Tel: 074 9736899 | Mail: editor@marinetimes.ie




Tom MacSweeney's THIS ISLAND NATION
SPEAKING OUT FOR THE FISHING INDUSTRY

John Nolan has been 37 years in the fishing industry. I interviewed him for the centrespread MARINE TIMES INTERVIEW feature for the February edition of the paper. He spoke strongly from the experience he has had in the industry and the position he holds as Managing Director of Castletownbere Fishermen’s Organisation, the leading whitefish port in the country. From his experience in this West Cork base he told me about the challenges for the industry and was particularly critical of the manner in which Government Ministers, civil servants and politicians, failed to understand, as he put it, the importance of the fishing industry when they gave away so much of Ireland’s fishing waters, the richest in Europe, when negotiating entry to the then Common Market, now European Union,

In the interview, extracts of which are carried in this edition of the radio programme, THIS ISLAND NATION, because of the importance of what he says, he makes the point that, if the EU is really a ‘community’ as it claims to be, then that ‘community’ should right the wrong done to Ireland.

You can read the full interview in the February edition of the MARINE TIMES.

Also on this edition of the programme, the Chief of Staff the Defence Forces says that Ireland is not good at remembering its famous mariners. There are many other stories in this wide-ranging programme, from the understated heroism of lifeboat crews to offshore island communities and much more.

THIS ISLAND NATION, is presented by Marine Times Deputy Editor, Tom MacSweeney.

We are always on the look out for photos and news from around the coast and from all our harbours so please do send them on to us via email to editor@marinetimes.ie



February 2020 issue in shops this week

  • Groundhog Day – Penalty Points … AGAIN!

    Draft Legislation for Penalty Points Underway ‘Without Sufficient Thought or Consultation With the Fishing Industry’

    Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed is set to bring the General Scheme of the Sea-Fisheries (Amendment) Bill 2020 to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine for pre legislative scrutiny before its drafted. This current attempt to introduce the controversial Penalty Points system for Irish fishermen who breach strict EU fishing rules is underway again, without any consultation with the fishing industry.

  • Castletownbere RNLI Honoured

    Castletownbere RNLI lifeboat crew are to be honoured by the charity for a dramatic rescue of a fishing crew that took place in challenging conditions and resulted in the lives of six fishermen being saved. Coxswain Dean Hegarty is to be awarded a Bronze Medal for Gallantry, which will be first RNLI Medal for Gallantry to be awarded in Ireland in ten years by the Institution.

  • Mooney Boats Delivers its Latest Build ‘Amethyst’

    Mooney Boats Ltd, in Killybegs have quite the reputation for delivering state of the art new build vessels for their customers and the recently completed 20.25m, 7.30m beam Amethyst (BF19), a twin-rig trawler for skipper/owner Ralston Johnston and his crew, is no exception.

    Pick up a copy in your local shop or online »




WOMEN IN IRELAND’S SEAFOOD INDUSTRY »

Bord Iascaigh Mhara to Increase Visibilty of Women in Ireland’s Seafood Industry

Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Ireland’s Seafood Development Agency, today, 6th March 2018, launched a promotional campaign to profile the important role women play in Ireland’s Seafood Sector. The Irish Seafood Sector contributed €1.15 billion to Ireland’s GDP in 2017. However women’s participation in the industry remains low. Just over one in ten (11.7%) employees in fishing, forestry and agriculture sectors in Ireland is female. This is significantly lower than the EU average of 36.9%. ‘I'm Trudy McIntyre, from Dunmore East, Co Waterford. I'm the daughter of a fishing family and now the wife of a fisherman, Shane McIntyre with two young daughters. I came into fishing through my father, spending time with him when he was out working on the boat.'

INTERVIEW»

The Future of the Legendary Galway Hookers

The legendary Galway Hookers are the subject of our monthly interview in which the Chairman of Cumann HúcéirÍ na Gaillimhe, the Galway Hookers Association, Dr. Michael Brogan, talks to Marine Times Deputy Editor, Tom MacSweeney, about the future of these iconic West of Ireland boats and says they are a maritime art, the preservation of which deserves official support. The sight of a Galway Hooker under full sail is a wonderful spectacle, which can lift the heart of anyone with a maritime feeling. To helm one is even more stirring – and demanding. The feeling of power which comes through the tiller is astonishing, as I found on the helm of the MacDuach, the biggest of the Hookers.


Tabú - Gafa sna Líonta TG4 Documentary »

Tabú - Gafa sna Líonta TG4 Documentary

Despite having the richest fishing waters in Europe, Ireland’s fishing industry and fishing communities are swimming against the tide. Gafa sna Líonta tells the stories of those struggling to make a living and to make ends meet on our coastline. Filmed in the fishing towns of Castletownbere, Dunmore East and Heilbhic, this immersive documentary chronicles the challenges each season brings on sea and on land for our coastal communities.

opinion »

Eaten Bread Etc???

Art Kavanagh: I read in disbelief of the proposed write downs in some high profile debts and wonder how people are allowed to keep Houses that they have effectively not paid for. When you borrow money and give security – you are warned that in the event of non payment you are likely to forfeit the Security. That was the deal you signed up to. The lenders responsibility was to allow you to draw the Loan once it is approved. Your responsibility or your part of the deal is to pay the loan off or forfeit the Security you gave for the Loan.



Rogues Gallery in the Marine Times Newspaper

    Joefy checking images and of his 'younger days' in the September issue of the Marine Times in Power's Centra in Dunmore East - Photo courtesy William Power

    Video Gallery on the Marine Times Newspaper website


      If you would like a picture of your crew in the Marine Times print edition or your video to appear on our website please email us at editor@marinetimes.ie