Story (History), Local Studies (History), Early people and ancient societies (History), Life, society, work and culture in the past (History), Eras of change and conflict (History), Human environments (Geography), Natural environments (Geography), Environmental awareness and care (Geography/Science), Living things (Science), Energy and forces (Science)
Andrew Doherty was born and reared in Cheekpoint, Co Waterford. His father was a seaman, his mother's people were fishermen, and he fished commercially for fifteen years of his adult life. He has written since childhood, and in 2014 he started an online blog to promote local history and maritime heritage. He is the author of two books – Before the Tide Went Out (2017), which explored the importance of fishing to his community, and Waterford Harbour Tides and Tales (2020), which celebrated the importance of local storytelling and yarns in preserving the maritime history of his community. His third book The Prong, Curious Craft of the Three Sisters River will be published in 2024.
Andrew regularly contributes articles to local newspapers, Ireland’s Own, and heritage publications. He has participated in numerous radio and TV programmes including Sunday Miscellany, County Measure, Nationwide and Tracks & Trails. He regularly leads walks and talks both on land and on the river. He has worked with local schools, Waterford libraries, Waterford City & Co Council, Office of Public Works and numerous local community groups. He holds a BA Ed hons, and is a committee member of the Barony of Gaultier Historical Society and a member of the Waterford Archaeological & Historical Society. He posts regularly on Facebook and Twitter to promote Irish maritime history and blogs at www.tidesandtales.ie
Almost every riverine and coastal community has a fishing past. This workshop will explore the history of fishing practices employed in Irish rivers, lakes and seashores to the present, using the story to look at how materials and practices changed, became more intensive and how this put pressure on fish stocks. The workshops examine the local fishery to see what was most common in an area, explore the evidence of the fishery that remains and encourage students to ask their elders about the influence it once held over the community. We could explore the beliefs and customs of seafaring and fishing communities, the relevance of religion and how this influenced practices and changed over time.
These workshops will be supported with a range of props such as old netting, corking, lead weights, old ropes, woven pots, spears, long lines etc. Children could use ropes to learn of knot use, use needles and twine to mount fishing net, stitch and repair a nylon net and gain an understanding into the difficult nature of traditional fishing practices. Other props including ships in bottles, knot board, palm and needle and seamans penknife could be displayed and discussed. Also the kind of clothing used by fishermen and seafarers and how this has developed and improved over the years.
I can provide a customised walk and/or talk of a local maritime history topic such as shipwreck, smuggling, press ganging, piracy, pilotage, freight and local craft. The walk will focus on how the maritime location shaped and impacted the local and wider community, explore the development of maritime trade and how it has developed. Local features, built and vernacular will be highlighted and explored, children will be encouraged to make personal connections and consider how to deepen their local knowledge. Props can also be employed including ships in bottles, knot board, palm and needle and seamans penknife etc as discussion points.
These sessions will typically include an introduction to the tides in the specific area, tidal dynamics, equinoxes, the relationship between moon, sun and water and how this in turn influences local water bodies and impacts on communities in ways such as flooding, erosion or marine waste. A guided walk through a river/coastal zone could explore the impacts of the tides. These impacts will be pointed out and explained. Ways to keep the coastal zone rubbish free are introduced and a beach clean can also be incorporated into the field trip if requested. Any historical/archaeological remains that exit on the route are explained. Personal safety and precautions on the strands, riverbank or seashore will be highlighted.
Testimonials
"Andrew presents a hands on look at the history of fishing in the Suir Estuary which was perfectly pitched for 3rd class students. There were lots of hands on elements. We are very lucky to have a resource like Andrew on our doorstep. I will be recommending that this will be an annual event for 3rd class. Outstanding." - Faithlegg NS, Waterford
