Seascapes

On Seascapes this week, the Corkwoman who's head of European Fisheries Control, the Lithuanian scientists measuring ship pollution using drones, and the artists who are focusing on islands.

This week on Seascapes with Lorna Siggins, the focus is on cruise ships; the economic benefits, the environmental cost and the lives of those working on board.

On this week's Seascapes Lorna Siggins is in Cork for EU Maritime Day, and a seaside bookseller shares a recommendation.

20 years since the Shell to Sea Campaign and the jailing of five local men, who became known as 'The Rossport Five', Lorna Siggins revisits the story, and we ask people whose lives involve the sea to tell us about their favourite marine books.

In this edition of Seascapes, a public meeting to discuss proposed new windfarms out in the Irish Sea, and Lorna Siggins meets the first woman to windsurf a giant wave in Hawaii, made famous by a Bond movie.

Fergal Keane visits the Coastguard station in Valentia Island in County Kerry. Valentia is one of the main marine search and rescue centres in the county and plays a major role in rescue efforts right along the south west coast. We also hear from Owen Brislin about how the station operated.

Seascapes this week comes from the Ireland on the Water Expo. We hear from Olympic gold medal rower, Fintan McCarthy, ambassador for the event. We hear from Bloom Field House Boats. Madeline Kelly tells us about women in angling. We hear about the solar powered boat Grid Buster, Atlantic Costal Cruises and CH Marine on paddle boards.

Lorna Siggins reports from the recent Skipper Expo in Limerick and also meets the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue. Fergal Keane hears about a new pier in Howth which has just been opened for large trawlers. Chief Engineer at the Department of Agriculture and Marine, Noel Clancy, speaks about the new pier.

Author Jon Gower chats about his new book, The Turning Tide, A Biography of the Irish Sea. It is a facinating mix of travelogue, nature and history of the stretch of water which separates us from Wales. Also, Joanna McNicholas reports on the worrying increase in the numbers of Loggerhead Turtles which are being washed up on the Irish Coast.

Senator Sean Kyne speaks about the ongoing crisis in Inland Fisheries Ireland, where the Minister for Environment this week removed the last remaining board members, on a no fault basis. We also hear about the annual Seafarers Conference and the Skipper Expo.

We hear how the number of Navy ships available for active service has dropped dramatically. Norman Freeman remembers how he was recruited from maritime college in Dublin to join the Marconi company as a radio officer. And Andrew Crowley of Sherry Fitzgerald auctioneers in Westport, tells us about the lighthouse on Clare Island is for sale.

We the fishing port of Casatletownbere in West Cork to hear about the de-commissioning scheme for fishing trawlers. We also pay tribute to Captain Brendan Forde who died recently, aged 90. And we hear about the adventurers of Conor O'Brien, who became the first man to sail the Irish Tricolour around the world.

Fergal Keane visits a troop of Sea Scouts on Bull Island in Dublin. Also, Norwegian adventurer, Astrid Furholt was the first woman to ski to the South Pole and she spoke to Lorna Siggins.

Seascapes, the RTÉ maritime programme with Fergal Keane. Seascapes brings you around our coasts and onto traditional and modern boats and yachts for a taste of the great outdoors.

Fergal meets windsurfer Oisin Van Gelderen, who holds the Irish speed record for windsurfing. Norman Freeman has the story of how a Frenchman conducted an experiment to drift across the Atlantic on a dinghy and survived by living off the sea. And a new Study into Ireland's Ocean Economy has found that the sector shrunk during Covid.

We hear from the programme maker of the TV series, The Great Lighthouses of Ireland, David Hare. We also hear from the Chief Executive of the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation, Patrick Murphy, about a decommissioning scheme which will see one third of all Irish trawlers over 15 metres in length scrapped.

Joanna McNicholas reports form the Erris Peninsula on recent dolphin strandings. Norman Freeman recalls meeting a ships captain who fell on to difficult times after his ship was wrecked. And we talk to outgoing Chief Executive of the Irish Sailing Association, Harry Hermon.

We hear from photographer Denis Horgan about his new book, 'Ireland's Guiding Lights'. We also visit Assistant Professor of Marine Biology Nick Payne in Trinity College to hear about his work and research.

We hear how pods of Orcas, or Killer Whales, have been attacking yachts off the coast of Portugal. We also attend the Navigating to 2050 conference hosted by the Commissioners of Irish Lights this week. Ann Plelschke of Ocean Infinity Uk tells us about the development of unmanned autonomous ships

Seascapes tonight visits the Galway Docklands festival which took place last weekend.

Seascapes tonight hears from Norway about polar explorer, Roald Amundsen and the 22nd annual Shackleton Autumn School in Athy. Waterford Harbour Master, Captain Darren Doyle, tells of the rescue of a 140 metre container ship in the Irish Sea this week. And Inland Fisheries are encouraging women to get involved in angling.

Tonight Seascapes comes from Aberdeen, where Irish Fishing representatives were inspecting offshore, floating wind farms this week. There were mixed opinions in the group about how the fishing industry and wind farms can co-exist.

Lorna Siggins meets transatlantic rower Damian Browne on the Galway docks as he finishes his epic journey. Norman Freeman tells us why cats are considered lucky on board ships and we hear from Bangor University academic and nautical architect, Innes McCartney, on his study of the shipwrecks of the Irish Sea.

We hear from Irish solo sailor Pat Lawless. Pat leaves Les Sables-d'Olonne in France on Sunday on a journey which could take him up to nine months. We also hear from Gregor McGuckin, who was the Irish entry in the 2018 Golden Globe and from the Race Director, Don McIntyre.

Tonight, we are on board Ireland's new sail training ship, the Grace O'Malley. We hear from former TD, Catherine Noon, of the Atlantic Trust. International sailor Tom Dolan speaks from France as he is about to set out on his fifth Figaro race. And Norman Freeman recalls how he got involved in generating fake news on board a ship.