Galway Hooker

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Galway hooker outside Belfast
Galway hooker
Regatta in front of Carrowroe
Galway Hooker as a sculpture in Eyre Square

The Galway Hooker ( Irish Húicéir na Gaillimhe ) or Connemara Hooker is a type of sailing ship . It is a traditional sailing boat used in Galway Bay on the west coast of Ireland . It was developed for the local conditions and is characterized by its special sail arrangement. It consists of a mast with a main sail and two foresails . Traditionally, the boat is black and the sails are kept in a brown tone, but other colors such as red or white are also used. An iron sculpture of Hooker stands in Eyre Square, Galway City's main square .

At the annual Cruinniú na mBád festival , a regatta is sailed through Galway Bay, from Connemara to Kinvara . Other regattas are held in front of Roundstone and Carrowroe . This has reawakened interest in the Galway Hooker.

variants

The Hooker is available in four boat classes.

  • The Bád Mór (big boat) has a length of 10.70 to 13.50 meters.
  • The leathbhád (half a boat) is only about 10 meters long. It was used to transport peat (as fuel) to the Aran Islands and the Burren . The boats often brought limestone with them on their return journeys to neutralize the acidic soils of Connemara and Mayo.
  • The Gleoiteog is 7.5 to 9 meters long and has the same rigging as the larger boats. It was used for fishing and for transporting loads.
  • The Púcán is similar in size to the Gleoiteog but has only one foresail.

origin

The boats have been in use for at least 200 years, but their origin is unclear. Connemara had many boatyards and it is likely that these boats were developed there; however, connections to Dutch boat builders are also discussed. They are able to sail in flat water and were therefore ideal for the island world in the south of Connemara.

See also

literature

  • Richard Murphy: The last Galway hooker. Dublin c1961.
  • Richard J. Scott: The Galway hookers: sailing work boats of Galway Bay. 4th edition. Swords, Dublin 2004.

Web links

Commons : Galway Hookers  - collection of images, videos and audio files