Annual Blessing of Vessels in Galway Bay is Celebrated by Cladonian Mariners’ Boat Club

20th August 2022

Ger O’Neill won first prize for his boat Proud Mary after it was chosen as the “Best Dressed Boat” at the Blessing of Galway Bay. Ger (left), his sister Josephine O’Neill and Cllr Niall McNelis are pictured on board the boat after the blessing Credit: Joe O'Shaughnessy

Ger O’Neill’s Proud Mary was named “best-dressed boat” at the annual blessing of vessels in Galway Bay last weekend.

Kevin O’Brien’s Blue Shark took second place in the same event, which was marked by showers of rain.

Gleoitegs, púcáns and hookers form part of the Claddagh’s rich history, and the event was hosted the Cladonian Mariners’ Boat Club and local vessel owners.

Joe Shoer, owner of the Teegan, in the wheelhouse during the Blessing of Galway Bay from on board Photo: Joe O'Shaughnessy

The weather conditions prompted people on board the vessel Teegan, owned by Joe Shoer, to burst into their rendition of ‘Singin’ in the Rain’, made famous by Gene Kelly.

Fr Matthew Farrell OP, PP, St Mary’s, Claddagh, recites a decade of the rosary on board the Teegan as boats sail for the Blessing of Galway Bay last Sunday. Sailing alongside is the Blue Shark with owner Kevin O’Brien at the helm. The Blue Shark won second prize for the “Best Dressed Boat” at the event Photo: Joe O'Shaughnessy

King of the Claddagh Michael Lynskey and his son Pat dropped down to meet people on vessels when they returned to the Claddagh.

The ceremony was presided over by Fr Matthew Farrell of St Mary’s, Claddagh.

A decade of the rosary is recited before the Blessing of the Bay Photo: Joe O'Shaughnessy

Fr Farrell blessed the boats, the nets on board fishing vessels and the people crewing them. He recited a decade of the rosary on board the Teegan and sprinkled holy water in the direction of the fleet.

Fr Matthew Farrell OP, PP, St Mary’s, Claddagh, sprinkles holy water during the Blessing of Galway Bay Photo: Joe O'Shaughnessy

People on board the Teegan burst into song with ‘Singing in The Rain’ during a shower as the boat is moored at the Claddagh after the Blessing of Galway Bay Photo: Joe O'Shaughnessy

Deputy Mayor of Galway Cllr Mike Cubbard (Ind) travelled on board the Naomh Crónán with Peter Connolly of Bádóirí an Chladaigh at the helm.

Deputy Mayor of Galway, Cllr Mike Cubbard, on board the Naomh Crónán with Peter Connolly of Bádóirí an Chladaigh at the helm during the Blessing of Galway Bay Photo: Joe O'Shaughnessy

Also there to mark the ritual was Cllr Niall MacNelis (Lab), along with Galway businessman and sailor Enda O Coineen.

Galway businessman and sailor Enda O’Coineen at the Blessing of Galway Bay Photo: Joe O'Shaughnessy

After the blessing, Teresa Shoer sang 'Here’s a Toast to You Claddagh', and there was music, while fun was had by all.

Teresa Shoer sings 'Here’s a Toast to You Claddagh' after the Blessing of Galway Bay Photo: Joe O'Shaughnessy

Published in Galway Harbour, Galway Hookers

Published in Galway Harbour

Tagged under

Blessing of the Boats

About The Author

Lorna Siggins

Email The Author

Lorna Siggins is a print and radio reporter, and a former Irish Times western correspondent. She is the author of Search and Rescue: True stories of Irish Air-Sea Rescues and the Loss of R116 (2022); Everest Callling (1994) on the first Irish Everest expedition; Mayday! Mayday! (2004); and Once Upon a Time in the West: the Corrib gas controversy (2010). She is also co-producer with Sarah Blake of the Doc on One "Miracle in Galway Bay" which recently won a Celtic Media Award

We've got a favour to ask

More people are reading Afloat.ie than ever thanks to the power of the internet but we're in stormy seas because advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news sites, we haven’t put up a paywall because we want to keep our marine journalism open.

