Maritime history at Cork's RCYC as Fegan elected first woman admiral at club

Maritime history has been made at the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven. 

The oldest yacht club in the world, as it proudly describes itself, elected the first woman to be admiral of the club at its 303rd annual general meeting on Monday night.

Annamarie Fegan was elected by the club members. She sails the family’s Grand Soleil 40 yacht, Nieulargo, with husband Denis Murphy. 

Racing with family members and crew, it has had a string of successes.

Her election is a big change at a club where once female members were in a different membership category to men and restricted in voting entitlements.

It is the only sailing/yacht club in Ireland with the title of admiral.

River carers 

There are many people who are passionate about Cork’s waterways and their catchments.

So state the organisers of a meeting this Friday morning of ‘river carers’. which will be held on the city’s Northside at The Glen Resource Centre on Glen Avenue in The Glen.

“Dear Cork City River Carer,” says the notice of the meeting, “we are aware that there are many groupings of people who are passionate about Cork’s waterways and their catchments.

“We are planning a pre- liminary meeting to discuss possible formats for pooling resources, sharing stories and promoting water health in our city.”

This first meeting of what is an interesting development will take place in the New Wellness Room at the Glen Centre from 11am to 12.30pm.

Julie Forrester, one of the organisers said: “The Rivers Group is a new initiative to gather together the various groups around Cork city who are caring for the rivers on their doorsteps.

“The aim is to set up a network and support group where we can pool resources and experiences and lobby for the care of urban-flowing rivers across the city.

“We welcome all river carers to get involved, but it is essential that anyone intending to attend the meeting contacts me in advance, so that we can track numbers and capacity.”

Email interest to: gleannnaphuca@gmail.com

Gleann a’ Phúca began as a project, ‘Narratives with Nature, which was devised by Ms Forrester at the beginning of 2020 during the first lockdown of the covid pandemic. ‘Narratives with Nature’ was funded by a bursary from The Arts Council of Ireland.

Gleann a’ Phúca plans to celebrate ‘World Wetlands Day’ on February 4, in the Glen Park to “increase awareness of the positive effects of living water on health and wellbeing while tuning into the reality that rivers are living entities.”

There is more information on its website: gleanna phuca.ie/events/ordinary-gifts-world-wetlands-day-event/.

Whidy sale

Whiddy Island fuels terminal in Bantry Bay, which is used by the State’s National Oil Reserves Agency, is being sold again according to reports in the financial world.

The Dallas, Texas-based company, Sunoco, is the buyer from Zenith Energy which had announced in 2021 plans to invest in green hydrogen and ammonia production with Cork company, EI-H2.

“It will operate alongside Zenith Energy’s existing Bantry Bay Terminal and will be one of the largest of its kind in the world,” said the joint press release issued about the project.

“This development will see Ireland secure a place as a global leader in the generation and export of green energy. Bantry Bay was strategically chosen as the location for a facility of this scale given its proximity to some of the most productive off-shore locations for wind-generated electricity.”

According to its website, Sunoco has “grown from its humble roots as a small oil company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to one of the largest fuel distribution companies in the US.”

There are over 30 staff at the Zenith Whiddy terminal. No details have been given of the purchase price, nor so far about the future of the green hydrogen and ammonia project.

Ireland South MEP Sean Kelly has queried progress.

Mind your mooring

The Port of Cork Company has issued a warning to all mooring holders in Cork Harbour that it is going to remove all unauthorised, unpaid or poorly marked moorings in Cork Harbour.

“It is the responsibility of the mooring holder to ensure that their mooring is in the correct position and is clearly marked at all times with the correct mooring number,” the Port Company says.

“We hereby give notice that it is the intention of the Port of Cork Company to remove all unauthorised, unpaid or poorly marked moorings over the coming months, from the week commencing February 26.”

It has suspended the issuing of mooring positions for applications received after January 10, until these works have been completed and says it will resume issuing mooring positions on April 1.

Email: tommacsweeney marine@gmail.com

My Podcast: https://tommacsweeneymaritimepodcast.ie