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
The day I almost killed the Skipper
Paddy Moran was an old school fisherman. He was a brother to my Grandmother, Maura Moran, and I knew from her, just how hard she, Paddy and her other brothers worked the river from their earliest years. With the arrival of better nets, outboard motors and relatively...
Post boxes have stories to tell
Today marks one year of blogging about my community and giving a sense of just how rich this area is in terms of history, heritage and culture. A theme that runs through the writing is how the ordinary becomes a little more, once you take the time to look more...
When a fish barrel, was much more
I've often mentioned that the Cheekpoint of my childhood was a very different place to what it is today. One of those major differences was an active Herring fishery which was not just water based, but also provided land based employment. Back then the herring...
my first season of Eel fishing at Cheekpoint
I first began fishing eels commercially in the spring of 1984. Pat Moran asked me to join himself and Gerry Boland as the previous year had been so hectic. I jumped at the chance and in the next few days there was a lot of hustle and bustle in preparing...
Waterford, a harbour fit for a King
On a recent walk, an American visitor asked me if any royalty sailed up the harbour, rather smugly I listed off several, though I said, these were only the ones I knew about. Probably several others had done so, and countless ordinary souls making the city and the...
Delahunty’s Mill, Halfway House
For some reason, I have had, for as long as I can remember, this idyllic notion of the workings of a watermill. It includes a gushing stream of water, the clanking of gears turning in a fine stone building, the dust escaping from corn sacks as they are spilled into a...