The Galway Hooker Sailing Club, in partnership with The Salthill Village, Blackrock Cottage, the Grainne Mhaol Rowing Club, and Galway City Council is excited to announce the revival of An To?stal, (The Gathering ), a celebration of Galway’s maritime life and seafaring customs.
The traditional racing currachs and rowers will gather once again at Ladies Beach in Salthill for the first time in 10 years. The foundation for this gathering was laid out in the early 1950s, and To?stal na Gaillimhe of 1953 marked the beginning of the All-Ireland Currach Racing Championships. Dignitaries and thousands of spectators gathered to witness the rowers compete for championship titles and glory.
For 2023, the two-day gathering will take place on May 6 and 7 and will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the original To?stal na Gaillimhe. The event will feature male, female, and junior traditional currach racing rowers alongside sliding seat rowers.
The currachai will be provided by Coiste Lar na gCurrachai for the duration of the festival and we are delighted to have the support of the previous festival director of 2011-2013, who is working closely with us to ensure the success of An To?stal 2023.
Speaking about the upcoming festival, Ciaran Oliver of the Galway Hooker Sailing Club said they are thrilled to bring back the tradition of An To?stal to Salthill in celebration of its 70th anniversary.
“Our partnership with The Salthill Village, Blackrock Cottage, Grainne Mhaol Rowing Club, and Galway City Council will help us deliver an exciting two-day event that celebrates the rich maritime culture of Galway Bay,” he said.
The event is a revival of a national celebration of maritime life and customs that was initiated in 1953 by Bord Failte and continued till 1959. An Tostal was revived in 2011 after a long wait of 57 years, and the winning crew of 1955 officiated at the opening ceremony before races began.
In 2012, new trophies were presented for the senior men’s race and junior category, and racing continued with different crews winning in each category. The weather conditions were perfect for racing, with boats of different sizes out on the water.
In the expectation of similarly good weather conditions on Saturday, May 6, the Grainne Mhaol Rowing Club will be hosting ‘Try Rowing’ sessions and the Galway Hooker Sailing Club will be hosting ‘Try Sailing’ sessions for those curious about getting started.
Galway Bay promises a spectacle of red sails as the iconic Galway Hooker fleet - along with other local sailing clubs - take to the water.
In addition to the thrilling races taking place on the water, there will be plenty of family-friendly activities and entertainment on shore throughout the weekend. Visitors can enjoy a variety of food and drink options from local vendors, and kids can take part in crafts, sandcastle building competitions and other fun activities. Live music performances by local artists will also be featured, adding to the festive atmosphere.
With something for everyone, An Tostal is a free event that promises to be a fun-filled weekend for the whole family.
“The Village Salthill is delighted to be involved in An To?stal 2023. Reviving the Currach Racing is a great initiative,” said Pete Kelly, speaking on behalf of The Village group, “this is the type of family activity that Salthill is delighted to host, it is part of and parcel of the resort that is Salthill.
“There are ample attractions to complement the ‘on water’ spectacle, with the Funpark, Leisureland Aquarium, Seapoint, and the Galway City Council Family Funday. In addition , there will be multiple food and drink offering to suit all tastes.
“We would give a big ‘Bualadh Bos’ to Galway Hooker Sailing Club for making it possible – Ta? siad ag Teacht,” he said.”
The revival of An To?stal promises to be an exciting event, one that will bring the tradition and customs of Galway life alive.
This is a free events for whoch tickets are not necessary. For more information see https://www.galwayhookersailingclub.ie and Blackrock Cottage https://blackrockcottage.ie
