Tom MacSweeney's Seascapes

This month on SEASCAPES PODCAST – how the “Shure it’ll be grand…” attitude of politicians has not helped the Irish fishing industry in European negotiations…. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month on SEASCAPES stories about the independent region that the western seaboard – the Wild Atlantic Way – once was … An island fisherman’s gansey from West Cork becoming as world famous as the Aran sweater and the disappointment of a project to preserve traditional fisheries which is closing down. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the September edition – a revelation about a Government Minister being warned off by a senior Department official because he was protecting Irish fishermen. How can this interference by a civil servant be tolerated? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Determined to Finish the Tough and Loneliest ‘Race for Madmen’ On the August edition, Kerry sailor Pat Lawless talks about his determination to finish, at his second attempt, the Golden Globe non-stop around the world yacht race in old boats, with no modern technology, which has been called the “toughest, loneliest sporting event in the world’ and also, the ‘Race for Madmen.’ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 and fertile waters, the possibilities of making livelihoods from the sea have been given away. Also on the Podcast, Joe Walsh in Ballycotton discusses his new project at Paulona Seafoods – Ireland’s first online auction selling Irish fish. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 how Brendan Behan did not keep a job with the Commissioners of Irish Lights.       Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.