Islanders remember ‘The Béal Bocht’ boat
MANY Valentia Islanders, and indeed those in neighbouring areas, will have clear memories of the The Béal Bocht (The Poor Mouth) boat owned by Des Lavelle of Knightstown, which down through the decades was a familiar sight in local waters.
The boat of over 30 feet was built in Dingle, and Des took possession of her in July, 1968.
He says that Bord Iascaigh Mhara had a big boat-building yard in Dingle in those days. He registered her as a Sea Fishing Boat, and her number was D494.
He also used her to accommodate divers, both native and foreign, in their quest to dive into the clear waters of Valentia Harbour and beyond. The Béal Bocht was also one of the very first boats in those early years to transport tourists to Skellig Michael, long before the famous monastic site had the Star Wars profile of today. But what became of that little blue boat of Knightstown so much associated with Valentia Island?
Interestingly she was bought by a man named Tim Davis, whom this scribe and friends met by chance recently in the Ring Lyne of Chapeltown. On talking and becoming familiar with a number of us islanders in that long-established hostelry, he explained: ‘’I bought her in October 2016 having fished on similar boats myself back in the day,” he said.
“I felt one would be a good vessel for cruising in my ‘dotage’. Although currently living in the hills of North Tipperary,
“I was brought up on the banks of the tidal River Usk in south Wales and was in a boat before I was ever in a car. I moved to Ireland 25 years ago and worked as a fisherman and boat builder whilst living in west Cork, mostly on Heir Island.
“Eight years ago I started an Hons Degree in Visual Art, Graduating aged 59, and I’m currently halfway through a masters in Art and Design; I work as an Arts Technician.
“The boat is very solidly built of larch planks fitted, considering her size, on huge oak frames. Unfortunately, some of the planks are showing their age.
“I have found the Irish Larch for the planking repairs and have every intention of re -launching her next year,” he said. Valentia Islanders would like to wish Tim all good seafaring fortune with the Béal Bocht.