For hundreds of years, basic timber oar and sailboats lay at the heart of the Irish economy, carrying fish and other seafood all over the world. These boats have now been replaced by larger and faster vessels that are far less attractive to look at, but a revival in the forgotten craft of traditional boat-building has recently emerged, celebrating the country’s seafaring heritage.
While most of the boats were officially decommissioned in the 1950s, Baltimore in West Cork now plays host to a Wooden Boat Festival each year, celebrating the craftmanship and history behind the country’s traditional timber boats. The boats themselves, which mostly fished mackerel, are steeped in the country’s history, having served since pre-famine times.
The revival in boat-making and in the country’s maritime history has given rise to the Traditional Boats of Ireland project, which aims to preserve and gather knowledge on Ireland’s traditional water craft. Their book, Traditional Boats of Ireland: History, Folklore and Construction documents the variety of boats traditionally seen around the Irish coast.
The Baltimore event, each May, provides an opportunity for enthusiasts in the artisan craft of boat-building to show off their work, but also adds to the charm and beauty of the area, which is already known for its breathtakingly beautiful rugged coastline.
May is an ideal time to visit Cork if you appreciate the delights of the sea, as the Wooden Boat Festival runs concurrently with the Baltimore Seafood Weekend. Visitors can sample the freshest local produce in tents lining the pier, with tempting fare from the town’s fish smokers, cheese makers and organic gardeners.
If you’d like to make a trip to Cork from the UK travelling by sea, Direct Ferries runs a regular Swansea to Cork service.
Images: Mozzercork
