Think safety first, advises Irish Water Safety
Lifeguards have rescued 185 casualties from Ireland’s beaches, rivers and lakes since June. Over 200 children were lost and reunited with their parents and a further 16,316 accidents were prevented by the proactive actions of the lifeguards.
Bathers enjoying summer sunshine at Sandycove, Co Dublin
John Leech, chief executive of Irish Water Safety, is again urging the public to use Local Authority manned lifeguarded bathing places; to swim between the flags; to take heed of lifeguard advice and to always supervise children as lifeguards are not a babysitting service. He is also urging the public to swim within their depth if no lifeguards are at a bathing place and to never swim alone.
Insomnia founder to chair all-island tourism initiative
The Great Lighthouses of Ireland partnership developed by the Commissioners of Irish Lights has appointed Insomnia chair, entrepreneur and tv/radio personality, Bobby Kerr, as its independent chairman.
Welcoming the appointment, Irish Lights chief executive Yvonne Shields said Kerr's background and experience would be of "huge value" in guiding and informing their future work plans and objectives. The twelve GLI sites (visitor and accommodation combined) attracted 135,000 visitors in 2016.
GLI newly appointed chairman Bobby Kerr on-board ILV Granuaile at Seafest 2017, Galway. Photo Andrew Downes
GLI has agreed a marketing and development strategy to 2020 with the aim of increasing visitor numbers and growing revenue.
Licence to mechanically harvest kelp out of line with spirit of Bantry Bay charter
A licence to mechanically harvest 752 hectares of kelp in Bantry Bay, West Cork, described as the largest ever granted in Irish or UK waters, has been met with widespread opposition from fishermen, conservationists and local interests.
In March 2014, biotechnology company BioAtlantis was granted a Foreshore Licence to harvest ‘specific quantities of specific species of seaweed’ on a rotational basis. The licenced area is split into five harvesting zones, to be harvested on a four-year rotation with a stand by zone (99 hectares) only to be harvested if weather is adverse.
Concern centres on a lack of adequate public consultation and notification, and the fact no Environmental Impact Assessment was required. Since the application was made in 2009, amendments were made to the legislation in 2014 regarding type and characteristic of projects that require EIA.
Shine a Light on Irish lighthouses 2017
SATURDAY 29 APRIL - MONDAY MAY 1
The May Bank Holiday weekend kick-starts the 2017 Great Lighthouses of Ireland Festival.
From Hook (Co Wexford) to Loop (Co Clare) and the islands of Rathlin (Co Antrim) to Valentia and Ballycotton on the south coast, lighthouses around the coast are opening their doors for a weekend of discovery, stories and music.
Fanad, Co Donegal
According to Lonely Planet, Hook Head lighthouse is the No 1 flashiest lighthouse in the world... Learn about the maritime history of Ireland's Ancient East at a Pirate school taught by Capt Hook and Pirate Pat; relax with a tour of the lighthouse or try your hand at one of the lawn games!
The future of Irish island communities
Brian O'Riordan, LIFE Platform
With fair access to fisheries, Irish island communities could thrive. Their geographical isolation makes them highly dependent on the resources available within their localities, especially fisheries resources.
The right to fish, and to access fishery resources are prerequisite to the prosperity and very survival of such island communities. Banning islanders from the sea and fishing is to take away their lifeblood. But that is what the European Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is being misused to achieve.
Islands such as Inis Toric are heavily reliant on local resources, such as fisheries, for their economic survival
Irish island communities are no longer allowed to carry out their traditional seasonally diverse fishing ways of life, but must focus on one or two 'non-quota' species the year round. Not only does this put a strain on these resources, but fishers must also face the prospects of their gears being towed away by supertrawlers that are allowed to fish with impunity in their waters, and to catch quota species they are barred from catching.
Bulloch Harbour development described as ‘drab and unattractive’
A proposed development at Bullock Harbour, Co Dublin, comprising six shop units with overhead apartments, a café and three, three-storey houses, has met with significant public resistance. At a recent public meeting, objections for the plan were outlined to a packed house of over 400, with corresponding disquiet from the floor.
Artist's impression of the proposed development at Bullock Harbour, Co Dublin
Key observations outlined its significance, historically and culturally; scale and height of the proposed development, and concerns regarding parking, access, traffic, drainage and flooding. Concern was also expressed regarding demolition and clearing of the site in proximity to the existing heritage houses.
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Guest Writer2017-01-16 12:33:412019-02-16 13:53:18Remembering Patsy Kelly
Wales and Ireland to collaborate on coastal heritage project
€4m in EU funds has been secured to help safeguard heritage and coastal tourism sites in Wales and Ireland from risks of climate change and to provide a stimulus for marine-based economic growth in Wales and Ireland.
Funded by the EU's Ireland-Wales programme, the CHERISH project (Climate, Heritage and Environments of Reefs, Islands and Headlands) will support specialist organsations to employ the latest technologies to analyse coastal and island archaeology and maritime heritage sites affected by climate change, coastal eroson and rising sea levels.
One of the survey locations, Dalkey Island, 300m off the south Dublin coast, has evidence of a Viking settlement. Photo Gillian Mills
The project will fund new excavations, environmental studies, marine mapping and landscape modelling. It will also support future strategies for climate change, by providing a deeper understanding of longer-term changes to Wales and Ireland's heritage and coastal enviroments.
Lighting a candle for Irish Water Safety
Roger Sweeney, Marketing Manager
Christmas is a time of celebration. But it’s also a time of reflection. A time when we gather with our nearest and dearest, remember those who have passed and look forward to what next year might bring.
With shorter days and colder weather, we spend less time on the water although there are many charity swims that will be supported the length and breadth of the country. As winter weather sets in, we sometimes get a glimpse of the destructive power that waits in the waters around us and although most people think about water safety during the summer, at Irish Water Safety, we believe that this is the right time of year to shine a light on the 133 people who tragically lose their lives to drowning every year.