The Board of Tides & Tales Maritime Community Project CLG is proud to announce a funding sponsorship with Ireland’s Arklow Shipping.

Announcing the 3-year deal, which will provide modest funding and management mentoring expertise to the project, James Alexander Tyrrell, a director of Arklow Shipping, stated that the “collaboration was to recognise the unique and important contribution that the project has made to local maritime heritage”.

James continued, ” Arklow Shipping Limited came into existence in 1966 and has grown over time from 7 vessels to the present 59 ships, many proudly flying the Irish Tricolour. Where we came from helps to inform our ongoing development, and it is in that light that we appreciate the important work of the Tides & Tales project.”

The Mule prior to 2026 launch, now to be renamed Arklow Mule. Arklow Breeze in the background.

Breda Murphy, chair of the project, explained that the collaboration came about after the captain of the Arklow Breeze mentioned to Waterford pilot Eoghan Cleare about the striking colour similarities between the project’s punt and the company fleet. Eoghan gave some background details on the project and the Captain mentioned this in passing to the Company. This led to a call from senior management, and in the last few weeks, a deal has been ironed out to help grow the project, now in its 12th year. The punt will be renamed Arklow Mule as part of the funding package, “a price worth paying for the publicity alone,” stated Breda.

Project founder and skipper of the Mule, Andrew Doherty, was not too sure about the renaming and initially thought it a step to far. The punt, which is used throughout the summer months for research, photography, and the odd excursion to Jack Meads or Campile, is in the Moran family from at least the 1950s and is named after a prong that was adapted to a punt for salmon driftnetting. However, after discussing the issue with the family, the name change was agreed upon for the duration of the funding agreement.

Breda clarified that although the paperwork has yet to be completed, the collaboration is for a three year period, and the project was anxious to get the news out by the 1st of April for obvious reasons.

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