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A Selection of Maritime and Traditional Boating Festivals
What follows is, of course, not an exhaustive list. the form of three days of sailing, talking, learning
You can find currach racing all along the length of and partying in true West Cork style. The first festival
Irelands’ Atlantic coast. Traditional festivals continue on was held at Baltimore in May 2002. This was the first
Mayo’s Belmullet strand and Belderrig in the summer gathering of traditional sailing boats on the south west
months. Kerry’s maritime festivals will feature currach coast since the 1930s and proved such a success that
racing too although there the traditional boat is called is was decided to make it an annual event. One of the
the naomhóg. Donegal’s western seaboard continues to objectives of the festival is to encourage interest in the
harbour these famed boats, of which you will learn more traditional, timber working boats of the Baltimore area
in our article on Traditional Boats by Donegal artist and among enthusiasts and the wider public. There are races
boat builder, Donal Mac Polin. Wherever there is water, and events for rowing and sailing craft and the weekend
man has yearned to explore ; long may we enjoy our comes to a climax with the parade of sail on Sunday
Traditional Boating Heritage! afternoon. As the festival coincides with Baltimore
Seafood Festival, this is one of the most action-packed
Ocean To City – An Rás Mór weekends of the year.
Cork Harbor Festival
Salthill Galway
30th May -1st June 2015 An Tóstal
Organised by Meitheal Mara, Community Boatyard May 2015 -
Cork, the Ocean to City is a very special festival and On show will also be the local Galway Hookers form
a must see for anyone interested in Irelands’ boating the Claddagh, Live bi-lingual commentary of the races,
heritage. Traditional Irish and Sean Nós Dancing, Sand-Castle
The race embraces everything from traditional wooden competitions, Barbecue, live music and much more.
boats, currachs, skiffs, gigs, sloeps, whalers and Dont miss this great day out!
longboats to contemporary ocean racing shells, kayaks Email: info@antostalsalthill.com or
and canoes. Attracting thousands of spectators every tostal2011@gmail.com
year, the race is a real flagship event for Cork Harbour; Phone: 087-2065689
one of the largest natural harbours in the world.
This Year the Cork Harbor Open Day coincides with Below: Currach racing with teams from Donegal, the
the Ocean To City bringing a cornucopia of maritime Aran Islands, Connemara, Clare, Limerick and Kerry,
celebrations to this fabulous historical Harbour city. participating and competing in the All Ireland Currach
The Wooden Boat Festival Baltimore Racing.
Fri, 22 May 2015 - Sun, 24 May 2015
The Wooden Boat Festival is a celebration of the
traditional timber sailing boats of Ireland and takes
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What follows is, of course, not an exhaustive list. the form of three days of sailing, talking, learning
You can find currach racing all along the length of and partying in true West Cork style. The first festival
Irelands’ Atlantic coast. Traditional festivals continue on was held at Baltimore in May 2002. This was the first
Mayo’s Belmullet strand and Belderrig in the summer gathering of traditional sailing boats on the south west
months. Kerry’s maritime festivals will feature currach coast since the 1930s and proved such a success that
racing too although there the traditional boat is called is was decided to make it an annual event. One of the
the naomhóg. Donegal’s western seaboard continues to objectives of the festival is to encourage interest in the
harbour these famed boats, of which you will learn more traditional, timber working boats of the Baltimore area
in our article on Traditional Boats by Donegal artist and among enthusiasts and the wider public. There are races
boat builder, Donal Mac Polin. Wherever there is water, and events for rowing and sailing craft and the weekend
man has yearned to explore ; long may we enjoy our comes to a climax with the parade of sail on Sunday
Traditional Boating Heritage! afternoon. As the festival coincides with Baltimore
Seafood Festival, this is one of the most action-packed
Ocean To City – An Rás Mór weekends of the year.
Cork Harbor Festival
Salthill Galway
30th May -1st June 2015 An Tóstal
Organised by Meitheal Mara, Community Boatyard May 2015 -
Cork, the Ocean to City is a very special festival and On show will also be the local Galway Hookers form
a must see for anyone interested in Irelands’ boating the Claddagh, Live bi-lingual commentary of the races,
heritage. Traditional Irish and Sean Nós Dancing, Sand-Castle
The race embraces everything from traditional wooden competitions, Barbecue, live music and much more.
boats, currachs, skiffs, gigs, sloeps, whalers and Dont miss this great day out!
longboats to contemporary ocean racing shells, kayaks Email: info@antostalsalthill.com or
and canoes. Attracting thousands of spectators every tostal2011@gmail.com
year, the race is a real flagship event for Cork Harbour; Phone: 087-2065689
one of the largest natural harbours in the world.
This Year the Cork Harbor Open Day coincides with Below: Currach racing with teams from Donegal, the
the Ocean To City bringing a cornucopia of maritime Aran Islands, Connemara, Clare, Limerick and Kerry,
celebrations to this fabulous historical Harbour city. participating and competing in the All Ireland Currach
The Wooden Boat Festival Baltimore Racing.
Fri, 22 May 2015 - Sun, 24 May 2015
The Wooden Boat Festival is a celebration of the
traditional timber sailing boats of Ireland and takes
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