8 June 2025
To celebrate World Ocean Day and mark 1,111 years of the Port of Waterford, here is the second episode of our new podcast series, Port of Waterford 1111. Hosted by Tom MacSweeney of RTÉ’s Seascapes, the episode features historian and author Andrew Doherty, founder of the Tides and Tales project.
Now in its 11th year, Tides and Tales has grown into an archive of nearly 300 stories capturing the Southeast’s marine history. Doherty and MacSweeney explore the lives of hobblers, the historic salmon weir conflicts, a WWI U-boat incident in Dunmore East, and the enduring cultural significance of Waterford Harbour. These stories are more than history—they’re part of the living memory of local communities.
The conversation dives into Waterford’s rich maritime legacy—from the bustling quays of old to iconic landmarks like the Spider Light, and into classrooms where Doherty is reviving traditional knowledge for a new generation. His community-driven work, especially with schools, brings stories of fishing, boat-building, and coastal life vividly to life. The episode also touches on ongoing efforts to reconnect the city with its river, including the North Quays project and a new pedestrian bridge. Doherty stresses the importance of preserving maritime heritage not just for posterity, but as a source of pride, identity, and future opportunity.
This latest podcast episode of Port of Waterford 1111 is more than a history lesson—it’s an invitation to rediscover Waterford’s unique relationship with the sea through the eyes of those who live, work, and remember. For anyone curious about Ireland’s coastal heritage or those who simply appreciate good storytelling rooted in real places and people, this episode offers a compelling listen.
To listen to the full podcast, visit https://www.portofwaterford.com/home/port-1111/ and, over the next 6 months, there will be plenty more to come in the series, so don’t forget to follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
PORT OF WATERFORD https://www.portofwaterford.com/home/port-1111/
SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/6DCT2T8vdSc5YdEdoLwyZ8
APPLE PODCAST: https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=1814635591
SPREAKER: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/port-of-waterford-1111-o-hanlon-family–66082797