Tides & Tales
Tides & Tales is a community response to the loss of maritime traditions in the Waterford harbour villages, the tidal portions of the Three Sister River network, Barrow, Nore & Suir and the Waterford coastline. We focus on the maritime and fishing heritage that was once an intrinsic part of the maritime community here through research, writing and dissemination. The work is communicated via the blog, social media, books, presentations, workshops, walks and in educational settings.
Voluntary Management Committee
In December 2023 a voluntary committee was formed to seek to secure funds to offset the costs of the work which up to that point had been entirely self-financed through personal means, walks and talks. The work was and is also supported with information and images by many contributors and mentors with a deep interest in the maritime community, local history, traditions and heritage. In September 2024 we became a CLG (#772195) with a three person board. Our Chair is Breda Murphy, Secretary, Damien McLellan and Treasurer is Eoghan Hegarty.
Our Vision
Heritage Preserved, Opportunities Created
Our Mission
To foster understanding, appreciation and care for the unique culture and natural environment of the Three Sister Rivers by researching, documenting and promoting the stories, traditions, trades and river craft of the communities where the rivers meet the sea
Our Method:
- To raise awareness of the rich historic and cultural heritage of these communities that may not be forgotten or taken for granted.
- To research, record, document and publish the maritime stories and traditions that are in danger of being lost forever.
- To establish a working group that can support this work and put it on a more permanent basis.
- To finance a co-ordinator who can take a lead role in this work.
- To raise funds by sourcing grants and other income streams that are available and relevant to the project.
About The Management Committee:
The Management Committee is a not-for-profit group.
The aims of the Management Committee are as follows:
- Maintain and support the existing body of work.
- Examine the feasibility of identifying and establishing an appropriate formal framework to support the work.
- To develop a pilot project proposal.
- Explore funding options.
Our Values:
This project has been driven since inception by the principals of community development. It was born out of a desire to strengthen the social capital and community pride of the maritime communities of the estuary and rivers. Some specific values that guide us include:
- Awareness Raising. To raise the consciousness of what we have in terms of location, history, knowledge and skills.
- Empowerment. Seek to encourage an appreciation and respect for the traditions of this maritime community to get people engaged, excited and involved.
- Participation. Seek ways to include people of all ages in the process of researching, communicating and preserving the heritage of our community.
- Respect. Model respect and pride in our maritime traditions and those who practiced them and work to foster a shared appreciation of this in everything we do.
- Social Justice. Strive to put a focus on the issues impacting the maritime villages and communities and ensure that any benefits are directed towards these and not those already doing well.
Our Blog
A Dark Christmas: Waterford’s Hurricane of 1825
For many of us, Christmas is a time of goodwill and making merry, if you are fortunate enough and depending on what you do for a living. For seafarers, it tends to be just another time of the year. But in the days of sail, it was also a sailor’s lottery of favourable...
Steady As She Goes podcast
We are delighted to hear that the Rosslare Harbour Maritime Heritage Centre have created a new podcast series and the first episode has just dropped. Hosted by Captain Sean Boyce, the programme will profile much of the work of the centre, which was founded in October...
Launch of Tides & Tales Strategic Plan 2025 – 2029
On Thursday Decemember 4th 2025 Tides & Tales Chair, Breda Murphy launched our Strategic Plan. It brought to an end a busy year for the voluntary board and was even more satisfying as the committee had endured so many setbacks and challenges. Funded by the Local...
500th Blog Post – a Project milestone
November 28 2025 marked a significant milestone for Tides & Tales Maritime Community Project with our 500th blog post. The project started out in May 2014 as a voluntary initiative to respond to the loss of the maritime/fishing traditions in Cheekpoint, Co...
Shapinsay sinking Nov 1967
The MV Shapinsay was a converted fishing trawler that came to grief on the Hook Peninsula in November 1967. Miraculously, no one aboard died, thanks in part to the bravery of her master, but also the sharp eyes of the lightkeepers of Hook Head Lighthouse. In early...
Martin’s Old Road Encounter
I've mentioned more than once how one of the highlights of Halloween growing up in Cheekpoint in the 1970s was my father's ghost stories. One I remember concerns an incident that befell one of his drinking buddies. Martin, RIP, well known to all in the community as a...