Seascapes

We visit Dublin Port and hear about ambitious expansion plans from the port Chief Executive Eamonn O'Reilly. Details of the plan can be found at: https://www.dublinport.ie/masterplan/3fm/ We are also in Seapoint, to hear of concerns about the water quality in Dublin Bay with Gerry Jones of SOS Dublin Bay. https://sosdublinbay.ie/

We stop off at Fenit Lighthouse in Co Kerry, operating since 1854. Noel Sweeney met tour operator Mary O'Brien Browne and got a history lesson from John McGibney. Also on the show, an Irish team, Row Hard Or Go Home will take part in the Row the Atlantic 2022 event.

We visit a couple in Leitrim who have opted for life on board, on our inland waterways. Tom Lewis is a renowned singer of sea shanties and a folk singer who is well known in folk circles. Tonight, he and Lynn show us around their new boat on the Boyle River and speak about their lives. You can find more about Tom here: www. TomLewis.net

Sir Ranulph Fiennes speaks to Lorna Siggins about Shackleton's legacy and his own upcoming adventures. https://shackletonmuseum. Lighthouse Storybook is a new children's book, by very young writers, about the great lighthouses of Ireland. 12-year-old Holly Lawlor reads her story, The Night The Light Went Out. https://childreninhospital.ie

We are back at the Southhampton Boat Show. It's the nearest boat show we have to Ireland at the moment and we hear from many of the exhibitors: https://epropulsion.uk/ https://www.dadsboats.com/ https://www.honnormarine.co.uk/ https://setagyachts.com/ https://www.supermarine.co.uk/

Noel Sweeney visits Loop Head Lighthouse in Co. Clare and meets former lighthouse keeper, Stephen Rowan. Lorna Siggins speaks to Tobias Carter who plans to use 47-foot aluminium yacht Northabout to highlight climate change as part of the work with the charity Uno Mondo. www.unomondo.org

There are moves to bring a tall ship from Sweden to Ireland to replace the Asgard II. We hear from Cormac Gebruer and Brid Barrett on how this ship could help train future Irish mariners. Plus Conor Sweetman hears about the spectacular sport of kite surfing from kiter, Eoin Kernan.

We hear about a new film produced to highlight the unfairness of EU fishing quotas. 'Exploiting Irish Fishermen' was unveiled to TDs in Buswells Hotel in Dublin this week. Mike McCartney visits the newly reopened Meelick Weir on the River Shannon. The weir and a new walkway link Galway and Offaly and it was officially re-opened last week.

We visit the Southampton Boat Show, the nearest one to Ireland. Fergal Keane speaks to many of the exhibitors, including luxury Sunseeker Yachts, paddleboards, foils and a new Beneteau yacht. We also hear about the Court of Appeal overturning the ban on large trawlers fishing close to shore. TD Holly Cairns says new legislation is urgently needed.

RTE Olympic sailing analyst, Maurice O'Connell, gives a rundown of what the America's Cup is and what it would mean to Ireland if it were to be held here. Journalist Paul Lewis in Auckland tells us about the feelings there. Plus solo sailor Tom Dolan on his podium finish in the last leg of the Solitaire du Figaro.

We visit Blacksod Lighthouse in Co. Mayo and catch up with Peter Lawless, a sailor who is a month into what he hopes will be Ireland's first solo non-stop circumnavigation of the world.

A trip on Lady Min, a restored classic racing yacht restored by Simon O’Keefe. Noel Sweeney is in Union Hall as fishermen have catch weighed by the SFPA under controversial new regulations. And we hear from Michael Cullen in Tramore about the Metal Man, the iconic navigation aid in Waterford and we hear Michael’s song The Ballad of the Metal Man.

We visit Vicarstown in Couty Laois and the Barrow Line of the Grand Canal. Michael Lawless hears from boat owners and from Barrowline Cruises', Orla Crean, on their concerns about the current low water levels on the canal at the moment. We also have a response from Waterways Ireland. And we are on a Galway Hooker, undertaking a cultural mission.

As Ireland moves into the 21st century, a group of musicians from the western islands have found a unique way to gather and preserve their islands heritage and culture, and foster friendships and reconnections between their isolated island communities. The Galway Hooker, the MacDuach is pictured at Clare Island.

RTÉ's Michael Lawless travels to Vicarstown, County Laois as one boat hire company questions if it can stay open, as low water levels make it extremely difficult for boats to navigate our canals. A historian, locals and a man living full-time on the canal, share their concerns and experiences. We hear from Waterways Ireland about the issue.

An in-depth report on the sinking of the Cunard liner, the Lusitania, in May of 1915. And Lorna Siggins visits the Aran Island of Inis Oirr, to hear about their campaign for a new pier and visits the island's Arts centre to hear about an exhibition of currachs.

Noel Sweeney visits Valentia Island, where he hears about the newly refurbished lighthouse and visitor centre. And Fergal Keane tries his hand at flyfishing in Co. Waterford, on a lake run by the Waterford City and County Trout Anglers. Visiting anglers to the lake are welcome and day tickets are available. Details on www.waterfordflyfishing.ie.

We meet Peter Lawless who is about to embark on a solo, non-stop, around the world sailing bid. We hear about his preparations, about Waxwing and about his remarkable family history in long-distance solo sailing. If he succeeds, Peter will become the first Irish person to complete a solo, non-stop, circumnavigation.

We cast an eye over boats that were abandoned/seized from waterways and being auctioned by tender. Stephen Morris has been rebuilding the classic yachts, Dublin Bay 21s. The first three rebuilds are to return to Dun Laoghaire for the first time in 35 years next weekend. Plus an update on Ireland's bid for the America's Cup!

Joanna McNicholas hears how the increased frequency of the Clare Island ferry in Co. Mayo will improve life for the islanders. Alex Taylor is a young Irishman who is working in the fishing industry in New Zealand. He speaks about his life at sea. And Fergal Keane goes fishing with renowned sea angler Joe McPeake!

Kieran Cotter has been the Cox of the Baltimore lifeboat for more than 30 years and is the longest-serving lifeboat volunteer in the country. He retired earlier this year and he spoke to Fergal Keane about many of the rescues he has been on. Plus Noel Sweeney takes one of the first tour boats to visit the Skelligs in nearly two years.

The sea journey around the world taken by the Lions rugby tour in 1950 plus the new National Marine Planning Framework (NMPF), Ireland’s first national framework for managing marine activities.