Upcoming events in the Galway Bay area.

Last week saw the Council of Irish Water Safety meet with Deputy Tony Killeen, the Minister of State with responsibility for water safety, to discuss a strategic approach to reducing the number of drownings in Ireland.

A born and bred Claddagh woman, it was only logical for Anne McElroy (née Coyne) to spend her working life just around the corner in the Galway Harbour Company. At the tender age of 16, Anne began working as a secretary for the company in 1965, and has just taken early retirement.

Looking for something for the kids to do this mid-term? Why not let them experience the thrill, excitement and fulfilment of sailing a dinghy!

Upcoming events in the Galway Bay area.

Having grown up "less than 15ft" from the Shannon in Athlone, John Leech has loved the water all his life, so it's no surprise that he has ended up at the head of one of the country's most important marine-related organisations.

Ballinasloe was the site of Irish Water Safety's annual conference last weekend. Over one hundred water safety experts from around the country attended the event, which was hosted by Irish Water Safety, the statutory and voluntary body promoting water safety in Ireland.

Upcoming events in the Galway Bay area.

Although he grew up by the sea in Youghal, Co. Cork, it was only when Michael Guiry got a summer job researching the Bantry Bay oil spillage that he became interested in marine science.

Dr Peter Heffernan, CEO of the Marine Institute has welcomed the EU Commission's Blue Paper, 'An Integrated Maritime Policy for the European Union', which was launched last Wednesday in Brussels.