Tag Archives: galway bay

A multi-agency air and sea rescue operation was mounted in Galway Bay yesterday evening after a fisherman was reported missing. Following an intensive search the man was recovered from the water and removed to Galway University Hospital where he has since died. The Irish Coastguard was alerted at about half past three by a local fisherman who came across a local fishing boat with its engine running and no one on board, in an area south of Tawn Island off Maree, Oranmore, south of Galway Bay. Galway RNLI Lifeboat launched from Galway Docks and were joined by the Aran Island All weather RNLI Lifeboat, the Irish Coastguard Helicopter from Shannon and the Casla Bay Coastguard Lifeboat. Within an hour they were joined in the search by nine local fishing boats from across the bay. The Aran Islands RNLI Lifeboat recovered the casualty about one mile west of Blackrock, off Salthill, and proceeded to Galway Harbour where the emergency services were …

THE first chairman of the new West Clare Municipal Authority is seeking at least 33% of Clare County Council’s budget to be spent in the west and north of the county. Councillor PJ Kelly was elected chairman of the body at last Friday’s AGM, attended by all eight of the recently elected county councillors, who serve in the enlarged West Clare constituency. The meeting also decided to restrict to six the number of the public who can attend the bi-monthly meetings, while senior engineer, Cyril Feeney, acknowledged the council is facing challenges in adequately staffing the district, which stretches from Loop Head to Ballyvaughan. Councillor Kelly produced figures which he said proved Clare County Council collected millions of euro in rates from West Clare. “The county council takes in €36.2m in rates. Ennis takes in €5.4m and Kilrush €0.7m. That comes to a grand county-wide figure of approximately €42m. One establishment in West Clare, ESB Moneypoint, pays €13m. That is …

Caves under North Clare and South Galway could extend 30 miles under Galway Bay and reach the Aran Islands, researchers have discovered. Rain falling in the Burren and filtering through the limestone appears to be then travelling in underground rivers to the coast and under Galway Bay, before emerging in springs on Inishmaan, and in the bay itself, according to work by a group from NUI Galway. Geologists have found large networks of underground rivers hidden under the seabed and, while the current research project is wrapping up, additional funding would enable them to identify targets in the subsurface that could be drilled out and water abstracted from them to supply the Aran Islands. “I would never suggest there is an unending supply of water you could hit there, but there is good potential for hitting a water resource that might augment the water that falls on Inishmaan, or that might help with dealing with water supply on the smaller …

The Commissioners of Irish Lights (CIL) unveiled on this Wednesday a new LED light at Inisheer lighthouse. Inisheer Lighthouse is a highly important Aid to Navigation (AtoN). This AtoN safeguards the considerable traffic between Inisheer and County Clare. It also marks the south-eastern end of the Aran Islands and the western side of the southern approach route to Galway Bay. This project will provide reliable and low maintenance operational needs for Inisheer lighthouse for the next 20 years, while achieving an annual reduction in operation costs for CIL of approximately 16%. The exhibition of the new light marks a significant milestone within the major Capital Refurbishment Project currently being carried out at the lighthouse.The tower of Inisheer is 34 metres in height.

BALLYVAUGHAN Bay Hop launched their fast ferry trial last Sunday. Crowds gathered for the official launch, ahead of a two-week trial of the service next month. If successful, the trial could secure the future of a permanent commuter ferry service from Ballyvaughan to Galway City. “The event had a fantastic turnout and the atmosphere among the community and visitors was one of palpable excitement and enjoyment,” said Gwen Ryan, one of the people behind the project. The launch allowed people to see Realt na Maidne, the 12-seater passenger ferry, taking part in a demonstration sailing followed by an inaugural crossing of Galway Bay. The service was launched by Professor Kevin Leyden of the Whitaker Institute of Innovation and Societal Change at NUI Galway. He spoke about the renewed interest in combining old and new in sustainable modes of transport and the importance of connectivity between people and their places and how these connections resonate through time and experience, between past …