Tom MacSweeney's Seascapes

On the July edition the new Chief Executive of State fisheries agency BIM discusses his job; a Lifeboat Mechanic retires after 34 years; 900 shipwrecks in Dublin Bay and a Polish-Irish-Cork sailor who loves the sea more than the land. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The June edition of SEASCAPES Podcast discusses whether Ireland, an island nation, is protecting its national food supply, because of European discrimination against the fishing industry. Also, a new ferry company launching a service to France from Cork, claims there is too much concentration on East Coast Ports and, the plot to blow up the oldest yacht club in the world. Hosted on Acast. See acas...

The May edition of SEASCAPES, Ireland's Maritime Programme, discusses the extent of foreign factory ships fishing off Ireland, the vast catches of many fish species of fish which they take and why there is little inspection of their operations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The April edition of SEASCAPES, Ireland’s only maritime programme, discusses sea shanties, songs and music of the sea and an international maritime festival to be held in Carrigaline, Co. Cork – and goes to Dungarvan Sailing Club to hear how hurling helped to develop sailing in the County Waterford Harbour.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sally Barnes has been operating Woodcock Smokery at Castletownshend in West Cork for fifty years, the traditional art of smoking wild fish. On the March edition of SEASCAPES she challenges official attitudes to fishermen and to coastal communities, is concerned about new salmon regulations and says it is “utterly heartbreaking” that, for a country that is an island, surrounded by productive a...

This month’s Podcast reports on the major problem affecting development of Ireland’s aquaculture sector – delays in licencing which have been going on for many years. Despite that the rest of the ocean economy is growing and a major contributor to national welfare, as the programme also reports. There is also a report on the new currach training programme for young people in Cork and the story of...

This and other stories – from the amazing smallest seabird which travelled 300,000 kms and has a connection to St. Peter to the enthusiastic Rosslare Maritime group;, an offer to young people to go sail training – and to some older people too; – and the sea tragedy song which saved a thousand lives. All form the storylines on the first edition of SEASCAPES in 2026 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...

Oysters are heroes, says the lady who has grown them for 35 years in Dungarvan Harbour - Cliona Mhic Giolla Chuda General Manager and co-Founder of Waterford Oysters. “They are underestimated, they are climate heroes. It’s an intensive business,” she tells SEASCAPES in the December Podcast, as her company celebrates 35 years exporting to countries around the world. “It’s not for the faint-hearted...

This month’s SEASCAPES Podcast highlights the work of marine pilots, who guide ships safely into and from our ports, carrying over 90 per cent of the country’s exports and imports. Also on the Podcast - Why has the Government reduced funding in the Budget to fishing by nearly €20m. and– the shortage of seafarers. There is an urgent need to recruit more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m...

Inshore fishermen, fishing from small boats, are a core of coastal communities, but face huge challenges. Will they survive? Also on the Podcast – Otters are declining in Ireland and dockers in Dublin want to honour a hero. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the September edition – a sailor spends ten years restoring a Folkboat, then sells it; the RNLI needs Volunteers and Ireland has 750,000 seabird visitors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this month's edition - Has the Government Got the Backbone to Fight for Irish Fishing? That is a tough question, but it is asked on this month’s SEASCAPES Podcast.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The ship’s engineer who first arrived in Cork with the Dutch Smit Tak company for the development of the Kinsale Head Gas Field and stayed to run a marina, Wieste Buwalda, one of the most iconic figures in the marine sector, outlines the challenges of 40 years in the business as he retires, selling the marina to next door neighbour, the oldest yacht club in the world, the Royal Cork at Crosshaven....

This month’s podcast features two families, one from Cork which has invested in a multi-million Euro seafood centre and another whose members have given 140 years of service driving cranes in Waterford Port. The Good family traces its maritime history back to running a ferry boat in Cork Harbour. The O’Hanlon’s work high above ships in Waterford to keep exports and imports moving. Hosted on Acast....

Ireland's maritime sector must be made to benefit all the people of the nation, says the Chairman of the first Oireachtas Committee set up specifically for maritime affairs. Waterford Sinn Fein T.D., Conor McGuinness, tells the SEASCAPES Podcast that the Committee has a "wide remit" and he intends to use it fully.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“There’s a wonderful vibrancy around the marine sector at the moment…..”   Those aren’t my words – they were spoken to me by Minister of State Timmy Dooley in his summary of the overall marine sphere In his first interview after two months in a dual maritime and fisheries post, which you can hear on this month’s SEASCAPES Podcast. Also, a discussion between the two sides of wind farm developm...

Remembering a submarine explosion 105 years ago. Also on this edition – Fish Farming will be a vital supplier of food to future generations … Are whales changing which parts of Ireland they visit and the Waterford Estuary harbour which has changed, but not for the better….. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The “insane” treatment of Ireland’s fishermen.”  “The way the Irish fishing industry is treated about Bluefin Tuna is insane,” says John Shine, a leading figure for 20 years in the marketing and selling of Irish fish, highlighting that Irish fishermen are prevented from catching Bluefin Tuna in Irish waters, while other nations are allowed to do so. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...

On this edition of the maritime programme, SEASCAPES, presented by Tom MacSweeney,the Polish solo sailor who is Ireland’s only representative in what is being described as “a world first event, never attempted before …” explains why he intends to spend over a year sailing 26,000 miles alone around the world on a 19-foot plywood boat which he has built himself….. The Managing Director of a Val...