Named an ‘Agent of Change’ by Surfer magazine in their special Ocean Edition, her work is deeply influenced by the ocean and the lessons learned pioneering women’s big-wave surfing in Ireland and the sport of surfing with women in Iran, which led her to be invited to give an inspiring TEDx talk: Just Add Surf.
Her ground-breaking journey to Iran in 2013 introduced the sport of surfing to women and local communities and is featured in the award-winning documentary film, “Into the Sea”. Passionate about facilitating creative & collaborative processes, she founded Like Water, a platform to explore innovative ways to reconnect with who we are, our environment and each other, through water.
Easkey draws on the sea as an active metaphor to dive deep into the power of presence and embodiment of natural cycles. She designs and delivers international summits and global leadership programmes specialising in experiential learning, nature connection, immersive embodiment practices, community engagement and social impact, including the annual Wavemaker retreat in Portugal and Move Like Water retreat for women.
Turn Tides brings the ocean to you! With a metre-long touchpool filled with live species such as crabs, starfish, urchins and more, Turn Tides brings you face-to-face with fascinating creatures and artefacts from beneath the waves. We can hold events in homes, shopping centres, schools, youth clubs, community centres – almost anywhere!
Visit www.turntides.org to book your marine workshop today.
Marie Louise Heffernan is an environmental scientist with over 30 years of experience in biodiversity planning, Habitats Directive implementation, and ornithology. She holds an MSc from Trinity College Dublin and is a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) and a full member of CIEEM.
As Director of Aster Environmental Consultants, she has authored conservation plans, conducted seabird and ecological surveys, and provided expert advice on marine and terrestrial projects and trained hundreds of professionals in Appropriate assessment. Marie Louise has served on the Board of Inland Fisheries Ireland and is currently focused on the interactions between offshore energy development and biodiversity conservation.
Cuan Beo was established by local community members who have come together to campaign for and assist in the restoration of the natural habitat, species, environment, and heritage of Galway Bay. We believe these elements underpin the economic and social fabric of the region, the recreational amenity it provides, and the livelihoods of those who work and live within its catchment.
Focused on water quality, human connectedness between the land and sea, and native oyster restoration, our impact on rural development, marine education, blue health, economics, and heritage is profound.
INFOMAR aims to provide comprehensive and accessible marine datasets for Irish waters that underpin and add value to marine research, SOLAS Convention obligations and government policy.
These products will foster growth within the national blue economy, maintain the health and integrity of our natural marine environment while facilitating international collaboration and best practice in the sustainable development of Ireland’s marine resource.
MaREI is the SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine research and innovation co-ordinated by the Environmental Research Institute (ERI) at University College Cork. The Centre comprises over 220 researchers focusing on defined global challenges such as the Energy Transition, Climate Action and the Blue Economy. Across these, it has a strong focus on empowering society – supporting societal engagement to facilitate participatory action across marine and terrestrial activities.
The Marine Institute is Ireland’s scientific agency responsible for supporting the sustainable development of the State’s maritime area and resources. The Institute conducts applied research and provides scientific knowledge, advice and services to government, industry and other stakeholders and users.
Through its communication and education, networking and outreach activities, the Institute informs its stakeholders and broader society about the work that it does and the importance and value of the ocean in providing essential goods and services for society and economy.
The Ocean Awareness programme is a dynamic, engaging initiative focused on promoting both physical and mental well-being through ocean-based activities. Our aim is to provide participants with a pathway to enjoying the ocean while fostering a healthier and more productive lifestyle.
Aligned with the EU Youth Strategy’s pillars of Engage, Connect, and Empower, our programme explores outdoor activities grounded in nature connection principles to empower young people and achieve positive outcomes. Our sessions offer a diverse range of activities and ocean education in a safe, supportive environment where young people can develop their skills, build confidence and connect with nature.
WiseWater Academy is on a mission to (re)connect young people and communities with the ocean. So far, the team has successfully delivered its six-week Water and Wellbeing programme to 20 primary schools across the island of Ireland.
The Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) is an umbrella network of 25 of Ireland’s leading environmental NGOs, national and regional, working together to protect and enhance Ireland’s water environment.
