Old Collegians (Walshe) 9:08.7.  Killorglin (M Dukarska) did not finish. Intermediate: 1 City of Derry (L D’Urso), 2 Skibbereen (Walsh), 3 Shandon (Corcoran-O’Hare).

 

Published in Rowing

Windy conditions and choppy water played their part in three capsizes in the first session of finals at the National Rowing Championships at the National Rowing Centre in Cork. By far the most important befell Monika Dukarska, who was leading just metres short of the line in the women’s senior single sculls when she missed a stroke and fell in. Laura D’Urso capitalised to take the title.

Sean Casey took the men’s senior sculls title after a fine race down the choppy course with Paul O’Donovan. Queen’s won the women’s intermediate eight and the men’s intermediate pair – in which Trinity (before the race) and Carlow (at the end of it) both capsized. 

National Rowing Championships, National Rowing Centre, Cork -  Day Three

Men

Pair – Intermediate: 1 Queen’s University (A Little, K Duffy) 6:58.4, 2 NUIG 8:03.9, 3 Carlow 7:01.1.

Sculling, Quadruple – Junior 18A: 1 Castleconnell 6:06.2, 2 Skibbereen 6:12.0, 3 Offaly 6:12.8.

Single – Senior: 1 Muckross (S Casey) 6:56.0, 2 Skibbereen A (P O’Donovan) 6:56.5, 3 Muckross (C Moynihan) 7:20.8, 4 Skibbereen (Murphy) 7:28.3, 5 Skibbereen (McCarthy) 7:37.0. Lee Valley (Keohane) did not start. 

Women

Eight – Intermediate: 1 Queen’s University 6:33.8, 2 Trinity 6:41.1, 3 St Michael’s 6:44.2. Novice: 1 Galway 6:42.6, 2 Queen’s 6:50.2, 3 Carrick-on-Shannon 7:01.5.

Pair – Junior 18: 1 St Michael’s 7:43.9, 2 Portora 7:52.4, 3 Commercial 8:41.3.

Sculling, Quadruple – Novice: 1 Commercial 7:56.3, 2 Neptune 8:06.0, 3 Clonmel 8:11.9.

Single – Senior: 1 City of Derry (L D’Urso) 7:56.5, 2 Three Castles (E Moran) 8:10.9, 3 Portora (H Nixon) 8:20.4, 4 Three Castles (Quinn) 8:28.6, 5 Old Collegians (Walshe) 9:08.7.  Killorglin (M Dukarska) did not finish.

Published in Rowing

Skibbereen brought their titles up to five for the first two days of the National Rowing Championships in Cork by taking the women’s senior pair through Christine Fitzerald and Denise Walsh and combining with Lee Valley to win the men’s senior quadruple scull. The women’s Junior 18A eight was an emphatic win for St Michael’s, and Sarah Allen of Bann, who is just 16, was also in commanding form as she won the women’s novice single sculls championship.

The main action of the day ended with Anthony English of UCD taking the men’s intermediate single scull and Castleconnell’s Dylan Quigley and Adrian Sheahan taking the men’s junior 18A double scull.

National Rowing Championships, National Rowing Centre, Cork – Day Two

Men

Eight – Intermediate: 1 Queen’s 6:00.1, 2 Trinity 6:01.7, 3 Neptune 6:05.5.

Four, coxed – Junior 18A: 1 Bann 6:33.5, 2 St Joseph’s College 6:41.8, 3 Portora 6:47.6. Masters, coxed (non-Championship): 1 Commercial/City of Derry, 2 Fermoy, 3 Galway RC.

Pair – Senior: 1 Queen’s (E Mac Domhnaill, M Ewing) 6:56.7, 2 Grainne Mhaol 7:01.1, 3 St Michael’s 7:01.7, 4 Queen’s B 7:12.9, 5 Galway B 7:15.0, 6 Galway A 7:52.7.

Sculling, Quadruple – Senior: 1 Skibbereen/Lee Valley (G O’Donovan, G Murphy, K McCarthy, C Dowling) 6:05.1, 2 Queen’s 6:07.2, 3 University of Limerick/Garda 6:09.7.

