Andrew Doherty

Andrew Doherty was born in Waterford in 1965, his mother's people were fisherfolk, his fathers were seafarers. When he completed his schooling in 1983 he turned to fishing as a career, as seafaring was in decline. In the 1990s restrictions and government policies started to impact the fishing practices in traditional villages such as Cheekpoint. In 2006 the principal fishery, salmon drift-netting closed. In 2008 after going to college as a mature student he wrote a dissertation on the plight of the fishing community as a consequence of the closure.

In 2012 he started writing a blog, as a means of gathering his thoughts, particularly on the social situation in his community and specifically on government inaction on preserving or supporting traditional fishing communities to remain viable. His means of expression in the blog also reflected the values, ethos and practices that he had grown up with.

Through the monthly blog, he helps create an awareness, appreciation and perhaps an appetite for the preservation of this maritime way of life. Throung his writing, talks and walks he shares some of his ideas and the wealth of maritime lore of this maritime community.