As open water sea swimmers prepare for a Galway Bay crossing this weekend, Irish Water has said there is “no proven link” between a recent serious pollution incident in the city and the quality of bathing water off Galway’s beaches.

MORE than 1,000 ferry passengers had to be diverted to Dublin yesterday after a blockade of Rosslare and Waterford harbours by fishermen protesting Government-imposed fishing restrictions.

Rescue services launched a search early today for a fishing boat with six men on board that went missing in stormy weather off northern Portugal, officials said.