Displaying items by tag: Crafts Council of Ireland

28th September 2010

West Cork Boatbuilder Heading for Norway

Tiernan Roe of Roeboats, Ballydehob, Co. Cork has been chosen by the Crafts Council of Ireland to travel to Norway next month for a learning work placement at one of Norway's premier boat museums.
Based at Norheimsund 50 miles south east of the city of Bergen on the shores of the Hardanger Fjord the Hardanger Fartoyvern Senter is a working boat building museum. While there Tiernan will be working and learning alongside Norwegian boat builders restoring, maintaining and building traditional Norwegian boats.
"I'm delighted that the Crafts Council of Ireland have recognised the potential of wooden boat building for Ireland and I'm really excited about going to Norway, it's one of the premier wooden boat building countries in the world." says Tiernan " I'm also using the opportunity to visit other wooden boat builders and of course the viking ship and maritime museums in Oslo."
"Hopefully I'll learn lots and bring back plenty of ideas that can be applied here in Ireland on how to promote and preserve our maritime heritage"
Tiernan is one of three craftspeople going to Norway under the auspices of the Crafts Council of Ireland and the EU Leonardo programme.

Published in Marine Trade

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Forty Foot Swimming Spot on Dublin Bay

The 'Forty Foot' is a rocky outcrop located at the southern tip of Dublin Bay at Sandycove, County Dublin from which people have been swimming in the Irish Sea all year round for 300 years or more. It is popular because it is one of few spots between Dublin city and Greystones in County Wicklow that allows for swimming at all stages of the tide, subject to the sea state.

Forty Foot History

Traditionally, the bathing spot was exclusively a men's bathing spot and the gentlemen's swimming club was established to help conserve the area.

Owing to its relative isolation and gender-specific nature it became a popular spot for nudists, but in the 1970s, during the women's liberation movement, a group of female equal-rights activists plunged into the waters and now it is also open to everyone and it is in the control of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

Many people believe that swimming in extremely cold water is healthy and good for the immune system.

Is it safe to swim at the Forty Foot?

The Forty-Foot is a great place to swim because there is always enough water to get a dip but like all sea swimming, there are always hazards you need to be aware of. For example, a lot of people like to dive into to the pool at the Forty-foot but there are submerged rocks that can be hazardous especially at low water. The Council have erected signs to warn people of the underwater dangers. Other hazards include slippy granite cut stone steps that can often be covered with seaweed and of course marine wildlife including jellyfish that make their presence felt in the summer months as do an inquisitive nearby Sandycove seal colony.