County features in global online series

A video filmed in various parts of Cork has been profiled in a new global online series that seeks to discover hidden connections between humans and the ocean.

It’s part of the ‘Blue Horizons’ series, presented by the World Ocean Council and produced by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions, which has just been launched and features 18 video shorts from around the world, with one from Cork and Sligo. They are both Science Foundation Ireland research centres.

‘The Embrace Of The Sea’, filmed in Inchydoney, Clonakilty and Ringaskiddy, is about erosion-related research being undertaken by MaREI at UCC.

Focused around the personal perspectives of avid swimmer and Clonakilty hotelier, Dena O’Donovan, it shows how communities come together to challenge the changing conditions.

Dr Jimmy Murphy, lead of the Lir National Ocean Test Facility at UCC and MaREI Co-PI, said: “There is now the capability to manage our coastline on an informed basis, such that we can understand its behaviour and be more proactive in terms of addressing erosion and climate change challenges. “A reason that we need to protect beaches is to preserve them for the benefit of the local communities.”