SWAN seeks to influence water policy so as to secure maximum protection for Ireland’s aquatic resources. We also work to influence other related policy areas, such as agriculture and marine planning, to bring them in line, as much as possible, with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive and Marine Strategy Framework Directive to protect and restore our rivers, lakes, marine waters and groundwater. We do this through advocacy and engagement, and through coordinating and supporting our members to also participate in development and implementation of water-related policy and legislation at a local, national and EU level.
Founded in 2018, The Camden Education Trust (CET) is a not for profit company with Charitable Status, based in Ireland. We work closely with a wide range of corporate partners, governments and family foundations to create educational initiatives which benefit young people, particularly those who are underserved. We manage and develop curriculum and content for global education projects including SAP Africa Code Week, ACW Women Empowerment Program, and the Explorers Education Programme.
Seabed Sanctuary is an artists’ initiative working at the intersection of art and environmental science. We are a not-for-profit collective of independent practitioners who care about biodiversity loss in our coastal waters; artists working with environmentalists, marine professionals, and concerned citizens.
Currently we are in the research and development stage of creating an underwater sculpture garden in Bantry Bay, Ireland.
The Sea Collective, based in Gaoth Dobhair, Co. Donegal, is a founding memeber of the IOLN. They offer an engaging and inspiring schools and community programme that explores Ireland’s incredible marine biodiversity and our cultural and marine heritage.
Sea Synergy is a Marine Awareness, Research and Activity Centre that offers a variety of meaningful activities, workshops, and adventures that empower all ages. Sea Synergy’s immersive experiences in the Skellig Coast’s rich local heritage and environment allow our clients to fully experience what Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way has to offer.
Sea Synergy was founded in 2014 by marine biologist Lucy Hunt, in her hometown, the beautiful coastal village of Waterville, located on the picturesque Ring of Kerry in SW Ireland.
Green Space Education was created out of a need to embed sustainable thinking into the curriculum, promote learner-centred methodologies and encourage robust, innovative and autonomous learners who are future-ready. We want to augment the gaps in the current system and be a catalyst for change for learners and educators.
Based in West Cork, Woodcock Smokery was founded by internationally acclaimed Sally Barnes in 1981. It is world-renowned for its smoked wild products such as albacore tuna, haddock, pollack, mackerel, and wild Atlantic cold-smoked salmon.
Beach Schools is a new development of the internationally acclaimed Forest Schools Programme which places an emphasis on outdoor learning and engagement for children of all ages. The aim of Beach Schools is to get children outdoors and to ignite the fun of exploration, discovery and learning within coastal environments.
Beach Schools are springing up throughout the UK and Beach Schools NI is the only beach schools centre in NI run by a professionally trained beach schools practitioner. Beach Schools NI provides a range of short interactive sessions and schools programmes throughout the year, for kids of all ages, whatever the weather.
Inishowen Development Partnership is a community led local development company. We have successfully delivered rural development and social inclusion programmes and initiatives in Donegal since 1996, on behalf of the Government of Ireland and the European Union.
Our vision is to be the aquaculture technology leaders that enable aquaculture producers to accelerate the world’s transition to low carbon footprint animal protein in a sustainable way.
Our mission is to create services built on our ground-breaking technology focused on fish health & welfare and eliminating the problem of sea lice.
Founded in 1948, An Taisce is one of Ireland’s oldest and largest environmental organisations. An Taisce is an independent charity that works to preserve and protect Ireland’s natural and built heritage.
We work closely with other environmental organisations around the country. We are part of the Irish Environmental Network and the Environmental Pillar. Internationally, we are a member of the International National Trusts Organisation and the European Environmental Bureau. We are also the Irish member of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), a global organisation of over 70 nations which is recognised as a world leader in education for sustainable development and environmental education.
Blue Inspiration is a Northern Irish consultancy specialising in science communication, project management and interpretation & exhibition design. Since 2014, we have been developing, curating and delivering award winning exhibitions, events and projects on behalf of our clients across a wide range of industries.
The National Biodiversity Data Centre works to make biodiversity data and information more freely available in order to better understand and assist the protection of Ireland’s biodiversity.
Galway Atlantaquaria, Ireland’s largest native species aquarium, is located in Salthill overlooking Galway Bay along the Wild Atlantic Way. We are caretakers of hundreds of native animals from our rivers, lakes, canals and oceans.
