The last six boats of the Claddagh fleet are to be restored to working order in time for the Volvo Ocean Boat Race, as part of a new project which seeks to preserve and promote Galway’s maritime heritage.
The Galway Traditional Boats Conservation Project, established by City Hall’s Heritage Officer Jim Higgins, seeks to preserve and promote the city’s maritime heritage and to have the last six boats of the Claddagh fleet restored to working order.
The council’s Heritage Office is working closely with the Heritage Council nationally and the Claddagh Boat owners association, Bádóirí na Claddaigh, to ensure the remaining Claddagh boats are restored in time for the Volvo Race in 2009.
The restoration work is able to go ahead due to recent funding secured by Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív, Fianna Fáil Cllr Mary Leahy (who sits on the GTBCP committee ), and Jim Higgins. Funding of €10,000 from the Heritage Council was matched with €10,000 from the Galway City Council.
One of the Claddagh hookers is more than 150 years old and was built at the famous Reanly boat yard, at Long Walk. According to chairman of the GTBCP Michael Connelly, Michael Folan’s boat is of the greatest cultural, archaeological and historical interest.
“This is a very positive development which sees Galway finally awakening to its maritime history,” said Cllr Leahy. “It is particularly encouraging that the boats will not just be museum pieces but will be Galway’s living heritage and culture.”
“The restoration of the boats is being done not just for reasons of nostalgia,” said Mr Higgins, “but in order to promote a renewed interest among the youth of the area in traditional sailing craft and to provide an additional heritage and tourism asset. The folklore traditions and history of the boats will also be recorded on CD, DVD, and book form.”
Minister Ó Cuív said: “With the restoration of the Claddagh Boats, the traditional sailing craft would be centred once again in the Claddagh and this would become the Mecca for those interested in viewing, sailing, and learning about the traditional craft of Galway.”
Cllr Leahy, who sits on this GTBCP committee, said the group wants to maximise the potential of the Claddagh in attracting more business and tourism to Galway. The group has also approached Fáilte Ireland, The Harbour Board, and Chamber of Galway who have all expressed an interest in this project.
“We see this funding as an ongoing and not a once off project,” she said.
Galway has an very ancient and extensive maritime heritage. Dug-out canoes were used to navigate the waters of Galway Bay as early as the Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age 9000-4000 BC ). Recently a wooden dug-out which has been scientifically dated to 4800 BC was put on display in Galway Atlantiquarium at Salthill.
The boat is being preserved in sea water in a project coordinated by Dr Conor Newman of the Archaeology Department, NUI Galway, and Chair of the Heritage Council.
