Linking land and sea, past and present, boats are back on home turf
Galway Hookers are back on the map, turning heads at a festival tribute for boat lovers, writes Tom MacSweeney
IAM spending this weekend with a gathering of Hookers. They once came to nearextinction, but survived and, though they have aged, still turn heads and are admired.
They are gathered at Kinvara in the south-eastern corner of Galway Bay, where Dunguaire Castle stands to the east of the village, for the annual Cruinniu na mBad — the Gathering of the Boats.
These are the great Galway Hookers, once the main providers of turf across the bay, recalled at the ‘Gathering’ as the boats land cargoes of turf from the bogs of Connemara on to Kinvara Quay, as was done for centuries. “It’s all part of the preservation of our maritime heritage, the primary objective of the Galway Hooker Association,” says Dr Michael Brogan, a hooker owner and sailor.
“Stalwart enthusiasts led to the strong revival of interest and the preservation of the Galway Hookers. Some are nearly 200 years old and in the same families for over five generations. Going from near extinction in the 1950s and 1960s, due mainly to the introduction of bottled gas and better roads, they survived and you can get close up to them at Kinvara. They are a pleasure to behold!”
Cumann na Huiceiri, the Galway Hooker Association, was established in 1978 to promote the restoration and preservation of the traditional boats in their various forms — Bad Mor, Leathbhad, Gleoiteog and Pucan. This weekend marks the 40th year of the festival, which is working to “reconnect the land and the sea” through the formation of Cuan Beo, a voluntary group along Galway Bay.
It links old communities with new ones, formed as people moved out of the city to set up homes in rural areas.
Plastic-Free Kinvara is one of the environmental initiatives and this afternoon the Climin, a seaweed raft race will be held, which will follow demonstrations of sustainable seaweed harvesting.
“The preservation of the Galway Hookers remains our objective. They are the heart of the Cruinniu but we are endeavouring to broaden it out to widen appreciation of maritime heritage and show how the land and the sea are interconnected in our lives,” said Dr Brogan, the ‘Gathering’ chairman.
Galway Hookers have spread their influence to the east coast, where they are part of the Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club.