Meitheal Mara

02/09/2026

𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗲, 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱, 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗮

And similar to our last post - there’s also a LOT more happening in our workshop and boatyard than you might think.

Our workshop is where traditional boatbuilding skills, craftsmanship and creativity come together. From building and repairing currachs to working on wooden boats, woodcraft and all sorts of other projects, there’s always something being made or repaired.

𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗵𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝗹𝗼𝗮𝘁

At the heart of the workshop is our traditional currach work... building, repairing and maintaining these remarkable boats and passing on the skills and knowledge needed to keep this part of Ireland’s maritime heritage alive.

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝘁𝘀

Over the years, our workshop team have taken on some really interesting commissions, including the Belfast trusses for TEST SITE on Kyrls Quay and the wooden benches in the gardens of Nano Nagle Place.

There’s a huge variety of work that comes through the workshop doors. It’s all part of the practical, hands-on work that happens here at Meitheal Mara, using traditional skills while finding new ways to put them to use.

And, just like our sewing room, there are some great people behind all of this work.

And the best bit? 𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 through our Community Employment Scheme. Pretty cool opportunities for anyone who enjoys working with their hands and making things.

Details in the comments.

31/08/2026

𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗲, 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱, 𝗿𝗲𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗮

There’s a lot more being made on our sewing machines than you might think!

Our sewing room is a place where practical skills, creativity, sustainability and Irish maritime heritage all come together.

𝗨𝗽𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗰𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆
We’ve been giving old blinds from Acme Blinds a whole new life, transforming them into colourful, hard-wearing tote bags, bunting and other useful items. What might otherwise go to waste becomes something practical, beautiful and made to be used again and again.

𝗙𝗹𝗮𝗴𝘀 & 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
From flags and banners to essential safety equipment, our sewing work helps keep activities on the water running safely - and looking good while we’re at it!

𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗵𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝗹𝗼𝗮𝘁
And then there’s the really special stuff... sewing the canvas skins for our traditional currachs. These boats are an important part of Ireland’s maritime heritage - building and maintaining them means keeping traditional skills alive and keeping the boats themselves in use.

It’s upcycling, making, repairing, learning and preserving tradition - all under one roof at Meitheal Mara.

And the person behind so much of this fantastic work? Our 𝗦𝗲𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁, working 19.5 hours a week through the Community Employment Scheme. 𝗔 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘄𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲… 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁!

Details in the comments.

21/08/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱?
Only 5 days to go until entries close for the 5 Miles From Home Challenge - our truly international rowing and paddling challenge.

For the past 5 years, Meitheal Mara, through our Ocean to City office, has been collaborating on this brilliant event with our rowing friends in Scotland and Wales.

Taking part is simple. Form a crew, plot a 5-mile course on your home waters, and complete it as fast, or as stylishly, as you can during the designated time window. Submit your time and join the online hooley with crews from around the world.

That’s 5 miles / 8,047 metres / 4.345 nautical miles.

Over the past five years, thousands of participants have taken part from literally every corner of the world — from Tasmania to Capetown, Maine to Ukraine, and Cornwall to Cork.

There’s something pretty special about knowing that, while you’re out rowing or paddling your own stretch of water, people on the other side of the world are doing exactly the same thing.

Your home waters. Your 5 miles. One global challenge.

Registration closes in just 5 days — 26 August.

Find out more and register:
https://oceantocity.com/5-miles-from-home/

Welsh Sea Rowing

Naomhóga Chorcaí - Cork's Currach Rowing Club East Coast Rowing Council Scottish Coastal Rowing Currach Rowing Ireland. Rowing Ireland Coastal Irish Coastal Rowing Federation Whitegate Rowing Club Passage West Rowing Club Tom MacSweeney's Seascapes Maritime Podcast Cork Harbour Festival & Ocean to City

20/08/2026

Bádóireacht Summer Camp!

What a brilliant week we had at our Bádóireacht Summer Camp last week! Lots of activity, time on the water, new skills and plenty of fun along the way.

A huge well done to all the young people who joined us and got stuck into the week 👏

And a very special thank you to our brilliant volunteers and staff Jack, Trevor, Adrian and Suz. We couldn’t make the camp happen without you!

