Ports, Past and Present

An archive of the creative outputs, documentary films, heritage stories and other publications of the Ports, Past and Present Project.

The Irish Sea basin forms a distinct node of histories, economies, and identities. Between 2020 and 2023, the Ports, Past and Present project considered five very different ports and their communities on either side of the sea: Dublin Port, Rosslare Harbour, Holyhead, Fishguard and Pembroke Dock. Project partners are University College Cork, Aberystwyth University, University of Wales Trinity Saint David and Wexford County Council.

The project has worked to enhance engagement among port town communities with their own rich heritage and that of the Irish Sea, and to use that heritage in promoting tourism and deepening a sense of shared identity.

This was completed through the co-production, with communities, of over 200 online heritage stories, high-quality documentary films, 12 creative commissions, community-focused events, tourism networks including free heritage tourism training, and a heritage tourism app.

Funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Ireland Wales Co-operation Programme.