Afloat.ie is Ireland's only full–time marine journalism team and it takes time, money and hard work to produce our content.

So you can see why we need to ask for your help.

If everyone chipped in, we can enhance our coverage and our future would be more secure. You can help us through a small donation. Thank you.

You might also want to read...

Galway Port & Harbour

Galway Bay is a large bay on the west coast of Ireland, between County Galway in the province of Connacht to the north and the Burren in County Clare in the province of Munster to the south. Galway city and port is located on the northeast side of the bay. The bay is about 50 kilometres (31 miles) long and from 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) to 30 kilometres (19 miles) in breadth.

The Aran Islands are to the west across the entrance and there are numerous small islands within the bay.

Galway Port FAQs

How old is Galway port?

Galway was founded in the 13th century by the de Burgo family, and became an important seaport with sailing ships bearing wine imports and exports of fish, hides and wool.

How old is Galway bay?

Not as old as previously thought. Galway bay was once a series of lagoons, known as Loch Lurgan, plied by people in log canoes. Ancient tree stumps exposed by storms in 2010 have been dated back about 7,500 years.

What is the tonnage of the port?

It is about 660,000 tonnes as it is a tidal port.

Who is the harbourmaster of Galway port?

Capt Brian Sheridan, who succeeded his late father, Capt Frank Sheridan

When are the lock gates open?

The dock gates open approximately two hours before high water and close at high water subject to ship movements on each tide.

What's the biggest ship that can 'fit' in the harbour?

The typical ship sizes are in the region of 4,000 to 6,000 tonnes

Is renewable energy generating a lot of business for Galway port?

Turbines for about 14 wind projects have been imported in recent years, but the tonnage of these cargoes is light. A European industry report calculates that each turbine generates €10 million in locally generated revenue during construction and logistics/transport.

Is Galway a European cable location?

Yes, Iceland has selected Galway as European landing location for international telecommunications cables. Farice, a company wholly owned by the Icelandic Government, currently owns and operates two submarine cables linking Iceland to Northern Europe.

What's the update on the Galway port expansion plans?

It is "very much a live project", Harbourmaster Capt Sheridan says, and the Port of Galway board is "awaiting the outcome of a Bord Pleanála determination", he says.

Where does all the scrap go at Galway Port?

90% of the scrap steel is exported to Spain with the balance being shipped to Portugal. Since the pandemic, scrap steel is shipped to the Liverpool where it is either transhipped to larger ships bound for China.

Why is Galway Port exporting silage and the Irish farmers are crying out for it?

It might look like silage, but in fact, its bales domestic and municipal waste, exported to Denmark where the waste is incinerated, and the heat is used in district heating of homes and schools. It is called RDF or Refuse Derived Fuel and has been exported out of Galway since 2013.

When is the new ferry starting service from Galway?

The new ferry is arriving at Galway Bay onboard the cargo ship SVENJA. The vessel is currently on passage to Belem, Brazil before making her way across the Atlantic to Galway.

Is the Volvo Ocean Race coming back to Galway?

Two Volvo round world races have selected Galway for the prestigious yacht race route. Some 10,000 people welcomed the boats in during its first stopover in 2009, when a festival was marked by stunning weather. It was also selected for the race finish in 2012. The Volvo has changed its name and is now known as the "Ocean Race". Capt Sheridan says that once port expansion and the re-urbanisation of the docklands is complete, the port will welcome the "ocean race, Clipper race, Tall Ships race, Small Ships Regatta and maybe the America's Cup right into the city centre...".

When is Seafest coming back to Galway?

The pandemic was the reason why Seafest did not go ahead in Cork in 2020. Galway will welcome Seafest back after it calls to Waterford and Limerick, thus having been to all the Port cities.