Restoration Work Continues Apace on Ireland's Only Remaining Sail

Restoration Work Continues Apace on Ireland's Only Remaining Sail–Trader Ilen

1st February 2017

Ilen – restoration work continues in West Cork on Ireland's last surviving Sail Trader

The latest photos of the restoration work on Ireland's only remaining Sail–Trader Ilen reveal wonderful new Larch planked bulwarks are begining to embrace the 56–ft sailing ketch. They will be expected to shoulder many an Atlantic sea, according to Gary MacMahon, of the Ilen restoration school.

Ilen is expected to be a show–piece attraction at July's Glandore classic boat regatta, As Afloat.ie reported earlier.

The ketch was built in 1926 in the Baltimore Fishery School Boatyard for the Falkland Islands Company.

She was designed and sailed to the Falkland Islands by Conor O'Brien, who in 1925, was the first Irishman to complete a circumnavigation of the world in the 42-ft ketch, Saoirse, also built in Baltimore.

Ilen ketch Above and below these new Larch planks were put in place today on the Ilen.

Ilen ketch

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Ilen

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