On Saturday 4th of September the River Lee was bustling with young people in traditional currachs as we hosted our first physical event in almost two years. Some 50 participants in over 20 boats took part in the Ocean to City Youth Event, covering the 4.5km from Blackrock Village to Lapp’s Quay. The Ocean to City Youth Event is part of the main Ocean to City –An Rás Mór since the very first race in Read more…
Heritage Week, 14-22 August 2021 Join Meitheal Mara to mark this year’s Cork Heritage Open Day and Heritage Week. We’re delighted to present three amazing events this year, in collaboration with local historian, Cllr. Kieran McCarthy, and avid sailor, paddler and rower Jack O’Keeffe. 14-22 August 2021Bridges of Cork, Audio Heritage Trail In association with Cllr. Kieran McCarthyGo to Audio Trail: http://corkheritage.ie/?page_id=8538 Welcome to the Bridges of Cork audio heritage trail hosted by Meitheal Mara Read more…
Meitheal Mara recently collaborated with architect Ailbhe Cunningham and artist Aoife Desmond on their project TEST SITE. Based on Kyrl’s Quay in Cork City, the site of a former sawmill, this project project brought together Art, Architecture, Ecology and Urban Planning. This project worked with the land and its history, using site specific architecture, performances, talks and events in response to the sites vacancy. This project was supported by a Cork City Council Arts in Read more…
On Wednesday 28th of July a small ceremony was hosted at Meitheal Mara to honour Cork Life Centre. The Life Centre has not only supported and delivered second level education to the young people of Cork for over twenty years but has also endeavoured to provide a broader education to young people, allowing them space and time to explore their own strengths and interests; and encouraging them to try new experiences. The Gradam Meitheal Mara Read more…
Meitheal Mara is inviting applications for the position of Assistant Water Activities Manager and Trainer. The work involves providing management and practical support for the Water Activities Manager & Trainer in the day to day running of Meitheal Mara’s water based activities and services, including group work and boating events for young and older people of all ages and backgrounds; income generating services and events; maintaining boats and equipment to a high standard; administration and Read more…
Heritage Week, 15-23 August 2020 Join Meitheal Mara to mark this year’s Cork Heritage Open Day and Heritage Week. We’re delighted to present three gorgeous events this year, in collaboration with local historian, Cllr Kieran McCarthy, and avid sailor, paddler and rower Jack O’Keeffe. Learn all about the natural heritage the River Lee and Cork Harbour as well as the built heritage of Cork City with our two online events. Then gather the family for Read more…
We’re hiring! Come join the team in Meitheal Mara. Four different CE positions are currently available: Workshop Assistant Water Activities Assistant Administration Assistant Caretaker For more info see here: https://meithealmara.ie/recruitment/
Ned Denison completed the first ever swim around the island of Cork City (Ireland) on Monday 3rd June 2019, during the Cork Harbour Festival. This swim in the River Lee of 7k (previously reported as 8k) was completed in 2 hours and 25 minutes. Here is his story…. Recent History of Swimming in the heart of Cork City in the River Lee: Swimming restarted in a serious way in 2005 with the re-launching of the Read more…
This past week Meitheal Mara was sad to say goodbye to our friend and colleague Eli Caamano who has moved back to her native Spain. Eli has been the Assistant Workshop Manager for the past four years, but involved with Meitheal Mara for a long time before that. She started on work experience from Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa in 2006 and worked as part of the team that was completing Bantry long boat Fionnbarra. Eli then Read more…
Recruiting: Project Outreach Support Worker 2019 Meitheal Mara wishes to recruit a Project Outreach Support Worker to bring together and facilitate a group of migrants and refugees on a boat building project. The position is part-time and for a fixed term (20 hours/week for 4 months). The boat building training will be provided by Meitheal Mara’s Workshop Manager-Trainer, with the Outreach Support Worker providing assistance and back up to the members of the group in Read more…
Join Claire ni Mhuirthile and Cathy Buchanan who will be talking about the history of Meitheal Mara. The talk is part of the Autumn Lecture Series in the City Library. Poetry reading by Seamus Harrington The theme is “Mapping the Lee: stories from the river”. The event is organised by Ciara Brett, City Archaeologist. Take me to the Event
We are so proud to be shortlisted for the final of the EUSports award #BeInclusive for our youth programme. Clare Hayden and her team Paul, Connor, Mirijam and volunteers put so much enthusiasm and passion into this programme to make it the success it is… Read More
All of us in Meitheal Mara are feeling the loss of Donal Lynch: inspirational friend, mentor, founding member of the Board and integral in so many ways to the shape and development of the company. Donal passed away on the morning of Friday 26/10/18, the week after his 81st birthday. Amongst many other things he was instrumental in Meitheal Mara’s purchase of the partially built longboat Fionnbarra in 2007. He was a member of the Read more…
This summer saw the start of a new project “Making a Connection” funded by the Heritage Council as part of the European Year of Cultural Heritage. As part of this project we began a boat-building course with a group of people living in direct provision. Over 12 weeks they built a Dunfanaghy – currach and in October they launched their boat An Bád Chorcaí. This project was a mix of acquiring new skills but also learning about Ireland’s heritage. Read more…
With the introduction of the new GDPR and all the emails that were flooding into your inbox you may have missed ours! If you were signed up for our newsletter and didn’t receive it we’d love to have you back. You can sign up here.
