Sea for Society Blue Talks Dublin - Keith Duggan 'Writing Cliffs of Insanity - A Winter on Ireland’s Big Waves'

On 14 July 2015, an evening of Sea for Society Blue Talks was held in Science Gallery Dublin featuring stories about and by people whose daily lives revolve around the ocean.

Keith Duggan is an award-winning senior sportswriter with The Irish Times. He has written three books: The Lifelong Season and House of Pain, which are explorations of Gaelic games, and Cliffs of Insanity. Cliffs of Insanity tells the story of a dedicated group of surfers in Co Clare whose lives revolve around the pursuit of Ireland’s wildest waves. Keith is originally from Donegal and grew up beside the sea. He now lives in Galway ten miles from the coast and that sometimes makes him feel a bit claustrophobic.




Sometimes we don’t realise how crucial our seas are to our daily lives and how our impact upon them. After hearing these stories, we hope you’ll be inspired to learn more, spread the word and take action to help protect our precious ocean life support system!

Watch all of the videos from the Blue Talks Dublin event.

Sea for Society Blue Talks Dublin - Margaret Rae 'Marine Biodiscovery'

On 14 July 2015, an evening of Sea for Society Blue Talks was held in Science Gallery Dublin featuring stories about and by people whose daily lives revolve around the ocean.

Margaret Rae is a researcher in the Beaufort Marine Biodiscovery Programme, examining marine organisms harvested from the Irish coast and deep-sea territories in search of species with biological characteristics that may have medicinal uses and medical device applications. Margaret has over 20 years’ experience in industrial, regulatory and academic environments, both nationally and internationally.



Sometimes we don’t realise how crucial our seas are to our daily lives and how our impact upon them. After hearing these stories, we hope you’ll be inspired to learn more, spread the word and take action to help protect our precious ocean life support system!

Watch all of the videos from the Blue Talks Dublin event.

Sea for Society Blue Talks Dublin - Hugo Tagholm 'Surfers Against Sewage: Waves, Environment, Community'

On 14 July 2015, an evening of Sea for Society Blue Talks was held in Science Gallery Dublin featuring stories about and by people whose daily lives revolve around the ocean.

Hugo Tagholm has been Chief Executive of Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) since 2008. SAS was formed in 1990 in Cornwall by a group of surfers who were fed up of the regular sewage slicks and sanitary debris at local surf spots. It has a network of over 150,000 regular supporters, mobilises 15,000 community volunteers annually and has 60 regional chapters around the UK. Prior to taking the helm at SAS, Hugo worked at a senior level with various charities big and small, including the Climate Coalition and the UK Wildlife Trusts. Hugo lives in Truro, Cornwall with his wife and son. His favourite wave is Droskyn.




Sometimes we don’t realise how crucial our seas are to our daily lives and how our impact upon them. After hearing these stories, we hope you’ll be inspired to learn more, spread the word and take action to help protect our precious ocean life support system!

Watch all of the videos from the Blue Talks Dublin event.

Sea for Society Blue Talks Dublin - John Joyce 'Being Nemo - Misadventures of a Marine Science Communicator'

On 14 July 2015, an evening of Sea for Society Blue Talks was held in Science Gallery Dublin featuring stories about and by people whose daily lives revolve around the ocean.

John Joyce is a professional science communicator, published author and cartoonist with a background in marine science. He is currently the Irish Area Leader for the Sea for Society project. He was Communications Manager of Ireland’s Marine Institute until January 2012, where he created the Explorers marine science education programme. John has published four children’s books and five novels. His alter ego “Black John the Bogus Pirate” can regularly be found running children’s cartoon drawing classes at science festivals and aquariums around Ireland.



Sometimes we don’t realise how crucial our seas are to our daily lives and how our impact upon them. After hearing these stories, we hope you’ll be inspired to learn more, spread the word and take action to help protect our precious ocean life support system!

Watch all of the videos from the Blue Talks Dublin event.

Sea for Society Blue Talks Dublin - Hugh O'Brien Moran 'Fifty Years of Surfing - the Evolution of Surfing in Ireland'

On 14 July 2015, an evening of Sea for Society Blue Talks was held in Science Gallery Dublin featuring stories about and by people whose daily lives revolve around the ocean.

Hugh O'Brien Moran is a surf instructor and professional photographer based in Tramore, Co. Waterford. He took up surfing in 1965 at the age of fourteen, and went on to surf competitively in national and international contests alongside his wife, Margaret, also a former surfing champion. He has won the Irish national championships five times and come second in the European masters surfing championships, as well as acting as tutor to Ireland’s national teams. Today, Hugh still surfs all year round; he carries out surf coaching accreditation courses across the country for the Irish Surfing Association and is an active member in T-Bay surf club, where he teaches surf lessons to children and adults throughout the year.