Double – Junior: 1 Castleconnell (D Quigley, A Sheahan) 6:37.4, 2 Lee 6:44.2, 3 Commercial 6:45.7.

Single – Intermediate: 1 UCD (A English) 7:17.8, 2 Skibbereen 7:27.9, 3 Neptune 7:31.0. Junior 16 (non-Championship): 1 Cork (D Buckley) 7:38.1, 2 Offaly (Phelan) 7:38.6, 3 Cork 7:50.4.

Women

Eight – Junior 18A: 1 St Michael’s 6:49.3, 2 Cork 7:00.3, 3 Portora 7:03.6.

Pair – Senior: 1 Skibbereen (C Fitzgerald, D Walsh) 7:53.0, 2 Commercial 8:02.8, 3 St Michael’s 8:03.6.

Sculling, Quadruple – Senior: 1 Skibbereen 6:51.2, 2 Old Collegians/Three Castles 6:51.7, 3 St Michael’s 7:14.5. Junior 16 (non-Championship): 1 Galway 7:27.1, 2 Commercial 7:39.1, 3 Muckross 7:49.3.

Double – Intermediate: 1 Commercial 7:35.1, 2 Skibbereen 7:40.0, 3 Garda 8:17.0.

Single – Novice: 1 Bann (S Allen) 8:43.2, 2 Shandon (R Mertz) 8:47.9, 3 Queen’s (H Adley) 8:50.7. Junior 18A: 1 Fermoy (H Shinnick) 8:05.9, 2 Skibbereen (M Dineen) 8:10.7, 3 Portora (K Cromie) 8:19.7.

Published in Rowing

The rain came to the National Rowing Centre yesterday, but the good racing at the National Rowing Championships continued – and there was even a raging controversy as UCD’ s  men’s intermediate eight was disqualified from the semi-finals after the cox turned up four minutes late for her weigh-in. UCD maintain that she should have been allowed leeway because she had reported earlier but was told to return with a registration card. In  the final, Queen’s took the title, with Trinity second.

The most exciting race of the first session was in the women’s senior quadruple sculls, where Skibbereen passed a faltering Old Collegians/Three Castles crew in the closing stages and won by half a second. Bann and Commercial were more comfortable winners of the men’s junior 18 coxed fours and the women’s intermediate double sculls, but the most emphatic winner was Hilary Shinnick int the women’s junior 18A single sculls – and the Fermoy girl turned 16 in March.

National Rowing Championships, National Rowing Centre, Cork – Day Two

Men

Eight – Intermediate: 1 Queen’s 6:00.1, 2 Trinity 6:01.7, 3 Neptune 6:05.5.

Four, coxed – Junior 18A: 1 Bann 6:33.5, 2 St Joseph’s College 6:41.8, 3 Portora 6:47.6.

Pair – Senior: 1 Queen’s (E Mac Domhnaill, M Ewing) 6:56.7, 2 Grainne Mhaol 7:01.1, 3 St Michael’s 7:01.7, 4 Queen’s B 7:12.9, 5 Galway B 7:15.0, 6 Galway A 7:52.7.

Women

Sculling, Quadruple – Senior: 1 Skibbereen 6:51.2, 2 Old Collegians/Three Castles 6:51.7, 3 St Michael’s 7:14.5.

Double – Intermediate: 1 Commercial 7:35.1, 2 Skibbereen 7:40.0, 3 Garda 8:17.0.

Single – Junior 18A: 1 Fermoy (H Shinnick) 8:05.9, 2 Skibbereen (M Dineen) 8:10.7, 3 Portora (K Cromie) 8:19.7.

Published in Rowing

Cork and Kerry took the first senior prizes on offer at the National Rowing Championships at the National Rowing Centre in Cork today. The Skibbereen senior women’s four of Orla Hayes, Christine Fitzgerald, Denise Walsh and Michelle (Shelly) Dineen had plenty to spare over Queen’s in their final, while Sean Casey and Cathal Moynihan of Muckross won the men’s senior double, also from Queen’s.

 Kerryman Neil Prendeville, who rows with Castleconnell, continued the trend when he won the junior single scull from clubmate Adrian Sheehan.   The women's junior double scull was won by Jenny Russell and Katie Cromie from Enniskillen club Portora. 

