Thirteen undergraduate students, participating in this year’s Marine Institute’s Summer Bursary programme, recently showcased their projects at a poster presentation day, held at the Marine Institute’s Headquarters in Oranmore.

The Bursars presented the outputs of their projects to the staff of the Marine Institute and answered questions about their project work. This year’s bursaries comprised a broad range of projects that are linked to the work undertaken by the Marine Institute. The project areas include Fisheries, Molecular Chemistry, Aquaculture, Marine Infrastructure Asset Management, Oceanographic analysis, Ocean Economics, Research Office, Human resources, Library and Marine Communications.

“The presentations showcased the diversity and high standard of work our bursary students are involved in,” said Helen McCormick, Bursar Programme Coordinator and Senior Laboratory Analyst at the Marine Institute.

A panel of judges, drawn from a range of Marine Institute staff, reviewed the posters, selecting three winners based on the student’s knowledge of their work, the presentation of their project information and their answers to a variety of questions.

Éabha Gaughan (NUI Galway) was awarded first place for her outstanding work on Human Resources Support which showcased her restructuring of the Marine Institute’s internal staff intranet using SharePoint software.

Éamonn-Joeín MacDonnachá (University College Cork) and Sara Ellis (NUI Galway) were both awarded second place for their creative work on analysing crayfish historic records and how they can be used as validation for the molecular detection of crayfish pathogens.

Hadia Mahmood (Munster Technological University) was awarded third place for her informative presentation on Ireland’s marine economy, in which she gathered data from various sectors and identified specific marine-related state investments.

“Each student showcased their work with energy and clarity and a great strength of the bursary scheme was to see students undertaking projects that were unrelated to their undergraduate degrees” said Dr Paul Connolly CEO of the Marine Institute. “Our Bursary scheme is a great introduction to the diversity of marine science and having undertaken four such bursaries many years ago, I am so proud to see the scheme continue to flourish.”

The Marine Institute Summer Bursary Programme has been running since the 1960s. A highly sought-after work experience programme in marine science, the programme continues to offer a promising gateway for students into the expanding world of marine science and research in Ireland.

The programme is aimed at undergraduates who have completed two years of study in a relevant discipline and is advertised on www.marine.ie in February each year. The scheme will continue in 2023.

#Galway - Galway Bay FM reports on a new volunteer search and rescue unit set up near the city weeks after community efforts to locate missing NUI Galway student Michael Bulger.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, Bulger's body was recovered from the water near Oranmore on Galway Bay early last month after three weeks of searches largely driven by local volunteers.

Now the Oranmore-Maree Costal Search Unit, which will hold a public meeting on Monday week, hopes to harness those efforts across a 30km span of coastline split into nine zones with the co-operation of the Garda, Civil Defence and the RNLI.

Galway Bay FM has more on the story HERE.

#WaterfrontProperty - A modernised 1920s summer home on Cork Harbour is on the market for a cool €1.2 million.

But as the Irish Examiner reports, Tanglewood in Currabinny is worth every penny – and might well be a bargain to those with multiple millions to splash out on superyachts.

The house and grounds are deserved as "in better order, and – dare to say, more ship-shape – than ever in its almost 100 years of proud standing."

Its most recent makeover 15 years ago saw the addition of a new upper east wing with double guest accommodation furnished in a nautical style care of local yacht designer Rob Jacob.

Outside the grounds include a Japanese-styled garden, and a private gate into the local Coillte woods.

But the star attraction might well be its waterfront aspect, at an elevated site above Currabinny pier. The Irish Examiner has much more on this property HERE.

Elsewhere in Cork, a modest two-bed seaside home in nearby Myrtleville could be yours for €350,000.

Ceann Mhara – Head of the Sea – is "a peach by a beach", combining its shoreside setting with a sunny aspect and proximity to popular local swimming hoe Poulgorm, which it sits right above.

And its value is expected to rocket as the summer months approach, so any interested parties should take a look while they can! The Irish Examiner has more HERE.

For those with more majestic tastes, however, there's Ardfry House in Oranmore, as the Connacht Tribune reports.