Greenlight Surveys Ltd is the Consulting practice of Ronan O’Toole, a Chartered Marine Technologist with the Institute of Marine Science Engineering and Technology (IMarEST), and Solo Consultant with over 20 years’ experience in delivering Marine Geoscience projects on behalf of public and private sector clients.
Leave No Trace is an outdoor ethics education programme designed to promote and inspire responsible outdoor recreation through education, research and partnerships.
Founded in 2017, ERINN Innovation blossomed from AquaTT UETP CLG’s enduring legacy of championing research and innovation since 1992. Our ethos is anchored in a deep-seated desire to usher in a sustainable future by accelerating and enhancing the impact of research and innovation.
As a value-driven enterprise owned by its dedicated staff, ERINN Innovation’s core is formed by its commitment to forge lasting partnerships. We invest time in understanding our partners’ aspirations, and by sharing knowledge, we aim to fortify their internal capacities. This synergy aims to cultivate efficiency, fostering outcomes that not only meet but exceed expectations.
We pride ourselves on offering bespoke services tailored to individual needs throughout the entirety of a project’s lifecycle. At our core, research impact and astute knowledge management guide our every move. Whether you’re an innovative SME tackling Europe’s pressing challenges, a researcher, policymaker, funding body, or state agency, our expertise paves the way for collaborative success.
Situated in the Celtic Sea off the south coast of Ireland, the Emerald Project will utilise cutting edge Floating Offshore Wind (FOW) technology to construct a wind farm which, upon completion, will have a total capacity of up to 1.3 GW.
IWDG was founded in 1990
to establish an All-Ireland sighting and stranding scheme and to campaign for the declaration of Irish territorial waters as a whale and dolphin sanctuary.
Bord Iascaigh Mhara helps to develop the Irish seafood industry by providing technical expertise, business support, funding, training and promoting responsible environmental practice.
We are a coalition of Ireland’s leading environmental non-governmental organisations (eNGOs) and environmental networks.
We are calling for 30% of Ireland’s ocean territory to be fully protected by 2030. This is our greatest chance at restoring ocean health and we must act now.
Fair Seas’ aim is to see Ireland, with a renewed appreciation of the ocean, become a world leader in marine protection, giving our species, habitats and coastal communities the opportunity to thrive.
Acting as custodian and regulator of Ireland’s maritime area, we aim to ensure that Ireland’s marine environment is protected for the future through co-operation, compliance, enforcement and transparent decision making.
We are a maritime organisation delivering an essential safety service around the coast of Ireland, protecting the marine environment, and supporting the marine industry and coastal communities. In recent years we’ve transformed how we deliver our services, putting the emphasis on efficiency, cost-effectiveness and sustainability, while exploiting new technology and new opportunities wherever possible.
At Nua Mara, we believe that Ireland’s ocean holds the key to a sustainable and prosperous future. As the nation’s first dedicated Marine Innovation and Development Centre (MIDC), we’re here to transform cutting-edge research into real-world marine enterprise — bridging science, innovation, and commercialisation.
Since 2017, this project has worked with Transition Year students to survey beaches along the West Cork coast. Students identify and map plastic waste—from microplastics to larger debris—to understand where it comes from and monitor the health of local shores.
The Environmental Forum (formerly Cork Environmental Forum) was founded in 1995 in the wake of the UN summit on sustainable development in Rio in 1992 where 179 states agreed on ‘Action 21’ – a vision for sustainable development for the 21st century. One of the chapters of this document entitled ‘Local Agenda 21’ formed the guiding principles for the Forum.
Our work includes stakeholder engagement; running public events such as the Rebel Pedal bicycle parade and Environmental Awards. Plenary sessions, public consultations, being represented on various policy committees as well as bringing an environmental perspective through submissions on local, regional, national and EU policy.
Turn Tides brings the ocean to you! With a metre-long touchpool filled with live species such as crabs, starfish, urchins and more, Turn Tides brings you face-to-face with fascinating creatures and artefacts from beneath the waves. We can hold events in homes, shopping centres, schools, youth clubs, community centres – almost anywhere!
Visit www.turntides.org to book your marine workshop today.