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Dublin Bay Boating News and Information

Displaying items by tag: Schull

Directors of the Schull Community Harbour Development Company Limited (SCHDC) say they have met to discuss “next actions” and “continue to consider all options available” following the expiry of planning permission for redevelopment of the West Cork harbour.

In a letter to its supporters, the SCHDC provided a timeline of its efforts over the last 20 years to get the project over the line.

Planning permission was initially granted in 2007, and further extended in 2017, for works that were to include various pier improvements such as an extension and floating pontoon, as well as a 225-berth marina.

However, two separate applications for funding under the Rural Regeneration Fund were unsuccessful, despite what the SCHDC claims was a “commitment that funding would be approved”.

Cork County Council subsequently refused to submit the project for the third tranche of funding, as previously reported on Afloat.ie, instead backing the Dursey Island cable car which itself was unsuccessful in securing funding.

Schull’s community-procured pontoon was opened to the public in mid 2018 | Credit: Robert BatemanSchull’s community-procured pontoon was opened to the public in mid 2018 | Credit: Robert Bateman

Last year, the company’s application for a further extension of planning permission was refused by the local authority. An appeal to An Bord Pleanála was also rejected as not within its remit, and planning permission officially expired in October.

“As board members, we are deeply disappointed that we have, to date, been unable to deliver this project as we had earnestly hoped we could,” the company writes.

“The project would be of enormous benefit to Schull, the Mizen and wider West Cork economy and appears to have had broad political support. Unfortunately, this support was insufficient to get the project over the line on this occasion.”

One “notable success” of its efforts, the company says, was the provision of a new walkway and community pontoon delivered by Cork County Council in 2018 which “clearly demonstrates the need and potential of our overall project proposals”.

The company concluded: “We wish to express our thanks to all the subscribers and supporters of the initiative and will of course provide further information as it becomes available.”

Published in West Cork
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When Rocco Wright of Howth – then 15 – pulled the All-Ireland Junior Title out of the hat in the final race at Schull, West Cork a year ago, his Houdini skills were widely noted, emphasised by the fact that he seemed to think it was simply a matter of letting others make more mistakes. But then, this Summer in the Youth Worlds 2022 in The Netherlands in the ILCA 6 Division, it was thought that going into the final race, he might just grab the silver. But lo and behold, others went asunder and he snatched the Gold – it was Houdini all over again.

Thus his techniques will be under close scrutiny in Schull this weekend, as he’s defending the junior title, crewed this time round by clubmate and fellow ILCA 6 International Luke Turvey, where last year it was Nathan van Steenberge.

Rocco Wright (left) and crewmate Nathan van Steenberge in Schull after winning the 2021 Junior ChampionshipRocco Wright (left) and crewmate Nathan van Steenberge in Schull after winning the 2021 Junior Championship

For quite some time now the Juniors have been firmly set in using the Schull TR3.6s developed by David Harte of the Fastnet Outdoor & Marine Centre. It makes for a very clearcut organisational challenge in a picturesque setting very popular with parents, as the lack of driving licences among the contenders means they simply have to take a late season weekend break at an attractive destination to ensure their junior superstar can compete.

Perfect late season venue – the All Ireland Junior Championship under way at SchullPerfect late season venue – the All Ireland Junior Championship under way at Schull

And certainly as the entry list indicates, this year’s lineup really is representative of all Ireland, and some folk will have to travel very far indeed. But with Junior Sailing by its very nature being always in a state of flux with rapidly-rising new talent, we’ll leave it to others to be rash enough to make predictions.

