Heritage Boat Association celebrates 20th anniversary
THE Heritage Boat Association (HBA) is celebrating 20 years of formation, with the aim of protecting, promoting and celebrating Ireland’s historical trading craft.
To qualify as a heritage boat, vessels must be more than 25 years old and have connections to commerce, perhaps through direct trading, ownership, the military, or other history of Ireland.
Over the years, due to the number of vessels coming into Ireland from overseas, the fleet has grown to include a number from the UK and the Netherlands. This has resulted in the HBA fleet becoming a wide ranging and most interesting collection.
The HBA is well known for its active approach, taking part in all manner of campaigns but focusing mainly on restoration and the keeping of lesser known routes open to navigation. The HBA fleet, known locally as ‘heavy metal’, always causes a stir when it arrives at a destination, drawing in great crowds at events or when they pass through towns and villages.
Without the HBA, many of the former trading vessels of Ireland would be lost. Its members are to be praised for the work they do and insights they offer, many of which can be discovered in the series of books they have produced.
To find out more, visit the website www.heritageboatassociation.ie