National Rowing Championships, National Rowing Centre, Farran Wood, Cork

Day One

Men

Eight – Junior 16 (non-Championship): 1 Galway RC, 2 St Joseph’s College, 3 Cork RC.

Four, Intermediate, coxed: 1 UCD 6:26.3, 2 Queen’s  6:29.5, 3 Neptune 6:33.3

Sculling, Quadruple – Novice, coxed: 1 Shandon 6:54.5,  Queen’s 6:58.3, 3 St Michael’s 7:02.1.

Double – Senior: 1 Muckross (S Casey, C Moynihan) 6:30.8, 2 Queen’s 6:31.7, 3 Lee Valley 6:36.3, 4 Skibbereen 6:41.8, 5 Galway 6:48.9.

Single – Junior 18A: 1 Castleconnell (N Prendiville) 7:21.6, 2 Castleconnell (A Sheehan), 7:24.0, 3 Neptune (Griffin) 7:29.6.

Women 

Four – Senior: 1 Skibbereen (O Hayes, C Fitzgerald, D Walsh, M Dineen) 6:51.5, 2 Queen’s 6:58.5, 3 Muckross 6:58.9, 4 UCD 7:07.9, 5 Trinity 7:09.0, 6 NUIG 7:30.7. Novice, coxed: 1 NUIG 7:23.4, 2 Galway 7:24.7, 3 Queen’s A 7:38.2.

 

Sculling, Double – Junior 18A: 1 Portora (J Russell, K Cromie) 7:35.6, 2 Skibbereen 7:45.8, 3 Methodist College RC 7:52.6.

Published in Rowing
Irish Match Racing is covering its national championships tack by tack. Click the link below to follow today's racing in Kinsale! National Match Racing Championships
Published in Match Racing
Royal Cork Yacht Club hosted the 2010 National Championships of the 420 class last weekend. Principal Race Officer for the event, which was sailed out of Cuskinny in Cork harbour was Richard Leonard.

There was an abundance of sailing talent at the start line and Saturday's sailing took place in 15 to 20kts of breeze with Rob Lehane and Andrew O'Donoghue taking the overnight lead from Richie Harrington and Robbie English with Emma Geary and Niamh Connolly third in a fleet of sixteen boats.

Day two was back to Cuskinny with light north westerlies and saw Jane Butler and Jenny Andreason taking the first race. Emma and Niamh won the fifth race and Cian O'Regan (KYC) and Scott Flanigan (Howth YC) took the final race thus winning the National Title. Rob Lehane was second with Emma and Niamh taking third position and First Girls Boat.

420 National Championships 2010 

1 53156 Cian O'Regan M Scott Flanigan M 13 2 4 9 4 2 1

2 ROB Rob Lehane M Andrew O'Donoghue M 15 1 1 4 5 4 5
3 53698 Emma Geary F Niamh Connolly F 16 3 7 2 10 1 3
4 53578 Richard Harrington M Robbie English M 17 6 2 1 2 7 6
5 53160 Jane Butler F Jennifer Andreason F 18 4 3 7 1 6 4
6 53576 Diana Kissane F Hazel O'Neill 22 14 6 3 3 3 7
7 53836 Aodh Kennedy M Daniel Browne M 33 14 8 5 7 5 8
8 52227 Eoghan Cudmore M Jack Hogan M 33 7 5 6 6 10 9
9 53116 Fiona Daly F Patrick Daly M 38 12 14 8 8 8 2
10 2 Tara Flood F Lucy Bolger F 49 9 12 11 9 9 11
11 53206 Muirean Guilfoyle F Eimer O'Leary F 53 8 9 13 15 11 12
12 52684 Dermot McMorrough M Ali Dix F 54 10 10 10 12 12 13
13 53103 Richard Roberts M Grattan Roberts M 55 5 14 15 11 15 10
14 52235 John Durcan M Vikki Cudmore F 64 11 15 12 13 13 15
15 5357 Seafra Guilfoyle M Philip Brownlow M 66 13 11 14 14 14 14

 

Published in Racing

The 3 sponsored Irish Optimist Nationals got underway today in Dunmore East in County Waterford. A total of 234 boats raced two races in light to moderate North West breezes, remaining steady for the day. Provisional results after 2 races:

Senior: 1st Peter McCann, RCYC, 2nd Aran Hollowell, UK.
Junior: 1st Daire Cournane, RCYC/KYC; 2nd Fergus Flood, HYC.
Regatta: 1st Michael O'Suilleabhain, KYC, 2nd Amy Carroll.

