The Galway Hooker is a traditional sailing boat used in Galway Bay off the west coast of Ireland. The hooker was developed for the strong seas there. It is identified by the sail formation, which is extremely distinctive and quite beautiful. It consisted of a single mast with a main sail and two foresails. Traditionally, the boat is black (being coated in pitch) and the sails are a dark red-brown. Galway Bay (Irish: Loch Lurgain or Cuan na Gaillimhe) is a large bay/sea loch on the west coast of Ireland, between County Galway in the province of Connacht to the north and the district of Burren in County Clare in the province of Munster to the south. ...

Recently there has been a major revival, and renewed interest in the Galway hooker, and the boats are still being painstakingly constructed. The festival of Cruinniú na mBád is held each year, when boats race across Galway Bay from Connemara to Kinvara on the Galway/Clare county boundary. Statistics Province: Connacht County Town: Galway Code: G (GY proposed) Area: 6,148 km² Population (2002) 209,077 Website: www. ... Connemara (Irish Conamara), which derives from Conmhaicne Mara (meaning: descendants of Con Mhac, of the sea), is a district in the west of Ireland (County Galway). ... Kinvara (Irish: Cinn Mhara, meaning head of the sea), a sea port village located in the south of County Galway in the province of Connacht on the west coast of Ireland. ...

Classes of Galway Hooker

The hooker refers to four classes of boats. All are named in Irish. The Bád Mór (big boat) ranges in length from 35 to 44 feet (10.5 - 13.5 metres). The smaller Leath Bhád (half boat) is about 28 feet (10 metres) in length. These boats were used to carry turf to be used as fuel across Galway Bay from Connemara and County Mayo to the Aran Islands and the Burren. The boats often brought limestone on the return journeys, to neutralise the acid soils of Connemara and Mayo. The Gleoiteog ranges in length from 24 to 28 feet and has the same sails and rigging as the larger boats. They were used for fishing and carrying cargo. Another boat, the Púcán, is similar in size to the Gleoiteog but has one mainsail and one foresail. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Galway Bay (Irish: Loch Lurgain or Cuan na Gaillimhe) is a large bay/sea loch on the west coast of Ireland, between County Galway in the province of Connacht to the north and the district of Burren in County Clare in the province of Munster to the south. ... Connemara (Irish Conamara), which derives from Conmhaicne Mara (meaning: descendants of Con Mhac, of the sea), is a district in the west of Ireland (County Galway). ... Statistics Province: Connacht County Town: Castlebar Code: MO Area: 5,397 km² Population (2002) 117,428 Website: www. ... The Aran Islands (Irish: Na hOileáin Árann) are a group of three islands located at the mouth of Galway Bay, on the west coast of Ireland. ... Categories: Ireland-place stubs | Geography of Ireland ... Limey shale overlaid by limestone. ...

Origins

The origins of the craft are not clear. They have been in use for at least two hundred years. The Connamara area had many boatbuilders and it is thought that they formed these boats especially to suit the area. The boats were able to sail in shallow waters and thus were ideal for the areas around South Conamara. It is most likely that the báid have their origin in the area as opposed to being inspired from outside.

See also

• Currach

A currach is a type of boat with a wooden frame, over which is stretched animal skins or hides. ...

External links

• Galway local history site