Search Results for 'Irish coast'

"A MULTI-layered meditation on overcoming the constant force of gravity, and the fear of falling, in order to achieve the joyous freedom of the peak” is how Irish Theatre Magazine described The Cove.

Fifteen kilometres southwest of Mayo's Mullet Peninsula, beyond the pillars of the Inishkea and Duvillaun islands, lies the isolated island of Blackrock. Appearing on the horizon like an abandoned vessel, this small, rocky, outcrop has been without a permanent resident for many decades, but the sound of the crashing waves and the constant coating of spray is a reminder of the horror that almost claimed the lives of three men in the winter of 1942-43 when the rock became the scene of a prolonged and frightening wartime siege.

Despite the challenges, dangers, bankruptcies, and in some cases, exploitation, by the mid 19th century Galway had a small but profitable fleet of sailing ships. In previous weeks I have outlined some of the achievements and failures of the Galway Line, which between 1858 and 1864 completed a total of 55 trouble free return voyages to New York and Boston. One of its ships, the Circassian, which I discussed last week, sailed from Galway on September 21 1859 to New York with 342 passengers of whom 108 were first class. One hundred and seventy persons who applied for passage were turned away as the ship was full.

A handful of brave swimmers took to the choppy waters in Bunowen Pier, Ballyconneely, last weekend to raise funds for a local primary school.

Lifeboat crews from Achill RNLI and Ballyglass RNLI took part in the Easter Sunday 1916 centenary commemoration which saw some 700 members of the Irish emergency services taking part in the State parade. Ballyglass RNLI coxswain John Walsh and Achill RNLI second coxswain Dave Curtis joined 50 of the charity’s volunteers and staff who came from lifeboat stations around the Irish coast and inland to parade through Dublin city centre to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising. Dave Curtis carried the RNLI’s flag for the charity in the parade.

Three months after setting off from the ‘Circle of Life’ memorial garden in Salthill on an incredible 2500km walk around the Irish coast raising funds and awareness for the Irish Heart and Lung Transplant Association (IHLTA), this weekend foster carer and heart transplant recipient Ron Cummins successfully made it back to the special spot where his walk started.