In this week's column, Tom McSweeney writes about how Cork is making an impact on the  international maritime sector. 

In this week's column, Tom McSweeney talks about concerns around the removal of the 'island' in a Cork harbour village. 

In this week's column, Tom MacSweeney looks back at the fate of the Joseph Howe and discusses an upcoming storytelling event, ten years of Union Hall RNLI and a Cork submariner. 

This is a particularly important committee on which to have representation, because it will be dealing with the review and planned reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.

At the core of European Maritime Day is a two-day conference, which is expected to be attended by more than 1,000 delegates.

In this week's column, Tom MacSweeney also discusses the Crosshaven Traditional Sail and the investigation into the grounding of a boat in Cork Harbour. 

The propeller was first discovered by a sub-aqua diver from Fermoy two years ago. 

The Baltimore Wooden Boat Festival will be held this weekend, starting today and continuing until Sunday.

In this week's column, Tom MacSweeney also discusses Mainport Cedar in Cork, celebrating maritime history and a call for volunteers. 

This year’s festival offers events in locations including Myrtleville, Cobh, Crosshaven, Whitegate, Ringaskiddy, Fountainstown, Spike Island, East Ferry, Monkstown, and city locations such as Marina Park, Cork City Marina, Lee Fields, Blackrock, Crawford Art Gallery, Lapp’s Quay and Nano Nagle Place.

After assessing the situation a decision was made to tow the vessel back to Crosshaven. 

It is particularly poignant to see naval vessels, which had the responsibilities of national maritime security and protection, hauled away when they have been called to help others in maritime distress, writes Tom MacSweeney

Jerome Lordan's family has, for generations, lived at the Old Head of Kinsale and he has published two books about that coastal area

Student counsellor at The National Maritime College of Ireland, Paul McCarthy said that sexual harassment in the maritime industry needs to be addressed.

The Heroine is one of 12 shipping incidents that happened in the month of January during the 19th century, some minor, others serious.

THE setting-up of a maritime task group in the Army Ranger Wing, which will be based at the naval base on Haulbowline Island, is a further reflection of increasing concern about marine security.

Critical assistance was provided to a total of 665 people

TRIBUTES PAID TO 16 MEN FROM CORK WHO DIED ON SS ARDMORE

The Cape Clear Heritage & Fastnet Centre will open for the summer of next year.

Contractors arrived to erect the fence on Monday morning, but having spoken to concerned locals as well as the Gardaí, they paused the proposed works.

The commitment was made at the latest southern committee meeting after a motion from Independent councillor Marcia D’Alton was passed

In episode two, North Atlantic: Searching For Monsters, airing on Sunday, Ken O'Sullivan sails out to the edge of the continental shelf, 250km west of Cork to film whales

In all, 27 Cork beaches received more accolades in the prestigious ceremony than any other county, with 10 Blue Flag beaches, two Blue Flag marinas and 15 Green Coast sites awarded.

The last time the seawall collapsed was during a severe storm in the 1960s

This year’s festival offers over 80 events in a dozen beautiful locations across Cork City and Cork Harbour

The local authority recently announced that due to health and safety concerns, it was necessary for the pier to be blocked off with a safety barrier.

“All of us here at the Port of Cork look forward to welcoming the cruise liners, passengers, and crew in the coming months.”

Named ‘Val Adnams’, the lifeboat is due to arrive in Courtmacsherry, led by a flotilla of local boats, at exactly 13.45

FERGUS O’GORMAN had an affair in the Antarctic. When that finished he headed to Cork and joined the staff of UCC as a lecturer.

The commemorations, organised by Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann (ONE), or the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel, mark the anniversary of the Cork Harbour Tragedy, which occurred on December 12, 1942.

Boats are leaving the industry because owners say they cannot continue to make a living from fishing, which has suffered repeated blows.

The SS Ardmore left her berth at Penrose Quay with a cargo of livestock bound for Fishguard in Wales on November 11, 1940, but was never seen again.

The Port of Cork Company has been holding public consultations on its ‘Port Masterplan 2050’ this week in a number of locations

The ‘Port Masterplan 2050’ will contain plans for the Port of Cork’s operations and development as a “key global port of the future”, considering maritime, landside, and transport connectivity constraints and opportunities

A letter said Defence Minister Simon Coveney is aware of the important role LÉ Eithne has played in Irish maritime and naval heritage and “any decision he makes will be informed by this”.

The 49-year-old, who has been kayaking for the past 39 years, said he knows some people have reservations about his trip, but he emphasized, ‘this is not his first rodeo.’ 

The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat following the call

"It is the visual evidence of ‘the end of an era’, brought from the biggest offshore maritime project now underway in Ireland," writes Tom MacSweeney

“It is no different from the one that we managed to stave off and push off outside of our EEZ, which were the Russians. The only difference here is the flag." 

Councillor D’Alton said the LÉ Eithne embodies the glory days of shipbuilding in Cork

Cork Harbour Festival highlights Cork’s rich maritime heritage and culture, as well as the harbour’s wealth of water-based activities, with the flagship Ocean to City — An Rás Mór at the heart of the celebrations.

It is interesting to think what Cork might have, if the Cuskinny port proposal and a seaplane harbour were successfully developed.

The 60-metre pleasure craft has a crew of 15 and has two Vikal custom tenders, small boats to ferry passengers to and from land or other vessels.

"The Royal Cork Yacht Club is the oldest sailing club in the world - it all began here –and is a huge part of Cork harbour’s history that we are all very proud of.” 

Cobh has an enduring connection to the Lusitania and its tragic story because it is where survivors were brought and many of the dead were buried.

The planned drills had caused considerable upset and controversy in Ireland

The Russian artillery drills at the start of February will take place in international waters but within Irish-controlled airspace and the country’s exclusive economic zone

THE maritime sector became main news this week, focused 240km off the South West Coast where the Russian Navy is expected to launch missile tests. The ‘Law of the Sea,’ got a lot of mention. It is not a subject easy to understand.

SEVENTY-NINE years is a long time to be remembering, I thought, as I stood at the monument on East Beach, in Cobh, last Saturday morning and heard the names of five men called out. It was damp, with a cold wind blowing.

Is Cork Harbour at a tipping point of balance in regard to public interest, community rights and the economic demands?