Our Network

Since its establishment in 2016, the IOLN has brought together individuals and organisations working towards the IOLN vision, achieving an Ocean Literate society across the Island of Ireland. The IOLN aspires to be a central contact and dissemination point to support initiatives and collaboration opportunities between the IOLN members, and to provide a platform for engagement with relevant stakeholders.

The network has seen some exciting changes over the last 12 months including becoming a company limited by gurantee.

As part of this restructuring, the network now has a Board of Directors and is currently establishing an Advisory Board. The secratariat role which has been held by Galway Atlantaquaria since 2018 will continue till the end of 2024. Maria Vittoria Marra at Galway Atlantaquaria currently leads this task as part of workpackage 3 in the Prep4Blue Project (2022-2025), Funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe program, a three-year project that will set the foundations for co-creating and co-implementing the research and innovation required to achieve Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030.

Proposed NEW IOLN Structure 2024-2030

The Board of Directors currently includes David Murphy (Chair), Dr. Noirin Burke (Secretary), Heidi Mc Ilvenny (In progress), Micheal O’ Cinneide (In progress) and Dave Wall (In progress).

If you or your organisation is interested in joining the Irish Ocean Literacy Network please email Maria Vittoria Marra at irishoceanliteracynetwork@gmail.com

As a Network we have developed the Networks Strategy from 2024-2030, which can be seen below:

IOLN-Strategy-Final_-Feb-2024.docx Download

Our History

The Irish Ocean Literacy Network was established as a non-formal network in 2016. Its activity and development was guided by a steering group, made up of a diverse group of Ocean Literacy advocates. They came together up to four times a year to plan the actions of the network in communication with the Secretariat Galway Atlantaquaria (2018-2023). The previous sectretariat from Susan Heaney from Blue Inspiration (2016-2018). Seed funding for the secretartiat role from 2016-2022 was provided by the Marine Institute. Support was also provided by Bord Iascaigh Mhara from 2021-2022. It should be noted that many of the members have provided large amounts of in-kind contributions since 2016 to bring the IOLN from where it began to where it is now.