Photos below by Noel Browne

_OS_2512

_U8K8874

_U8K8900

 

More on the forum HERE

 

Published in Optimist

For all you need on the Marine Environment - covering the latest news and updates on marine science and wildlife, weather and climate, power from the sea and Ireland's coastal regions and communities - the place to be is Afloat.ie.

Coastal Notes

The Coastal Notes category covers a broad range of stories, events and developments that have an impact on Ireland's coastal regions and communities, whose lives and livelihoods are directly linked with the sea and Ireland's coastal waters.

Topics covered in Coastal Notes can be as varied as the rare finding of sea-life creatures, an historic shipwreck with secrets to tell, or even a trawler's net caught hauling much more than just fish.

Other angles focusing the attention of Coastal Notes are Ireland's maritime museums, which are of national importance to maintaining access and knowledge of our nautical heritage, and those who harvest the sea using small boats based in harbours where infrastructure and safety pose an issue, plying their trade along the rugged wild western seaboard.

Coastal Notes tells the stories that are arguably as varied as the environment they come from, and which shape people's interaction with the natural world and our relationship with the sea.

Marine Wildlife

One of the greatest memories of any day spent boating around the Irish coast is an encounter with Marine Wildlife. It's a thrill for young and old to witness seabirds, seals, dolphins and whales right there in their own habitat. And as boaters fortunate enough to have experienced it will testify, even spotting a distant dorsal fin can be the highlight of any day afloat. Was that a porpoise? Was it a whale? No matter how brief the glimpse, it's a privilege to share the seas with Irish marine wildlife.

Thanks to our location in the North Atlantic, there appears to be no shortage of marine life to observe. From whales to dolphins, seals, sharks and other ocean animals, the Marine Wildlife category documents the most interesting accounts around our shores. And we're keen to receive your observations, your photos, links and video clips, too!

Also valuable is the unique perspective of all those who go afloat, from coastal sailing to sea angling to inshore kayaking to offshore yacht racing, as what they encounter can be of great importance to organisations such as the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG). Thanks to their work we now know we share the seas with dozens of species who also call Ireland home. But as impressive as the list is, the experts believe there are still gaps in our knowledge. Next time you are out on the ocean waves, keep a sharp look out!

Weather

As an island in the North Atlantic, Ireland's fate is decided by Weather more so than many other European countries. When storm-force winds race across the Irish Sea, ferry and shipping services are cut off, disrupting our economy. When swollen waves crash on our shores, communities are flooded and fishermen brace for impact - both to their vessels and to their livelihoods.

Keeping abreast of the weather, therefore, is as important to leisure cruisers and fishing crews alike - for whom a small craft warning can mean the difference between life and death - as it is to the communities lining the coast, where timely weather alerts can help protect homes and lives.

Weather affects us all, and Afloat.ie will keep you informed on the hows and the whys.

Marine Science

Perhaps it's the work of the Irish research vessels RV Celtic Explorer and RV Celtic Voyager out in the Atlantic Ocean that best highlights the essential nature of Marine Science for the future growth of Ireland's emerging 'blue economy'.

From marine research to development and sustainable management, Ireland is developing a strong and well-deserved reputation as an emerging centre of excellence. Whether it's Wavebob ocean energy technology to aquaculture to weather buoys and oil exploration, the Marine Science category documents the work of Irish marine scientists and researchers and how they have secured prominent roles in many European and international marine science bodies.

Power From The Sea

The message from the experts is clear: offshore wind and wave energy is the future. And as Ireland looks towards the potential of the renewable energy sector, generating Power From The Sea will become a greater priority in the State's 'blue growth' strategy.