This summer camp is part of Bádóireacht Pathways - our new maritime skills progression programme especially designed for young people, with support from Qualcomm.

19/08/2026

𝗔𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿!

Our Workshop Assistant Eddie with a TFI - Transport for Ireland bike that was pulled from the River Lee yesterday afternoon.

For the past 20 years, 𝗠𝗲𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗮’𝘀 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗨𝗽 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲 has been helping to keep Cork’s waterways clear of rubbish and debris.

The service is delivered on a partnership basis, with support from Cork City Council and Mainport Holdings, and sees our team regularly taking to the water to remove all sorts of lost or dumped items from the river.

And sometimes, you find a bike!

Well done Eddie and the team 💪

17/08/2026

𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱...

A chance to learn something new, build confidence, meet people, get outdoors and be part of something practical and hands-on.

Here at Meitheal Mara, our Community Employment schemes give people the opportunity to do just that — from working in our boatyard and workshop to getting involved in activities on the water.

We currently have three vacant CE placements, including:
- 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁; Practical • Hands-on • Woodwork
- 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁: Outdoors • Active • People
- 𝗦𝗲𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁: Textiles • Creative • Upcycling

If you know someone who might benefit from a bit of a change, a new experience or simply a chance to try something different, have a look at what’s happening at Meitheal Mara.

Find out more about our CE placements: https://tinyurl.com/2ut8wksx
𝗽 𝗹 𝗲 𝗮 𝘀 𝗲 • 𝘀 𝗵 𝗮 𝗿 𝗲

About Meitheal Mara – Community Boatyard Cork Founded in 1993, Meitheal Mara is a maritime cultural organisation and community boat yard on the River Lee in Cork city. We are a registered charity, a training Read more…

13/08/2026

A changing streetscape — and waterscape — around Meitheal Mara. 🌊

The view around our boatyard is changing, and it’s great to see the city reconnecting with the river in new ways.

Here’s our Boat Builder Trainer, Seamus O’Brien, adding the final coat of paint to the three-hand racer Gabhlán Binne — with the new pedestrian and cycle bridge in the background.

The bridge, connecting South Main Street to Crosse’s Green via Lambley’s Lane, has been named Cumann na mBan Bridge, commemorating the Irish Republican women’s organisation that played a pivotal role in the struggle for Irish independence.

A new bridge, an old boat, and a changing view from the boatyard

12/08/2026

Well done lads - what an adventure!

Last week, a wetsuit-clad team of ace swimmers emerged from the water at the Port of Cork having completed a nine-day, 81km-long water odyssey from the source of the Lee in serene Gougane Barra to the less lush destination of Kennedy Quay.

📲 To read the full story, click the link in the comment section

12/08/2026

The model boats have returned to Meitheal Mara! After two months on display at Cork City Libraries, these brilliant creations are back home — and they’re looking amazing!

This much-loved project gives primary and secondary school children the chance to design and build their own model boats from recycled materials. From plastic bottles and toilet rolls to lemon nets and straws, the creativity on display is fantastic. ♻️🚤

Make a Model Boat Project is a collaboration between Cork Harbour Festival & Ocean to City and Cllr Kieran McCarthy - celebrating the imagination, ingenuity and boatbuilding skills of Cork’s young people.

𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: if your child’s model boat was part of the exhibition, you can now collect it from the Meitheal Mara Events Office. Pop in and we’ll get it back to you!

A huge well done to all the young boat builders who took part — and to everyone who helped make this project such a success.

05/08/2026

Over the past little while, we've had the pleasure of looking after Gabhlán Binne – which is Irish for ''House Martin'', a bird known to glide through the air frequently on extended wings.

This beautiful 3-hand racing currach from our sister club, Naomhóga Chorcaí, has been in the Meitheal Mara workshop for some well-deserved TLC. She's had repairs to her gunwales, a fresh coat of tar, a new paint finish, and a few other essential jobs to bring her back to top condition.

Our workshop team has done an absolutely beautiful job, and she's nearly ready to return home to the club.

We can't wait to see Gabhlán Binne back on the River Lee very soon.