Latest News: A Windy Welcome and a Boat Called Billy Goat...
Latest News: A Windy Welcome and a Boat Called Billy Goat...
Posted in Blog, Coastal Tales News on May 08, 2026.
Authors: Cordula Scherer & Sadhbh Horan Trinity Centre for Environmental Humanities, Trinity College Dublin – Partners on the Coastal TALES project.
It’s a blustery Thursday late afternoon when we arrive at the West Pier of Dún Laoghaire Harbour. The wind cuts sharply across the quay, and low, heavy clouds threaten rain at any moment. We glance at each other more than once, wondering whether Ed—the man behind Goat Boat Tours—might call it off. To be fair, we wouldn’t blame him.
There’s also a slight sense of guilt lingering in the background. We had promised to bring a group of at least five people. Instead, it’s just the two of us.
Still, when the time comes, we step out of the car, bracing ourselves against the wind, and make our way to the small, purpose-built Goat Boat Tours container. As we wait, a mature knowledgeable woman approaches us. With a warm smile and a Eastern European accent, she asks if we’re from Trinity and here to meet Ed. When we confirm, she reassures us—he’s just bringing the boat around the corner.
We fall into easy conversation. She tells us that Ed and his friend Conor have been exploring the waters of Dún Laoghaire Harbour since they were seven years old—practically raised by the sea, unable to stay away from it. When we ask how she’s connected to the business, she shrugs modestly and says, “I’m just the mother.” But the pride in her voice tells a much fuller story.
Originally from Croatia, she also spent time in Germany, and soon we’re chatting in German until Ed finally appears—arriving with a striking, powerful speedboat that immediately makes us want to head out into Dublin Bay.
Before we even think about boarding, we’re kitted out in proper seagoing gear—warm, waterproof suits and life vests. It’s clear that Goat Boat Tours takes both comfort and safety seriously, no matter the weather. Ed insists on taking us out despite the small group, high fuel costs, and less-than-ideal conditions. There’s no hesitation—just enthusiasm.
His friend joins us, and we learn it’s Ed’s birthday. Being out on the water, he says, is exactly how he wants to spend it.
We climb aboard and settle into the “speed seats,” which feel surprisingly like riding horseback—except we’re galloping across the sea. Seahorse riding, perhaps?
As we leave the West Pier, Ed sets up his camera and tunes into the marine radio. Almost immediately, a “man overboard” call comes through. Ed remains calm, explaining the procedures that follow such an alert. Within minutes, just as he predicts, the coastguard helicopter is overhead, tracing its search pattern across the bay.
And we? We continue on—cutting across Dublin Bay toward the Forty Foot keeping an eye out for any sign of a person in the water.
As we pass the coastline between the Forty Foot and Colliemore harbour, Ed casually points out waterfront homes—who owns what, what sold for how many millions. He knows his local biz and wraps it in entertaining stories. We joke that we’re clearly in the wrong profession if we ever hope to afford a place here.
But out here, with the wind in our hair and the salt on our skin, it becomes obvious: we wouldn’t trade what we do not for any money and houses in the world. Moments like this— raw, immediate, alive—remind us that we’ve chosen well.
By the time we reach Dalkey Sound, the clouds finally catch up with us. But instead of rain, we’re hit with a sudden burst of snow and hail. It’s brief, almost theatrical—and just as quickly, it clears. What follows feels unreal. A wide, luminous rainbow stretches across the sea, arching over the water in a way that feels almost staged for us. Then Ed glances upward.
“See the gannets?” he says. “I bet there are porpoises around. Keep your eyes peeled.” And sure enough—within moments—two, three harbour porpoises surface just twenty metres from the boat. We’re in awe.
This is Dublin Bay - A Hidden World on Our Doorstep.
It’s easy to forget just how extraordinary this place is. Dublin Bay spans roughly 300 square kilometres of UNESCO Biosphere with multiple protected designations: two RAMSAR sites, several Special Areas of Conservation, and Natura 2000 sites. In fact, it’s the only biosphere in the world that includes such a large portion of a capital city. Here, crucial migratory routes for-breeding birds pass right alongside a population of over 1.6 million people. Gannets dive, seals surface, Arctic terns nest on Dalkey Island—and most of it happens unnoticed by those living just minutes away.
That’s where Goat Boat Tours comes in.
Ed tells us that around 80% of their customers are locals—many of whom had no idea this rich ecosystem existed right on their doorstep. Last year, they even had a 92-year-old woman on board who had lived nearby all her life without ever seeing it.
Goat Boat Tours isn’t just about adrenaline or sightseeing—it’s about connection. Ed speaks with genuine passion about making the bay accessible to everyone. Plans are already underway to introduce a wheelchair-accessible seat this summer, opening the experience to those with limited mobility.
He also hopes to run tours for children from disadvantaged backgrounds—giving them a chance to experience the magic of the sea first-hand.
Listening to him, it’s hard not to feel inspired. This isn’t just a business—it’s a mission rooted in love for the local waters and a desire to share it.
As we head back toward the harbour, the water calms, but something inside us remains stirred. Our faces are salty, our hair windswept, and our spirits unmistakably lifted.
An hour and a half of pure, uncomplicated joy. Back at the dock, Conor is waiting to tie up the boat. After an interview with both him and Ed, the evening draws to a close. It’s late now, and we ask Ed if he’s heading out for a birthday drink.
His answer comes instantly, with a grin: “Cake. Cake, cake, cake.”
And honestly, after a day like this, it feels like exactly the right ending.
Happy Birthday, Ed—and thank you for letting us be part of something so special.
Cordula & Sadhbh – 9th April 2026