ENTRY LIST NATIONAL JUNIOR TITLE 2022

HELM

CLASS

CLUB

CREW

Adam McGrady

420

Galway Bay Sailing Club

Alastair O’Sullivan

Isha Duggan

Optimist

Female Wildcard

Liam Duggan

Fiachra Geraghty -McDonnell

ILCA 6

Royal St. George Yacht Club

Caoilinn Geraghty-McDonnell

Rocco Wright

ILCA 6

Howth Yacht Club

Luke Turvey

Harry Dunne

Optimist

Howth Yacht Club

Charlie Keating

Ben O’Shaughnessy

29er

Royal Cork Yacht Club

Ethan Spain

Riona McMorrow Moriarty

Topper

Female Wildcard

Eimer McMorrow Moriarty

Alexander Fought

Mirror

Blessington Sailing Club

Jack McNaughton

Lucia Cullen

29er

Royal St. George Yacht Club

Alana Twomey

Max Cully

Gp14

Blessington Sailing Club

Tighe Wardell

Trevor Bolger

Team Racing

Royal St. George Yacht Club

Russell Bolger

Conor Cronin

Optimist

Malahide Yacht Club

William Walsh

Patrick Foley

RS Feva

Presidents Choice

Seth Walker

Georgia Goodbody

Waszp

Royal Irish Yacht Club

Emily Conan

Hannah Dadley-Young

ILCA 4

Ballyholme Yacht Club

Annika Hunter

Archie Daly

Team Racing

Royal St. George Yacht Club

Michael Crosbie

Published in Youth Sailing
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Cork county councillors have expressed further frustration at the local authority’s decision not to submit the Schull Harbour regeneration project for rural development funding.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, hopes for the multi-million-euro improvement scheme for the West Cork sailing centre were dashed at the end of last year as the project’s planning permission is running out.

The Southern Star reports that while the deadline for submissions passed more than a month ago, councillors have continued to criticise the authority for its decision.

It’s understood county engineers were of the position that construction would not begin until just weeks before expiry of planning permission in October 2022, though this situation has been repudiated by the harbour company.

However, the administration has also warned that any renewed planning permission for the harbour breakwater portion of the development — which was rejected by An Bord Pleanála — “could be much more difficult to obtain” than before.

The Southern Star has more on the story HERE.

Published in Irish Harbours
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Hopes for funding for a massive regeneration of Schull Harbour have been dashed as its planning permission is running out.

According to the Southern Star, in the West Cork sailing centre has twice been proposed by Cork County Council for rural regeneration funding administered by the Department of Rural Affairs.

The €5 million plans, which follow on from the community-procured pontoon that opened in mid-2018, include a 225-berth marina and slipway with a breakwater.

But a meeting in November heard that even if the project were to be approved, construction would not begin until a month shy of is planning permission expiry in October 2022.

It’s reported that factors influencing the change in stance include the refusal of the breakwater portion of the development, which raises conservation concerns.

Now the council has been asked to explain its about-face on the matter after “20 odd years of hard work”.

Writing to the same newspaper, local resident and businessman Denis Quinlan says he is “deeply concerned at the flippant response of Cork County Council to this very important project that could mean so much to the commercial sustainability of the entire Mizen peninsula”.

The Southern Star has more on the story HERE.

Update 30 December 2020: The story has been edited to clarify the statement on the refusal of planning permission for the breakwater. The original statement misconstrued its relationship to local conservation concerns.

Published in Irish Harbours
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The first race of the West Cork sailing season took place on Saturday in murky conditions with intermittent foggy spells and light rain making it a tough return to sailing for the Schull harbour sailing fleet.

The seven yachts had a tough double beat up Long Island Sound in a freshening southwest wind. In a time of necessary adherence to social distancing, the club ran a ferry service limiting the transfer of each crew as a single pod.

The seven boat fleet had a tough windward leg up Long Island SoundThe seven boat fleet had tough windward legs up Long Island Sound

The traditional apres sail prize presentation is currently cancelled with Tony O Brien's Excelsior on his first outing with the club receiving his victory news online.

The Schull Harbour Race Committee for the first race of the 2020 seasonPreparing to go afloat at Schull Harbour for the first race of the 2020 season

Published in West Cork
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After a weekend of lift-ins for cruiser fleets around the country that marks the beginning of the 2019 sailing season, the current strong south-east winds led to a disappointing start for one cruiser skipper in the popular boating centre of Schull, West Cork.

