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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
The unchristianlike crew
Following the death of their captain, the men of the barquentine Herbina were described as an “unchristianlike” crew. Anchored off Passage East in February 1892, an inquiry was held in the village where their actions were examined and the judgement of their character passed. But was it fair, or even accurate?
Three Terrible Days, Jan 1862
Over a three-day period of January 22nd, 23rd and 24th 1862, a large number of shipwrecks and loss of life took place in Waterford Harbour and along the County Waterford coastline, making it probably one of the most catastrophic events in the maritime history of Waterford.
The ancient Ballinlaw Ferry
The Ballinlaw Ferry has a proud ancient history. It ran in various forms, probably from the early Christian era to the early 1960’s and must have transported tens of thousands of people in that time from the most exalted to the most humble and I’m confident that we will never really know the true extent of it.
Passage East “invasion” of 1937
Throughout Wednesday 6th January 1937 and into the night, groups of men began arriving in the small village of Passage East in Waterford harbour. Some arrived in buses, others by car and as the day went on into evening their numbers swelled to an estimated 500. ...
Alfred D Snow – Prelude to a disaster
The story of the loss of the American sailing ship Alfred D Snow is well known in Waterford harbour. Following a ferocious south easterly storm overnight the American sailing ship was seen at 9 am inside the Hook with much of her sail taken off and working upriver. ...
New book 2019 – Stories from the Aft Oar
2019 is upon us, and whatever about new year resolutions, one promise I've made myself is to publish a second book. I had planned to write a new book during this year but having had the good fortune of working on a rebrand of Faithlegg House combined with a wonderful...
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