The story of Ned Wickham, a 23-year-old lifeboat coxswain and the 25-metre Blue whale he captured at the mouth of Wexford harbour in 1891 is the theme of a project created by south-east artist David Begley.

Now known as the Wexford whale, the skeleton of the mammal capture by Wickham hangs at The Natural History Museum, London and is named “Hope”.

Wickham saved 151 lives during his time with the lifeboat.

Begley, who makes art from driftwood charcoal, was commissioned to celebrate Irish Sea port by Ports, Past and Present, a project funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

David in his studio on the Wexford Coast, surrounded by the images he used to create ‘The Wexford Whale’ Photo: Clare Keogh

It involves the Ireland Wales Co-operation Programme, led by Professor Claire Connolly at University College Cork (UCC), and explores heritage through a series of creative commissions.

Professor Claire Connolly and David Begley with charcoal animations used to make ‘The Wexford Whale’ Photo: Clare Keogh

Begley began gathering driftwood at The Burrow, Rosslare and Rosslare Harbour to bake driftwood charcoal. He also facilitated drawing and animation workshops at Scoil Mhuire, Rosslare so that the children could draw their interpretations of the story and create short animations.

During his scavenging work, he noticed the scale of coastal erosion in and around Ballyconniger beach, Co Wexford.

The dramatic coastal erosion at Ballyconniger Beach, Co. Wexford

“The bay at Ballyconniger has changed so much in my time here. I used to walk in front of the gate along the cliff top,” he says.

“ This same gate is now perched on the edge of the cliffs. That's a loss of three metres in as many years. Up until 2020, I think, the bay was a crescent. It was an excellent place for gathering driftwood. By contrast, Killmuckridge has gained land as the currents sweep north,” he says.

Begley also makes ink from seawater.

“The salt content of sea water has fascinated me for a long time. Salt acts as a catalyst in ink making,”he says, explaining he has also begun researching the acidification of the ocean as part of ink making.

Following his project with the fifth and sixth class pupils of Scoil Mhuire National School in Rosslare, Begley began drawing scenes for an animated film.

It is accompanied by soundtrack specially composed by Ruah Pearson, and can be found here