Developments and activities in existing and planned projects in the pipeline from the wind and wave renewables sector, and those of the energy exploration industry, point to the future of energy requirements for the whole world, not just in Ireland. And that's not to mention the supplementary industries that sea power projects can support in coastal communities.

Irish ports are already in a good position to capitalise on investments in offshore renewable energy services. And Power From The Sea can even be good for marine wildlife if done properly.

Aside from the green sector, our coastal waters also hold a wealth of oil and gas resources that numerous prospectors are hoping to exploit, even if people in coastal and island areas are as yet unsure of the potential benefits or pitfalls for their communities.

Changing Ocean Climate

Our ocean and climate are inextricably linked - the ocean plays a crucial role in the global climate system in a number of ways. These include absorbing excess heat from the atmosphere and absorbing 30 per cent of the carbon dioxide added to the atmosphere by human activity. But our marine ecosystems are coming under increasing pressure due to climate change.

The Marine Institute, with its national and international partners, works to observe and understand how our ocean is changing and analyses, models and projects the impacts of our changing oceans. Advice and forecasting projections of our changing oceans and climate are essential to create effective policies and management decisions to safeguard our ocean.

Dr Paul Connolly, CEO of the Marine Institute, said, “Our ocean is fundamental to life on earth and affects so many facets of our everyday activities. One of the greatest challenges we face as a society is that of our changing climate. The strong international collaborations that the Marine Institute has built up over decades facilitates a shared focusing on our changing ocean climate and developing new and enhanced ways of monitoring it and tracking changes over time.

“Our knowledge and services help us to observe these patterns of change and identify the steps to safeguard our marine ecosystems for future generations.”

The Marine Institute’s annual ocean climate research survey, which has been running since 2004, facilitates long term monitoring of the deep water environment to the west of Ireland. This repeat survey, which takes place on board RV Celtic Explorer, enables scientists to establish baseline oceanic conditions in Irish waters that can be used as a benchmark for future changes.

Scientists collect data on temperature, salinity, water currents, oxygen and carbon dioxide in the Atlantic Ocean. This high quality oceanographic data contributes to the Atlantic Ocean Observing System. Physical oceanographic data from the survey is submitted to the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) and, in addition, the survey contributes to national research such as the VOCAB ocean acidification and biogeochemistry project, the ‘Clean Atlantic’ project on marine litter and the A4 marine climate change project.

Dr Caroline Cusack, who co-ordinates scientific activities on board the RV Celtic Explorer for the annual survey, said, “The generation of long-term series to monitor ocean climate is vital to allow us understand the likely impact of future changes in ocean climate on ecosystems and other marine resources.”

Other activities during the survey in 2019 included the deployment of oceanographic gliders, two Argo floats (Ireland’s contribution to EuroArgo) and four surface drifters (Interreg Atlantic Area Clean Atlantic project). The new Argo floats have the capacity to measure dissolved ocean and biogeochemical parameters from the ocean surface down to a depth of 2,000 metres continuously for up to four years, providing important information as to the health of our oceans.

During the 2019 survey, the RV Celtic Explorer retrieved a string of oceanographic sensors from the deep ocean at an adjacent subsurface moored station and deployed a replacement M6 weather buoy, as part of the Irish Marine Data Buoy Observation Network (IMDBON).

Funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the IMDBON is managed by the Marine Institute in collaboration with Met Éireann and is designed to improve weather forecasts and safety at sea around Ireland. The data buoys have instruments which collect weather and ocean data including wind speed and direction, pressure, air and sea surface temperature and wave statistics. This data provides vital information for weather forecasts, shipping bulletins, gale and swell warnings as well as data for general public information and research.

“It is only in the last 20 years, meteorologists and climatologists have really began to understood the pivotal role the ocean plays in determining our climate and weather,” said Evelyn Cusack, Head of Forecasting at Met Éireann. “The real-time information provided by the Irish data buoy network is particularly important for our mariners and rescue services. The M6 data buoy in the Atlantic provides vital information on swell waves generated by Atlantic storms. Even though the weather and winds may be calm around our shores, there could be some very high swells coming in from Atlantic storms.”