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Tides & Tales is a free-to-access site. We profile the best of Waterford and the surrounding areas’ maritime heritage.
Since 2014 we have continued to offer high quality content every month showcasing the richness of our maritime past. The story count is now exceeds 500 tales of ships, trades, people and the communities of the area.
This maritime heritage project is a community initiative which depends on the generosity of its subscribers and those who visit our site. If you feel that you’ve got value from the website, or if you would like to support the work into the future you can make a donation below, or ask for our details via the contact page.
Our Blog
Lough Fisher – Another Waterford Shipping Disaster
On March 30th 1918, a small steamer was chugging along the southern Irish coast. Of the thirteen souls aboard, eleven crew and two naval gunners, eight were from or living in the port city of Waterford. All would die that night, within sight of their homeland. Another...
Geoffrey Spencer’s Oriental Gamble
Geoffrey Spencer was the founder of the Spencer shipping operation which burst into life with an all or nothing bet on Waterford's quays in 1869. This story charts the family shipping enterprise that flourished for almost 50 years from the initial fateful risk on the...
Bolton’s Doorway?
At a recent event to unveil an interpretation board at Old Faithlegg Church, my daughter Ellen and I were assisting Damien McLellan with the set up. While we put the world to rights, we fell to discussing the perplexing question of why a large doorway was on the north...
Cirilo Amorós centenary
On Sunday, 15 Feb 2026 the good folk of Stradbally, Co Waterford, unveiled an information board to commemorate the events of 100 years previous when a Spanish registered ship steamed onto the rocks at Ballyvooney Cove. The events of that day were relived in words,...
Old Faithlegg Church Interpretation Board Unveiled
On Thursday, 22nd January 2026, a new interpretation board was unveiled at Old Faithlegg Church. The event was the fulfilment of a promise from over twenty years ago - one that we made when fundraising to maintain and preserve the fabric of the 13th Century Norman era...
Bristol to Waterford Steamer Services 1823 -1939
Waterford has a long association with Bristol. Following the arrival of Henry II to Waterford in 1171 the harbor area was carved up by merchants, knights and religious, many with a connection to the inland port of Bristol in SW England. The city developed on a point...
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