Connemara sailor dies in capsize

6th September 2009

A Connemara sailor has died and his brother was taken to hospital, following the capsize of their vessel in Galway Bay yesterday. The Gleoiteog McHugh was one of two Carna-based traditional craft en route from Kinvara to Rossaveal when it got into difficulty close to Kilcolgan point on the northern shore of Galway Bay.

The brothers had taken part in the Cruinniú na mBád - gathering of the boats - festival in Kinvara two weeks ago and were sailing to Rossaveal to take part in a regatta today when the incident happened. The regatta has been cancelled.

The two crew on board, who have been named locally as brothers Johnny Sheáin Jeaic MacDonncha (67) and Josie Sheáin Jeaic MacDonncha (66), were thrown into the water. One of four crew on the second vessel, the Bláth na hÓige , jumped in to assist them, and both were taken on board that boat and the alarm was raised.

Published in News Update

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