The boat beached near enough to the slipway in 'appalling conditions', according to local sources, so the hope now is that it should be possible to get a crane into position to lift her and restart the 2019 season.

 

Published in West Cork
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Calves Week Regatta in West Cork gets a boost when it begins in two weeks time with the completion of the new North Harbour pontoon in Schull this week.

The new pontoon that comes complete with a purpose-built walkway was finished this week as our photo above shows.

As Afloat.ie reported on July 10th, the long-awaited facility at the popular boating harbour finally got underway with the arrival of a jack-up rig for pile driving.

And it wasn't long before the piling was completed as Afloat.ie reported on July 23rd

"The pontoon is a boon for Calves Week Regatta"

According to Schull Harbour Sailing Club, the contract for the pontoon was expected to take six weeks to complete, but due to favourable weather the contractor, L&M Keating has completed it well ahead of schedule, a boon for Calves Week and other activities at the boating centre.

Published in West Cork
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Piledriving for Schull Harbour's new North Harbour pontoon is finished and the new pontoons are to be floated into position this week writes Bob Bateman

A crane is now on site to lift the walkway into position.

As Afloat.ie reported previously, the long-awaited pontoon at the popular boating harbour in Schull, West Cork got finally underway earlier this month.

According to Schull Harbour Sailing Club, the contract for the pontoon was expected to take six weeks to complete, but due to favourable weather the contractor, L&M Keating expects to have it completed for Calves Week in early August.

The harbour got a further boost this week when it was announced Schull was among 18 Cork coastal communities to benefit from funding for its regatta.

Schull harbour north pontoon1The safe and surprisingly sheltered north harbour, is open only to gales from the south, is home to many waterborne activities Photo: Bob BatemanSchull harbour north pontoon1Schull harbour north pontoon1The Ocean Explorer work vessel was involved in the installation of the new Schull Harbour pontoon this month Photo: Bob BatemanSchull harbour north pontoon1

Published in West Cork
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The long-awaited pontoon at the popular boating harbour in Schull, West Cork looks to be finally underway with the arrival, this week, of a jack-up rig for pile driving.

As Afloat.ie reported in April, the Department of the Marine gave €112,500 for the installation of the pontoon which the local community has already procured at Schull in West Cork.

According to Schull Harbour Sailing Club, the contract for the North Harbour pontoon was expected to take six weeks to complete, but due to favourable weather the contractor L&M Keating are expecting to have it completed for Calves Week in early August.

Other West Cork locations also got funding for improvements - €56,250 for Glengarriff Pier to upgrade and improve the existing pier, including new steel steps and safety rails.

Work has also recently been completed to new boating facilities at Cape Clear Island, as Afloat.ie reported here.

As our picture above shows the new Schull facility will be a welcome addition in the popular harbour for both commercial and leisure craft. It's another valuable asset for boaters exploring the sailing wonders of West Cork.

Published in West Cork
Tagged under

The Department of the Marine is giving €112,500 for the installation of the pontoon which the local community has already procured at Schull in West Cork.

Other West Cork locations are also to get funding for improvements - €56,250 for Glengarriff Pier to upgrade and improve the existing pier, including new steel steps and safety rails.

As Afloat.ie reported previously, the work is part of funding for 52 local authority harbour projects that received €2.2m in capital investment programmes.

Published in West Cork
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Dublin Bay

Dublin Bay on the east coast of Ireland stretches over seven kilometres, from Howth Head on its northern tip to Dalkey Island in the south. It's a place most Dubliners simply take for granted, and one of the capital's least visited places. But there's more going on out there than you'd imagine.

The biggest boating centre is at Dun Laoghaire Harbour on the Bay's south shore that is home to over 1,500 pleasure craft, four waterfront yacht clubs and Ireland's largest marina.

