Thousands enjoy the spectacle of traditional boats

The Cruinniú na mBád in Galway Bay was spectacular, but concerns about the future of traditional boat-building linger, writes Tom Gilmore.

Almost 50 traditional sailing vessels, mostly from the west and south coasts of Ireland, took part in the annual Cruinniú na mBád regatta. The event was revived 25 years ago to commemorate an era of sailing boats transporting fuel and sometimes smuggling goods, in and out of Galway Bay.

As thousands of people enjoyed the spectacle of vessels such as Connemara turf boats, pucáns, Galway hookers and west Cork mackerel boats racing across Kinvara Bay at the weekend, festival chairman Dr Michael Brogan called for Government funding for this and similar coastal cultural events.

The idea of a festival highlighting traditional sailing vessels emerged in Carna, Connemara, across Galway Bay, but the first major event of its type was held at Kinvara in 1979. Now there are 15 similar cultural sailing festivals along the west and south coasts of Ireland.

"There is no official grant aid in place, and I think that after 25 years of events such as this one being run by local sponsorship, and of organisers trying to scrape money together, it is time for funding from the Government. They must realise that these are cultural events and not just sailing festivals," Dr Brogan says.

"These are cultural events which also ensure that the whole tradition of boat building, sail making and all the other services which go hand in hand with the owning of boats is maintained." Dr Brogan is Kinvara-born and based as a GP in Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo.

The traditional Connemara "bád mór" turf boats, the Galway hookers and other old-style boats were sailing mostly for pleasure purposes and especially racing.

It was a far cry from the 17th and 18th centuries when, apart from bringing turf across Galway Bay from Connemara, similar vessels were involved in racing against British naval forces coastguard cutters trying to stop them smuggling large quantities of wool from Kinvara to larger French vessels anchored off the coast and returning with illegal brandy, tea, wine and tobacco.

Much of this history is documented in a new book written by local man Tom Quinn - Turfboats - which has been published by the Kinvara Festival Committee as a fund-raiser to mark the 25th anniversary.

Séamus Breathnach from Carna is another person with a long-time involvement in the festival. "John Jimmy McDonagh from Carraroe was probably the last man to ferry turf from Connemara to Kinvara in this way and that would have all finished about 1953," he recalls.

Dr Brogan stresses the importance of preserving the craft of full-size traditional boat- building. His own boat was built in Galway by Connemara boat builder Colm Mulkerrins, who was also at the Cruinniú. "Colm was one of the people responsible for reviving the building of Galway Hookers in the 1970s and he is now passing on the craft to the next generation," Dr Brogan adds.

Colm says it takes him between 10 months and a year to build one of the Galway Hookers.

Another popular personality at the festival was Pat Jennings from The Claddagh in Galway. In his early 90s, he is still involved in traditional sail-making.

In the first Gleoiteog Mór race of the festival Renmore, Galway city-based school teacher, Colie Hernon, was the winner with a boat named the Nora Beag which he had restored in his back yard over a number of years. In the smaller traditional Gleoiteog Beag boats category, the winner was the Asurnai owned by local couple Mike and Sue Fahy.

International boats on display included a Zulu sailing boat, built by the British for use during the Boer War. Tied up at Kinvara quay was the Vervine Blossem, a Manx Nobby boat, while some traditional Scottish sailing boats also took part.

One Cork sailing enthusiast who proved popular, for his musical talent as well as his sailing, was Marc Bushe from Crosshaven. As the loudspeakers on the quay were blaring out songs by The Sawdoctors and Brendan Shine, Marc was staying in tune with the songs by belting them out on a bodhráwhich he had purchased for €65 in O'Regan's Music Shop in Kinvara.

"I am here with a traditional sand boat named The Canóg which was built by my father. Now I have started traditional boat-building myself and have already got orders for two old-style crafts," he added with satisfaction.

The tradition lives.