Tom MacSweeney's Seascapes

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.      

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