This 16,700sqft detached period house with outbuildings and an orchard on more than 28 acres is an attraction in and of itself – it was the setting of Hollywood spy thriller The Mackintosh Man in the 1970s – and its quality reflected in the €2 million guide price.

But also on its grounds are the remains of a ninth-century moated castle with the best part of a kilometre of sea frontage on a peninsula in Galway Bay, opposite the world famous golf resort.

#WaterfrontProperty - The Galway Independent highlights a "modern luxury home" on the market in Oranmore, Co Galway that might tempt anyone with a longing for the sea.

The 2,600 sq ft four-bed home at 19 Oran Island lies on the eastern edge of Galway Bay and its breathtaking vistas.

A short drive from Galway city proper, it's also within walking distance of Oranmore village and Galway Bay Sailing Club.

The house is ready to move into, and comprises a tiled entrance hall, living room, kitchen/diner, study, utility room and sunroom, plus four bedrooms (two en-suite) and a master bathroom on the first floor, and a converted attic space.

The detached home is on a quiet cul-de-sac and comes with an enclosed rear garden and patio area, making the perfect home for a family.

19 Oran Island has an asking price of €380,000 and is available to view through agents O'Donnellan & Joyce. For more on the property click HERE.

#WATERFRONT PROPERTY - New to the market is an impressive two-bed townhouse adjacent to Galway Bay Sailing Club in Oranmore, which should appeal to anyone with dreams of sailing out west.

As highlighted in the Galway Independent, 15 Renville Court is set in the grounds of Galway Bay Golf Club, just 20 minutes away from Galway city centre and nestled between the charms of Galway Bay and Renville National Park.

The two-storey residence is situated in a quiet and private cul-de-sac and is decorated to a high standard. Accommodation comprises a spacious open plan kitchen/diner/sitting room, two bedrooms (one ensuite) and a main bathroom, with wooden floors throughout.

Viewing is highly recommended by agents Rooney Auctioneers, who have set an asking price of €150,000. More details including images are available HERE.

Prince Albert's visit to the Marine Institute headquarters in Oranmore will be held on the final day of the visit on 6 April. Prior to that the prince will hold meetings with An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, minister for the marine, Simon Coveney, minister for the environment, Phil Hogan and Dublin's Lord Mayor, Gerry Breen.

The Head of Monaco will open an exhibition in honour of his late mother at Farmleigh House and the prince will host a reception to highlight Irish literature and art. In addition to honouring the royal visit a state dinner will be held by President Mary McAleese.

The world's second smallest state is home to the Musée Océanographique de Monaco which has an impressive collection of aquariums. Though the principality is more synonymous with the hosting of Formula 1 Grand Prix. The event is at the end of May and is expected to attract a higher than usual number of cruiseships totalling 12 cruise-calls.

Mostly they will be on charter and accompanied by mega-yachts which are to dock at the outer pier or anchor offshore and along the French Riviera at Villefranche, Nice and Cannes. At the far side of summer Monte Carlo's Port Hercule is also to host the Monaco Yacht Show in September.

The Marine Institute's specialist research library, Oceanus with has over 5,000 books relating to marine, natural and life sciences is now open online. The institute's extensive collection of scientific literature relating to marine and freshwater resources is available to browse in advance of visiting the library in person to access the material.

"The foundations of the Marine Institute Library collection began with materials acquired by the Fisheries Branch of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland, which was established in 1899," said Dr. Peter Heffernan, Chief Executive of the Marine Institute.

According to Anne Wilkinson, the Institute's Library and Information Manager, "Our unique archive material, dating from c. 1890, is an important element of this collection. The archive includes scientific reports, books and publications prepared by Irish and international marine researchers, including copies of Fishery Ireland Acts dating from the late 1800s and Reports of the Inspectors of Irish Fisheries and Sea and Inland Fisheries Ireland from the same period."

The Library archive has a microfiche reader to facilitate access to some of this material. In addition there are many research reports prepared by Marine Institute scientists and marine related publications issued by the EU, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).

For an appointment at the Oceanus Library which is open to the public you can contact the library Tel: (091) 38700 or email: [email protected]. The Marine Institute headquarters is located at Rinville, Oranmore, Co. Galway.