Enjoyed a fine day out sea kayaking with Des Keaney and the team at Deep Blue Sea Kayaking, along with a group of invited marine scientists and staff members of Pew Charitable Trusts, in Ireland for the Pew Fellows annual conference based in the Grand Hotel, Malahide. Three days of presentations on marine environmental issues, to include an overview of the Irish sea with particular reference to fish stocks and the influence of commercial fishing by Professor Callum Roberts and Ed Fahy. Not for the feint hearted, a damning indictment of sea fisheries mismanagement, the science does not lie, its the politicians that do not listen.
I digress, pre trip our group was fueled with a slap up meal of beef bourginon followed by chocolate fudge cake and cream all washed down with mulled wine at Deep Blue Sea’s base in Blackrock, Co. Dublin. Onwards to Bulloch Harbour, a safety check, assessment of experience and we were off paddling with the tide towards Dalkey Island. Des’s team of Sue, Sonja, Tom, and Padraig, were first class keeping tabs anonymously always feeling like they were just part of the group.
Circumnavigating Dalkey Island we were joined by a family of grey seals who bumped our kayaks, played with the loose toggles, and dived with a whoosh of spray and foam. Taking time out on the island Des gave the group a brief history of St Begnet, the martello tower and fort. Standing for a group photo, it was nice to think that people from Australia, British Columbia, Mexico, France, Mauritius, California, and Chicago would go home with pleasant memories of a wonderful afternoon spent paddling in Dublin Bay.
