About Us
Meitheal Mara is a maritime cultural organisation based in Cork. It was founded by Padraig Ó Duinnín in 1994 as a community employment Currach-building project.
Since that time it has developed into a multi-facetted organisation providing a range of services, through the medium of the maritime, across the social spectrum of the community, but with an especial focus on the disadvantaged and youth at risk.
LANDMARKS IN THE HISTORY OF MEITHEAL MARA:
- 1992 Naomhóga Chorcai, a river Lee based currach rowing club founded and participated in the Great River Race, London
- 1994, Meitheal Mara founded by Padraig ó Duinnín
- 1994 FÁS Community Employment (C.E.) scheme to build currachs and boats.
- 1995 Currach survey for the Heritage Council examined the collections in the care of the National Museum as well as individual examples on the coastline.
- 1996 Traditional Boat Exhibition, Cork City Hall
- 1997 Crosses Green premises leased from Cork City Council
- 1999 Meitheal Mara registered as a company limited by guarantee [Reg. No. 308452]
- 2001 Meitheal Mara achieves Charity status [CHY 12929]
- 2002 Bádoireacht programme Programme
- 2004 Bibliomara publication for the Heritage Council
- 2005 First Ocean to City Maritime Festival for Cork European Capital of Culture
- 2007 Completion of the Bantry Long-boat “Fionbarra” – Bantry Bay Longboat at Crosses Green boatyard
- 2008 Pobal Community Services Programme (C.S.P.) started
- 2008 Audit of Heritage Boats for Galway Co. Council – Phase 1
- 2009 Audit of Heritage Boats for Galway Co. Council – Phase 2
- 2009 Submission to Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government for consideration of the City and Harbour of Cork for inclusion on Ireland’s new Tentative List of potential nominees to the World Heritage List.
- 2010 Corkumnavigation guide to circumnavigating Cork City in a small boat, funded under the Heritage Council's community grant scheme.
- 2011 Publication of Heritage & Cultural Research and Publications
Board of Directors:
Joan Dineen: Acting Chairperson. Lecturer in Recreation and Leisure Management at Cork Institute of Technology. Member of the board since 1999. A keen if infrequent sea-kayaker although my first love is the mountains and not the sea.
Marie Drew:
Marianne Keane: Born and reared in Cork, a keen interest in all things nautical especially in traditional boats. A member of Naomhoga Chorcai for the past 6/7 years and part of Meitheal Mara’s committee for past 3 years. Took part in the ocean to city race 3 times in a currach and once in a dragon boat.
Mary Doran: Originally from Dublin and based now in Cork working as an Architect and Planning Consultant. Co-founder of Cork Cine Club and an active member of voices of Cork Choir
Key Staff
Cathy Buchanan: Coordinator & Water Activities Manager.
Seamus O’Brien: Workshop Manager. Originally employed with Meitheal Mara under Community Employment scheme in 2001. Organises and manages workshop training programmes.
Ross Kenny: On-the-water Manager, Youth Facilitator
Joya Kuin: Ocean to City Manager. Originally from Holland, loves the sea and hiking! Been involved in the management of Ocean to City since 2012.
See Also: