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Displaying items by tag: Photo Competition

#Lighthouses - It is more than eight weeks ago when Bobby Kerr, Chair of Great Lighthouses of Ireland helped kick off summer in fine style when he announced the ‘Great Lighthouse, Great Fun’ photography competition.

The competition was held to invite all to discover the amazing coastlines of Ireland, the challenge was simple: take a photograph that best captures and expresses the best of summer fun at a lighthouse. 

“We had a huge number of entries, all a fantastic reflection of Ireland in summer... it was a challenging task for our judges to select (a) final ten, then five and (lastly) the winner,“ Kerr said.

“The winning image of Gar Heffernan holding Hook (Lighthouse) in his hands captured the essence of summer fun at our lighthouses. Well done, Gar. We look forward to meeting you,” said Kerr.

Gar and his family will enjoy a fantastic bespoke Great Lighthouses of Ireland experience for four people, which will include:

  • A two-night stay at any of the Great Lighthouses of Ireland self-catering houses
  • A personal tour with our leading storykeeper at any of our lighthouse attractions
  • A unique opportunity to meet the Irish Lights historian at Howth’s Baily Lighthouse to learn all about the history and heritage of Irish Lights
  • A chance to meet the Irish Lights team and learn more about how navigational aids work today

Speaking from SeaFest, Galway, Yvonne Shields, Chief Executive of Irish Lights said: “We look forward to welcoming our ‘Great Lighthouse, Great Fun’ winner and guests to Irish Lights to see the work involved in ensuring safe navigation around the coast of Ireland and (to) meet the team, whose technical and engineering expertise contributes to the development of our maritime economy. This weekend, we encourage all to come on board the Granualie at Seafest.” (See related ships on show tours).

Great Lighthouses of Ireland is an exciting collaboration between many private and public organisations in coastal communities, led and supported by Irish Lights. For event details and information about and booking Great Lighthouses of Ireland, see: www.greatlighthouses.com/shine-a-light

Twitter: @gtlighthouses | https://twitter.com/gtlighthouses

Facebook: @greatlighthousesofireland | https://www.facebook.com/greatlighthousesofireland

For full details and the competition terms and conditions, click this link here.

Published in Lighthouses

Ireland's Sailor of the Year Awards

Created in 1996, the Afloat Sailor of the Year Awards represent all that is praiseworthy, innovative and groundbreaking in the Irish sailing scene.

Since it began 25 years ago, the awards have recognised over 500 monthly award winners in the pages of Ireland's sailing magazine Afloat, and these have been made to both amateur and professional sailors. The first-ever Sailor of the Year was dinghy sailor Mark Lyttle, a race winner at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

And since then it's gone on to read like a who's who of Irish sailing.

The national award is specially designed to salute the achievements of Ireland's sailing's elite. After two decades the awards has developed into a premier awards ceremony for water sports.

The overall national award will be announced each January to the person who, in the judges' opinion, achieved the most notable results in, or made the most significant contribution to, Irish sailing in the previous year.

A review of the first 25 years of the Irish Sailor the Year Awards is here

Irish Sailor of the Year Award FAQs

The Irish Sailor of the Year Awards is a scheme designed by Afloat magazine to represent all that is praiseworthy, innovative and groundbreaking in the Irish sailing scene..

The Irish Sailor of the Year Awards began in 1996.

The awards are administered by Afloat, Ireland's boating magazine.

  • 1996 Mark Lyttle
  • 1997 Tom Roche
  • 1998 Tom Fitzpatrick & David McHugh
  • 1999 Mark Mansfield
  • 2000 David Burrows
  • 2001 Maria Coleman
  • 2002 Eric Lisson
  • 2003 Noel Butler & Stephen Campion
  • 2004 Eamonn Crosbie
  • 2005 Paddy Barry & Jarlath Cunnane
  • 2006 Justin Slattery
  • 2007 Ger O'Rourke
  • 2008 Damian Foxall
  • 2009 Mark Mills
  • 2010 Anthony O'Leary
  • 2011 George Kenefick
  • 2012 Annalise Murphy
  • 2013 David Kenefick
  • 2014 Anthony O'Leary
  • 2015 Liam Shanahan
  • 2016 Annalise Murphy
  • 2017 Conor Fogerty
  • 2018 Robert Dickson & Sean Waddilove
  • 2019 Paul O'Higgins

Yes. The boating public and maritime community can have their say to help guide judges in deciding who should be crowned Ireland's Sailor of the Year by using an Afloat online poll). The judges welcome the traditional huge level of public interest in helping them make their decision but firmly retain their right to make the ultimate decision for the final choice while taking voting trends into account. By voting for your favourite nominee, you are creating additional awareness of their nomination and highlighting their success.

Anthony O'Leary of Crosshaven and Annalise Murphy of Dun Laoghaire are the only contenders to be Afloat.ie "Sailors of the Year" twice – himself in 2010 and 2014, and herself in 2012 and 2016.

In its 25 year history, there have been wins for 15, offshore or IRC achievements, nine dinghy and one designs accomplishments and one for adventure sailing.

Annually, generally in January or February of the following year.

In 2003 Her Royal Highness Princess Anne presented the Awards.

©Afloat 2020