Marine Identity: The Sea Between Us, Ballycastle
The sea between Ballycastle, Rathlin Island, and Scotland has never simply been a boundary. It has been a route, a bridge, a meeting place and a source of stories — carrying people, language, traditions, wildlife and ideas between communities for generations.
As part of Shared Island & Ocean, IOLN’s all-island initiative with Queen’s University Belfast, we propose a community dialogue event in Ballycastle exploring the distinctive marine identity of this part of the north coast and its deep connections across the Sea of Moyle.
Ballycastle occupies a unique position on the Irish coast, facing Rathlin Island and, beyond it, Scotland. Rathlin itself has long been an important point of contact between Ireland and Scotland, with its own distinctive cultural identity shaped by both. Its Gaelic heritage shares linguistic connections with Scottish Gadhlig, while its maritime folklore includes stories and traditions found on both sides of the channel — from seals, selkies and sea monsters to shipwrecks, fishing traditions and enchanted islands. There is also the infamous story of Robert Bruce and his refuge in a cave on Rathlin.
The event will explore these connections through the theme of the sea as a bridge, not a barrier.
Morning programme: Across the Moyle — Myths, Memories and Maritime Connections
The morning will focus on the biodiversity, the stories, myths, legends, language and living traditions that connect Ballycastle, Rathlin, Ireland and Scotland. It will ask: what makes this place unique, and what can the stories passed down through generations tell us about our relationship with the sea?
Afternoon programme: Living with the Sea — Communities, Conservation and Ocean Futures
The afternoon will bring that connection into the present and future, looking at the people, projects and communities actively engaging with the marine environment today — from conservation and biosecurity on Rathlin to open-water swimming, freediving, marine tourism, citizen science and cross-border coastal projects.
The event will bring together local voices, storytellers, heritage practitioners, marine organisations, conservationists, researchers and ocean-based businesses to celebrate a shared marine identity while exploring what it means for the future.
The Shared Island & Ocean project is a collaborative initiative by the Irish Ocean Literacy Network (IOLN) in partnership with Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) and is funded by the Shared Island Fund.