Infrastructure & Facilities
Our lab and building facilities, research vessels, deep water ROV, Marine Renewable Energy and unique catchment research facilities provide an essential platform for marine research.
Celtic Explorer
The RV Celtic Explorer is a 65.5m multi-purpose research vessel. The vessel can accommodate 35 personnel including 20-22 scientists. The Celtic Explorer is suitable for fisheries acoustic research, oceanographic, hydrographic and geological investigations and can also accommodate the ROV Holland I as well as other ROVs. The Celtic Explorer can spend up to 35 consecutive days at sea.
Tom Crean
The RV Tom Crean, Ireland's new state-of-the-art multi-purpose marine research vessel is due to be completed in 2022. The 52.8 metre vessel will replace the RV Celtic Voyager. RV Tom Crean can accommodate 26 personnel, including 14 scientists and can spend 21 consecutive days at sea. The vessel will undertake fisheries, oceanographic and environmental research and seabed mapping surveys.
Deepwater ROV
Our Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Holland I is named after John Phillip Holland from Co. Clare, Ireland, the inventor of the modern submarine. Purchased in 2008 with the support of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) the Holland I can reach depths of up to 3000 metres and is fitted with high definition video and stills cameras. It can pick up delicate samples from the seabed and can accommodate a wide variety of scientific equipment.
Marine Research Infrastructures
The Marine Research Infrastructures Team manages and operates a diverse range of monitoring platforms for ocean observations in a national and international context, providing vital data enabling research and monitoring of Ireland's seas.
Newport Catchment Facilities
Our unique catchment research facilities at Newport, Co. Mayo include a laboratory, administration block, freshwater hatchery, fish rearing facilities, fish census trapping stations, a salmonid angling fishery and a comprehensively monitored freshwater lake and river catchment.
Laboratory & Building Facilities
Our Headquarters in Oranmore, Co. Galway is an 11,000 square meter building with 54 laboratories and a unique crescent shape office facility.
Lehanagh Pool Marine Research Site
Lehanagh Pool is a licensed multi-species research site, looking to improve and develop environmentally sustainable aquaculture methodologies and techniques. The site currently hosts a range of national and internationally funded research projects in conjunction with Irish third-level institutes, state agencies and international research partners.