Displaying items by tag: Matt Foley

15th September 2020

Matt Foley Retires from Crosshaven Boatyard After Forty Years Service

Matt Foley, centre, is congratulated on his retirement from Crosshaven Boatyard by colleagues Judy Phillips, Hugh Mockler, Joe Berry, Mark Lewis and Steve O'Sullivan

After forty years of service, popular County Cork boatyard manager Matt Foley has retired from Crosshaven Boatyard.

Matt started work in the Cork Harbour yard on the 20th of August 1980. His first role was as a storeman at a very busy time with famous yachts such as the Frers 50, 'Moonduster' and 'Golden Apple' both in build at the yard. Also back then – which many consider the yard's heyday – 40-foot trawlers were also built on-site, presenting an often hectic but happy scene for Matt and the Crosshaven team.

Over the years, Matt, who continues to play an active role as Treasurer in the Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat since the stationed opened in 2000, was often multi-tasking and took on varied roles as the boatyard changed focus, including operating the Travel Hoist hauling and launching boats, all done in his usual affable and professional manner.

In March 2005, Matt was invited to take on the role of Boatyard Manager and Company Secretary which he did so reluctantly at first as it was his first managerial role. However, like everything else in the yard, Matt took to the new position quickly and soon earned the respect of both customers and staff alike.

In an overall context, Matt is credited with helping to turn the Boatyard into a profitable business. He also played a key role at the yard in supporting Cork Week Regatta at its height and more recently rebuilding the Boatyard's 120-berth Marina in 2014.

Yacht broker Donal McClement who worked in association with the yard describes Matt as "firm but fair and always a pleasure to work with". Matt's colleague Hugh Mockler, the yard's current broker, has been one of the first to wish Matt well into the future. "Everyone in Crosshaven Boatyard says it was a privilege to work with Matt and we wish him and his wife Jackie a very happy retirement".

Irish Marine Federation Chairman Paal Janson has also wished Matt "a happy retirement" and extends the "appreciation and good wishes of the Irish marine industry for his long service".

Published in Crosshaven Boatyard

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Hugh Mockler Joins Crosshaven Boatyard

Crosshaven Boatyard Company Ltd has announced that Hugh Mockler, (formerly of HM Yachts Ltd), is to join long established yacht broker, Donal McClement in the Boatyard's new boat and brokerage sales division.
Matt Foley, General Manager of Crosshaven Boatyard, told Afloat, 'Donal and Hugh are two of the best known and most successful Yacht Brokers in Ireland. Over the past number of years and their combined knowledge of a very difficult market will ensure that the buyers and sellers get a top class service'. Hugh and Donal will be able to give buyers and sellers the best possible advice.'
Crosshaven Boatyard has been providing marine services for over 60 years.
The boatyard also specialises in all aspects of the repair and maintenance of modern pleasure boats. Many well-known boats such as Gypsy Moth V, the Saint Brendan, Longbow II and a series of Moondusters were completed in the1980s.
It was the first commercial marina, with a marine travel hoist, in Ireland in 1979. The yard is the Irish distributor for Dufour Yachts of France, and Grand Soleil, of Italy.

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Hugh Mockler (left) is greeted by General Manager Matt Foley (centre) and yacht broker Donal McClement. Photo: Bob Bateman

Published in Marine Trade

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Offshore wind

ESB know the importance of offshore wind in tackling climate change and delivering net zero. Ireland has a unique capability given its prime location to take advantage of the potential of offshore wind. ESB are working hard to develop offshore wind projects for the benefit of everyone across society in Ireland and the UK. This includes ongoing engagement with marine users and local communities so ESB can deliver these significant projects.

Offshore wind will play a major role globally in our fight against climate change. It will help to replace energy generated by burning fossil fuels with that from a clean, safe and secure renewable energy source. Ireland’s geographic location on the exposed edge of the Atlantic presents us with a significant opportunity to generate electricity from wind – both offshore and onshore.

Power from onshore wind farms currently provide over one-third of Ireland’s electricity needs. But, whilst its marine area is many times the size of its landmass, Ireland’s offshore wind potential is only starting to be realised. ESB have a coastline stretching over 3,000km but only one operational offshore wind farm – Arklow Bank, with a capacity of 25 MW. In contrast, Belgium’s coastline is only 63km long, but it has already developed more than 2,000 MW of offshore wind. In Great Britain, with a coastline four times the length of ours, offshore wind generation now equates to over 440 Arklow Banks, with an installed capacity of 11,0000 MW as of late 2021.

The Irish Government's target to install 5,000 MW of offshore wind capacity in our maritime area by 2030 is set out in the Climate Action Plan 2021. It also has the objective to source 80% of Ireland’s electricity needs from renewables by the same year. In line with this, ESB is applying its professional and proven engineering expertise to the challenges set within the Climate Action Plan.

ESB are committed to playing a strong role in developing Ireland’s offshore wind potential for the benefit of the people of Ireland. This will be done in consultation with marine users and local communities, and with due care for the marine environment.