The Galway Hooker has become as much a symbol of the city and county as the Claddagh Ring – but the demise of the traditional Connemara boat is predicted unless measures are taken to secure the future of these beautiful vessels.

The sight of one of them in full sail gliding on the ocean is certainly majestic – the fountain on Eyre Square replicates these very iconic red sails. Yet, their owners are finding it harder to repair and maintain them as the skills to do so are dying away, with little or no incentive by the State authorities to promote such expertise.

In the last century these vessels, known in Irish as An Bád Mór, were working boats bringing turf to Kinvara, Galway City and the Aran Islands.

In recent decades they have become more like pleasure boats which were kept in good shape thanks to a sense of pride in a sailing tradition synonymous to the Conamara Gaeltacht.

John Beag Ó Flatharta of Leitir Mór is one such owner. John, better known as a singer/musician and composer, had spent a many years living and working in the United States.

On his return ten years ago, he was aghast to find a fall in the number of these distinctive boats in the locality.

He readily admits he wasn’t a natural boatman but had always liked ‘na báid mhóra’ and decided to acquire one himself.

In recent years, John Beag has noticed a scarcity in the skill set of boat repairs in the area.

“These boats are our heritage, our tradition. As well as that they sustained us in Famine time and through two world wars as they were the only means of transporting goods between Conamara, Clare, Kinvara, Galway city and to the west, Roundstone,” he says.

Caption: John Beag Ó Flatharta.

Get the full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now, or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie. You can also download our Connacht Tribune App from Apple’s App Store or get the Android Version from Google Play.