Meet the Galway Hookers and the families that own them!  Bádóirí  video series, starting from Thursday 10th January at 8.00 pm on TG4 Irish TV Channel-

 The winners and the Ranking for 2018 Championship are now available here

In association with Bádóirí an Cladaig, Port of Galway Sea Scouts, various Sailing Clubs in Galway City & County, and the wider Claddagh Community, Galway Bay Boat Tours is embarking on a new community based project to restore the “Lovely Anne” Gleoiteog and roll out a series of Traditional Sail Training Programmes for 2019.

The Lovely Anne:
This 140 year-old workboat was built in 1882 by Galway boat-wright, Patrick Brannelly (famous for building An Tónaí & the Morning Star).
The Lovely Anne has a fascinating story. After being part of Galway’s hooker fleet in the early 1900s she was sold over 45 years ago in Spiddal to Jim Parkinson, who fished her for many years. Later he relocated to Killybegs, Co. Donegal and the boat has been in his possession ever since.
This boat has recently been brought back to Galway by Ross Forde (Brannelly's Great-Great Grandson), where she will join the rest of the hooker fleet based in the City.

Read more ...

The Boatmen Dinner 2018 turned out to be a pleasant event. The dining room of Merriman Hotel was crowded with the boatmen and their families, each one enjoying the meal and sharing in company and laughter.
After the dinner, a video honoured the memory of one of the last great Boatmen, Matt Casey, who sadly passed away in August.
The following video was a nice interview with Baba Uí Bháille, who was later on awarded with "Mná na mBádóirí" Prize, a new trophy especially dedicated to those very special women who share in the passion of their husbands, sons and relatives for these wonderful boats and support them in everyday life, in their success and troubles too...

Read more ...