Many thanks to Cork City Council for their vote of congratulations. The city council recognise the work we do for Cork Harbour Festival incorporating Ocean to City. A huge team effort from all here in Meitheal Mara with major support from over 300 volunteers and of course our event partners from the harbour towns. We would like to take this opportunity again to thank everyone for their continued support of the Festival. It is a true coming together of Read more…
Join us at Cork’s premier interfirm maritime challenge for: Fun Adventure Teambuilding Rivalry Sign up for the Interfirm Dragon Boat Challenge! Form a crew today with your colleagues and friends, and try your hand at racing a 40ft dragon boat on the River Lee! Saturday 21 April and Sunday 1 July 2018 Twice each summer we invite companies, organisations and groups to take part in our spectacular Dragon Boat Challenge. Compete with 15 other crews to Read more…
This month a collaboration between Haiti Orphanage Project ESPWA, Cork’s Community Boatyard, Meitheal Mara, and Naomhóga Chorcaí saw two flat pack currachs making their way to Haiti. The mainstay of the Haitian economy was agriculture and fishing which were wiped out after the 2010 earthquake. To hasten a meaningful recovery these industries need to be revitalized. Cork volunteers, Seamus O’Brien (Meitheal Mara) and John Cronin (Haiti Orphanage Project ESPWA founder), travelled to Haiti to teach Read more…
The contract has been signed for the long-awaited capping of the Haulbowline tip. According to the consultants RPS “…..When it is finished, the nine-hectare site will be transformed into a public park with walkways and cycleways. It will also have a car park, a number of viewing areas and some sports pitches….” but no provision for a slip or pier, although the site is surrounded on three sides by water and lies just across the Read more…
Evening Echo interview with Seamus O’Brien – by Ellie O’Byrne 15 September 2017 “IF you catch one, you’re doing well. If you have a group of five, and you get two or three, you’re doing well. You’ll never get them all, and you have to accept that, too.” Seamus O’Brien is sitting in a room in the ramshackle but atmospheric surroundings of the Meitheal Mara community boatyard building, where he is the workshop manager. It’s Read more…
New website for Meitheal Mara! We’re delighted to announce that our new website is now online. Come have a browse and learn about our Community Work & Training, Boat Building & Woodcraft, Seamanship, Rowing & Sailing, Maritime Culture and Activities and our Events. We also have a full photo gallery of everyone who works in Meitheal Mara, as well as a great news section. Thank you for sharing! https://meithealmara.ie/ Now recruiting! Four CE vacancies in Meitheal Mara Community Read more…
Communities Integration Rowing Programme In July and August, Meitheal Mara ran a rowing programme for young people living in Direct Provision together with young people from the Neighbourhood Youth Programme and St. Joseph’s Foroige group in Mayfield. This programme was funded by the Department of Justice and Equality through their Integration Funds Unit. In total 28 young people took part in the rowing sessions over a six-week period. The group experienced rain and strong winds Read more…
Submission from Meitheal Mara on the proposal for a pedestrian and cycle bridge linking Merchant’s Quay and St Patrick’s Quay (Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001). Submitted to Cork City Council on Tuesday 5th September 2017. Meitheal Mara is a community boat-yard and training centre based on the River Lee in Cork city centre. We are dedicated to promoting and fostering maritime culture and activities and to promoting public appreciation and enjoyment of Read more…
Press Release: 22 August 2017 Organised by Meitheal Mara, Tuesday 22nd to Friday 25th of August will see dozens of young people from the Bádoireacht programme take part in the first ever Bádoireacht Rowing Camp. Every year Meitheal Mara trains young people from all over Cork City in currach rowing ahead of the Ocean to City race. Many of these young people complete the race with a passion for the rowing and a desire to Read more…
Thursday 13 July, 18:30-19:30, Blackrock – Cork City Meitheal Mara Youth Crews get set to make waves! Organised by Meitheal Mara, tomorrow Thursday 13th of July will see dozens of young people from the Bádoireacht programme take part in a heated Youth Race between Blackrock and Cork City. Starting at 18:30 from the newly renovated Blackrock Harbour, the crews include Cork Life Centre, Bishopstown Youth Project, Farranree Youth Project, Ballyphehane Foroige, Douglas Foroige, Ballincollig Foroige Read more…
CE Vacancies in Meitheal Mara: Group Worker Community Employment (CE) Scheme (19.5 hr p wk) Duties to include: Assisting with the organising of group training sessions (outdoors rowing/paddling on the River Lee), and onshore skills indoors in the training room and/or workshop. Assist in keeping records and in the development and promotion of Meitheal Mara’s water activities programmes through communication, networking and other activities as required. For more information click here. CE Vacancies in Meitheal Mara: Read more…
Meitheal Mara announces plans for Cork Maritime Hub! On Friday the 20th of January, Minister Simon Coveney TD launched Meitheal Mara – The Future, our new Strategic Plan. Our objectives for the future are ambitious and include the realisation of an expanded Meitheal Mara as part of an integrated maritime hub for Cork City. Read more… Currach Building Workshops available for Community Groups Meitheal Mara is inviting expressions of interest from Community Organisations who would like Read more…
On Friday 20th of January, Minister Simon Coveney TD launched the new Strategic Plan of Meitheal Mara, Cork’s community boatyard and maritime heritage organisation. The organisation’s plans for the future are ambitious and include the realisation of an expanded Meitheal Mara as part of an integrated maritime hub for Cork City. Speaking at the launch, Minister Simon Coveney TD said, ‘This is an ambitious plan with many potential benefits, not just for Meitheal Mara, but Read more…
Message from the Chair of Meitheal Mara Meitheal Mara has grown from a small idea into an internationally recognised leader in community-based maritime services, underpinned by the energy and skill of committed and enthusiastic staff members. I would like to acknowledge the tireless and selfless work of Meitheal Mara’s current and former Board members, managers and staff members. Over the last 20 years, this team of people has managed to develop and share the organisation’s maritime culture ethos by bringing the Read more…
