Steady As She Goes

Episode 20 of the Steady As She Goes Podcast sets sail with an inspiring feature on the remarkable Spirit of Shackleton project. We’re joined by Peter Scallan to explore the story behind the famous yacht, the adventure, the endurance, and the mission that continues to capture imaginations around the world. Also in this episode: ⚓ News from around the coast ⚓ Stena Nordica returns to the Rosslare...

Episode 19 of Steady As She Goes – “Close to Home, Far From Safety” – brings together maritime stories from Ireland and beyond, exploring how danger, resilience and change are never far from the sea. In this episode: ⚓ The launch of the new Hibernia Line Cork–France ferry service ⚓ Major developments at the Port of Cork, including its new 2026–2030 strategy and direct New York connection ⚓ The...

In this jam-packed episode of Steady As She Goes , we set sail on another journey through maritime history, resilience, and remarkable stories from Ireland and beyond. This week, we’re joined by Andrew Doherty of Tides & Tales as we delve into the tragic story of the Alfred D. Snow , wrecked at the entrance to Waterford Harbour in 1888, and uncover the fascinating story of a beautifully preser...

In this episode of Steady As She Goes , we take a step back in time to reflect on two dramatic maritime incidents that unfolded on the very same day along the Wexford coast in 1860. We begin with the story of the American ship Neptune of Boston, driven ashore on the Burrow of Ballyteigue while en route from the US to Liverpool with over 4,000 bales of cotton. Battling fog, wind, and heavy seas, he...

Episode 16 – Restoration & Revival In this episode of Steady As She Goes , we bring you the latest maritime news, stories, and developments from around the coast and beyond. We look at recent updates from the maritime world, including ferry route developments linking Ireland with mainland Europe, and the continued growth in connectivity for both freight and passengers. There’s also a welcome r...

In Episode 15 of Steady As She Goes , we explore Irish maritime history, coastal news, and life at sea — from the Irish Sea to the Atlantic coast. This episode features a powerful remembrance of the Tuskar Rock air disaster (1968) , marking the anniversary of Aer Lingus Flight 712 and its lasting impact on Ireland’s southeast coast. In our News from around the coast segment, we cover: Galway RNLI...

In this episode of Steady As She Goes , we sit down with Capt. Dermot Gray for a fascinating look back on a remarkable life at sea, including 38 years of service with C.I.L. From the bridge to the coastline, Dermot shares stories, insights, and experiences from decades spent working in Irish waters and beyond — offering a rare glimpse into the realities of a seafaring career. We also bring you: Ne...

Episode 13 of Steady As She Goes brings another packed round-up of maritime stories, history and news from around our coasts and beyond. In this episode we look at several developments in the ferry world, including the charter of MV Norbay for the Rosslare–Cherbourg service and the arrival of Côte d’Albâtre covering duties on the Dunkirk–Rosslare route. We also revisit the proposed Cork–Boulogne f...

Some modern ships now sail with giant spinning towers rising above their decks. It looks like futuristic technology — designed to help cut fuel consumption and emissions. But the idea behind it was first tested almost a century ago… and it worked.

In this episode of Steady As She Goes , we explore the spirit of dauntless courage that defines life at sea — past and present. We’re joined by David Carroll to reflect on maritime heritage and the stories that continue to shape our coastal communities. In Maritime Words of the Week , we dive into the origins of “Monkey Island” — that distinctive high vantage point on a ship’s superstructure — and...

Episode 11 of Steady As She Goes remembers the ILV Isolda , the Irish Lights vessel whose dramatic wartime loss left a lasting mark on our maritime story. In this episode, we’re joined by Elleesa Rushby to explore the history of Isolda, the events surrounding her sinking, and why her story still resonates today. We also bring you News From Around the Coast and our ever-popular Maritime Word of the...

From livestock cargoes to lifeboat legacies, Episode 10 of Steady As She Goes is a story of small beginnings and lasting impact. We look back at the very first passenger sailing from Rosslare — a voyage that carried more than just travellers, and helped shape a proud maritime tradition. Thirty years on, we reflect on the Sea Empress disaster and the lasting safety lessons learned across the indust...

In Episode 9 we cast our net wide once again, bringing you the latest news and stories from around the coast, along with our Maritime Words of the Week — small phrases that carry a lifetime of seafaring tradition. We then turn our attention to Rosslare Harbour and the lifeboat St. Brendan , exploring her service, her role on the station, and the waters she has faithfully served. Our main feature i...

In this special extended episode of Steady As She Goes , we tell the story of The Long Watch — the quiet, dangerous, and often forgotten service carried out by Irish merchant seamen during the Second World War on the MV Kerlogue We also launch our Seafaring Stories slot when we speak with Radio Officer Robert McFadden. We have an On Watch report from Tommy Dover in Wicklow along with our Model of...

This is Harbour Stories — short, standalone episodes from Steady As She Goes , telling the stories of the ships, people, and working vessels that kept Irish harbours moving. In this episode, we’re telling the story of one such vessel: the tug Wexford — built in 1888, and for decades essential to the life and safety of Wexford Harbour. And today, her story can still be seen, through a beautiful pai...

In this episode of Steady As She Goes, we turn our attention to the lifesaving tradition of Dublin Bay. Sean is joined by maritime historian Cormac Lowth to explore the history of the lifeboats that have served the bay, with a particular focus on RNLI Dún Laoghaire Lifeboat Station. Together, they trace how lifeboat services developed in response to changing ships, weather, and coastal communities...

In this episode of Steady As She Goes, we explore how Ireland’s maritime history survives not only in archives and harbours — but on the seabed itself. Our main feature takes us beneath the waves with Ed Burke, wreck diver and maritime historian, as he tells the remarkable story of Le Impatient, a French vessel lost off Mizen Head in 1797. Drawing on years of research and first-hand diving experie...

In this episode of Steady As She Goes, we explore maritime history through art, memory, and place. Our main feature, “A Picture Paints a Thousand Ships,” sees Sean joined by Brian Cleare, maritime artist and historian, to discuss how paintings, sketches, and visual records help preserve the stories of ships, harbours, and working life at sea — often capturing details lost to written history. We al...

In this episode of Steady As She Goes, we bring together a range of stories that reflect the breadth of Ireland’s maritime heritage — from working harbours to individual acts of courage. We begin with an update from the Rosslare Harbour Maritime Heritage Centre, before speaking with Tommy Dover of Wicklow Maritime about preserving maritime history and community memory along the east coast. Our Mod...

Released on New Year’s Eve, this episode looks at how the Rosslare Harbour Maritime Heritage Centre came into being. Sean is joined by Leo Coy and John Boyce to tell the story of the Centre’s origins — from early ideas and community support to the preservation of artefacts, memories, and maritime stories connected to Rosslare Harbour. Alongside the conversation, the episode features news from arou...

In this episode of Steady As She Goes, we speak with maritime historian Terry Conlan about his new publication, Irish Merchant Ships and Shipowners, and the stories behind Ireland’s merchant fleet. We discuss the ships, companies, and individuals who shaped Irish maritime trade, along with news from around the coast and our regular maritime word of the week. An essential episode for anyone interes...

An introduction to Steady As She Goes, a podcast exploring Ireland’s rich maritime history — the ships, people, harbours, and working vessels that shaped life around our coast. In this opening episode, we set out what the podcast is about, why these stories matter, and what listeners can expect in future episodes — from merchant ships and lifeboats to harbours, rescues, and forgotten working craft...