The bay is rather shallow with many sandbanks and rocky outcrops, and was notorious in the past for shipwrecks, especially when the wind was from the east. Until modern times, many ships and their passengers were lost along the treacherous coastline from Howth to Dun Laoghaire, less than a kilometre from shore.

The Bay is a C-shaped inlet of the Irish Sea and is about 10 kilometres wide along its north-south base, and 7 km in length to its apex at the centre of the city of Dublin; stretching from Howth Head in the north to Dalkey Point in the south. North Bull Island is situated in the northwest part of the bay, where one of two major inshore sandbanks lie, and features a 5 km long sandy beach, Dollymount Strand, fronting an internationally recognised wildfowl reserve. Many of the rivers of Dublin reach the Irish Sea at Dublin Bay: the River Liffey, with the River Dodder flow received less than 1 km inland, River Tolka, and various smaller rivers and streams.

Dublin Bay FAQs

There are approximately ten beaches and bathing spots around Dublin Bay: Dollymount Strand; Forty Foot Bathing Place; Half Moon bathing spot; Merrion Strand; Bull Wall; Sandycove Beach; Sandymount Strand; Seapoint; Shelley Banks; Sutton, Burrow Beach

There are slipways on the north side of Dublin Bay at Clontarf, Sutton and on the southside at Dun Laoghaire Harbour, and in Dalkey at Coliemore and Bulloch Harbours.

Dublin Bay is administered by a number of Government Departments, three local authorities and several statutory agencies. Dublin Port Company is in charge of navigation on the Bay.

Dublin Bay is approximately 70 sq kilometres or 7,000 hectares. The Bay is about 10 kilometres wide along its north-south base, and seven km in length east-west to its peak at the centre of the city of Dublin; stretching from Howth Head in the north to Dalkey Point in the south.

Dun Laoghaire Harbour on the southside of the Bay has an East and West Pier, each one kilometre long; this is one of the largest human-made harbours in the world. There also piers or walls at the entrance to the River Liffey at Dublin city known as the Great North and South Walls. Other harbours on the Bay include Bulloch Harbour and Coliemore Harbours both at Dalkey.

There are two marinas on Dublin Bay. Ireland's largest marina with over 800 berths is on the southern shore at Dun Laoghaire Harbour. The other is at Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club on the River Liffey close to Dublin City.

Car and passenger Ferries operate from Dublin Port to the UK, Isle of Man and France. A passenger ferry operates from Dun Laoghaire Harbour to Howth as well as providing tourist voyages around the bay.

Dublin Bay has two Islands. Bull Island at Clontarf and Dalkey Island on the southern shore of the Bay.

The River Liffey flows through Dublin city and into the Bay. Its tributaries include the River Dodder, the River Poddle and the River Camac.

Dollymount, Burrow and Seapoint beaches

Approximately 1,500 boats from small dinghies to motorboats to ocean-going yachts. The vast majority, over 1,000, are moored at Dun Laoghaire Harbour which is Ireland's boating capital.

In 1981, UNESCO recognised the importance of Dublin Bay by designating North Bull Island as a Biosphere because of its rare and internationally important habitats and species of wildlife. To support sustainable development, UNESCO’s concept of a Biosphere has evolved to include not just areas of ecological value but also the areas around them and the communities that live and work within these areas. There have since been additional international and national designations, covering much of Dublin Bay, to ensure the protection of its water quality and biodiversity. To fulfil these broader management aims for the ecosystem, the Biosphere was expanded in 2015. The Biosphere now covers Dublin Bay, reflecting its significant environmental, economic, cultural and tourism importance, and extends to over 300km² to include the bay, the shore and nearby residential areas.

On the Southside at Dun Laoghaire, there is the National Yacht Club, Royal St. George Yacht Club, Royal Irish Yacht Club and Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club as well as Dublin Bay Sailing Club. In the city centre, there is Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club. On the Northside of Dublin, there is Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club and Sutton Dinghy Club. While not on Dublin Bay, Howth Yacht Club is the major north Dublin Sailing centre.

© Afloat 2020