Steady As She Goes

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 industry. We also mark Ernest Shackleton’s birthday, bring you news from around the coast, celebrate the arrival of Larne RNLI’s new Shannon class lifeboat, and bid farewell to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group’s vessel Celtic Mist.
From pigs and sheep to proud seafaring heritage — this is Episode 10.

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 is a fascinating conversation with Captain John Reilly, as we delve into the story of Harbour Towage and his lifelong love of maritime history. From harbour life to the great ocean-going liners, John shares memories, insights, and reflections shaped by a career spent close to the sea.
As always, Steady As She Goes is about the ships, the stories, and the people who keep maritime heritage alive — one watch at a time.

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 the Month and Maritime words of the Week.

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 painting of the tug at work on display at the Rosslare Harbour Maritime Heritage Centre.

When we think about maritime history, we often picture great liners, dramatic wrecks, or ships lost at sea. But just as often, it was a smaller vessel — working quietly day after day — that made everything else possible.

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 — and the human stories behind decades of rescue work.

From lives shaped by the sea to moments of endurance, service, and connection beyond Ireland’s shores, this episode continues our journey through the people, places, and working vessels that define Ireland’s relationship with the ocean.