Sometimes we don’t realise how crucial our seas are to our daily lives and how our impact upon them. After hearing these stories, we hope you’ll be inspired to learn more, spread the word and take action to help protect our precious ocean life support system! 

Watch all of the videos from the Blue Talks Dublin event. 

Seashore ‘Explorers’ Course Celebrates its Tenth Anniversary

This year, the ‘Explorers’ teacher training course for primary school teachers celebrated its tenth year, with courses held simultaneously in Galway, organised by the Marine Institute, the Galway Atlantaquaria and the Galway Education Centre, and in Dublin, organised by AquaTT, The National SEA LIFE Centre, Bray, and the Blackrock Education Centre.

This year both courses were supported by the Sea for Society Project.

National primary school teachers in Galway increased their knowledge of the ocean and its impact on our daily lives through a teacher training course run by the Marine Institute and Galway Atlantaquaria from 1-5 July 2015.

In Dublin, over twenty primary school teachers donned wellies and waterproofs at Sandycove Strand to gain firsthand experience of the seashore as an open air classroom for the SESE ‘Living Things’ curriculum strand to learn how animals and plants adapt to the drastically changing conditions effecting them as the tide rises and falls. 

Then, back at the SeaLife centre in Bray, they learned how the curriculum strand ‘Energy and Forces’ can be taught through examples of ‘buoyancy’ - such as lemonade bottle submarines and ice cube tray models of the RMS ‘Titanic’, peopled with modelling clay passengers in icy seas made from washing-up bowls.

Teachers in Dublin took part in the Explorers training course organised by AquaTT, The National SEA LIFE Centre Bray and the Blackrock Education Centre from 6-10 July 2015

The ‘History’ strand was demonstrated with Irish maritime heroes and heroines such as the pirate queen Gráinne Mhaol, Saint Brendan the Navigator and the father of the modern submarine John Phillip Holland. While those interested in applying a marine flavour to the ‘Geography’ strand  needed to look no further than Ireland’s 220 million acre undersea territory, with its submarine canyons, deepwater mountains and cold water coral reefs.

“It really is wonderful to see how teachers’ eyes are opened to the possibility of bringing a new dimension to their classes by the simple inclusion of marine themes to the existing curriculum,” said Dr John Joyce who led the Blackrock Course with marine biologist Cathy Maguire this year. “Even after ten years, the experience is as fresh as ever as the teachers realise the potential of the sea to entertain and educate – a lesson we’re sure will be passed on to their pupils in the years to come.”

Teachers Take to the Shore to Improve Ocean Literacy

Twenty-five local national primary school teachers in Galway increased their knowledge of the ocean and its impact on our daily lives through a teacher training course run by the Marine Institute and Galway Atlantaquaria from 1-5 July 2015.

Primary school teachers use quadrants to search for marine life on Gratton Beach

The annual workshop, which is coordinated through the Galway Education Centre, provided teachers with the opportunity to venture to the seashore to learn new activities designed to innovate and inspire students about the animal species and seaweeds typically found on the seashore.

The workshop aims to introduce teachers to the Explorers Education Programme teaching materials and resources. "Through lesson plans and activities we aim to help teachers integrate marine themes as closely as possible with subjects on the primary school curriculum including science, geography, history, as well as English, maths and art," explained Cushla Dromgool-Regan of the Marine Institute.

Back in the classroom, Sarah Fox, St. Brendans Nation School, Loughrea uses seashore guides to identify some of the species found on the beach

"The course is very hands-on and provides excellent examples of how we can overcome some of the challenges of teaching students about the marine. The seashore is a great resource for exploration and discovery of animals, increasing environmental awareness as well as carrying out some fun art and PE activities," said Síle Nic Spáidín, of Gaelscoil Riabhach Primary School, Galway.

The Explorers lesson plans are at our fingertips and provide a great way to bring the seashore to the classroom," Caroline Burke of Scoil Mhuire, Clarinbridge added.

On Gratton beach, Caroline Burke of Scoil Mhuire, Clarinbridge uses seashore keys to identify species

The Explorers Programme was established by the Marine Institute and Galway Atlantaquaria and is supported by the Galway Education Centre, Sea Life Bray, Blackrock Education Centre and the Lifetime Lab, Cork.