Carrigaholt On The Shannon Estuary Loops Into The Skiff Movement

22nd January 2024

Summertime at the Outer Pier in Carrigaholt, where a St Ayles skiff is being built beside the ancient castle stronghold of the Mac Mahons by Loop Head Rowing Cub, under the direction of Steve Morris of Kilrush Credit: Pat Keating

Carrigaholt on the south-facing shore of the Outer Shannon Estuary is one of the sweetest places in all Clare, a refreshingly leisurely contrast to the over-busy northwest of the county, where the once tiny port of Doolin finds itself swamped with tourists expecting to do a one-day box-ticking exercise on the Cliffs of Moher, the shortest boat-hop out to the Aran islands, and the marvellous mystery of The Burren.

CARRIGAHOLT GIVES PEACE OF MIND

But Carrigaholt is what passes for the capital of the remote-feeling Loop Head peninsula, which is as much an attitude as a place. It has a strong sense of community that manifests itself in many ways, not least in the people of Querrin along the south shore getting together a decade and more ago to build the Sally O’Keeffe, the gaff-cutter-rigged Myles Stapleton-designed interpretation of the classic Shannon Estuary Hooker. These were traditional boats that used to carry passengers and cargo from Limerick the length and breadth of this magnificent 60-mile waterway.

Seol Sionna’s multi-purpose gaff cutter Sally O’Keeffe was built at Querrin in a community project under the guidance of Steve Morris

The Querrin boatbuilders created the Sally O’Keeffe under the guidance of master boat-builder Steve Morris, the New Zealander who was enticed to Ireland by his wife, a Kilrush girl, and has been an asset to that developing port and its larger community ever since. His work in the boatyard is of such a high quality that he was the natural choice to re-build the Dublin Bay 21s for Hal Sisk and Fionan de Barra, and there are always other fascinating projects under way in the busy sheds.

The boat-building man…..the enthusiasm of Steve Morris seems to be boundless

Yet despite high quality boat-building being the day job, his enthusiasm is such that he gave over his evenings to guide Seol Sionna in their building of the Sally O’Keeffe, and more recently he did the same to help them build an Ian Oughtred-designed St Ayles skiff, that handy team-rowing boat which is of a more manageable size for shore transport than the hefty traditional Irish coastal rowing skiff.

ST AYLES SKIFFS GET ABOUT

One of the attractions of the St Ayles skiff is the opportunity for international competition, as they have now spread worldwide. But more importantly for Steve Morris and his friends, whose boat Ealu went to last year’s Morbihan Festival in South Brittany as well as doing the Sea to the City fleet row in Cork Harbour, they are now spreading westward into the Loop Head peninsula.

Seol Sionna’s Kilrush-built St Ayles skiff Ealu has proudly carried the colours of Ukraine to the Morbihan Festival in south Brittany and the Sea to City parade in Cork Harbur.

Last Saturday – Storm Isha’s approach notwithstanding – building work was started on another St Ayles skiff - with support from Limerick & Clare Education Board - by Loop Head Rowing Club in a handy shed at Kilrush’s Outer Pier, right beside the ancient stronghold of the Mac Mahons.

CARRIGAHOLT AND THE ILEN

Its eloquent presence ensured that in the days when Gary Mac Mahon was running the Conor O’Brien trading ketch Ilen in the years immediately after her restoration under his inspiration, there were several memorable occasions when Ilen was anchored in stately style below the castle. And though all sorts of chicanery resulted in the Mac Mahons not being the occupants of the 15th Century castle in its final residential days, it’s right and proper that the newly-formed skiff-build team of 16 Loopers not only includes six female boat enthusiasts, but as well Marcus McMahon and two of his children are involved.

Last Saturday’s first gathering at Carrigaholt of the Loop Head Rowing Club’s build team include (left to right) Con Minihan, James Devane, Michael Griffin, Fintan Ryan, Jill Leonard, Emma Clark, Paul Daly and Marcus McMahon with his two children, Photo: Steve Morris

Saturday visitors are welcome at the Loop Head Rowing project, and with several notably hospitable establishments in the main part of the village beside the inner harbour known to Shannon sailors as the Long Dock, with the Long Dock pub itself being renowned for it excellent food, there are now even more reasons for visiting Carrigaholt by sea or land.

The main part of Carrigagholt, where the notably hospitable Long Dock food pub takes its title from the Shannon sailors’ name for the inner harbour

Published in Shannon Estuary, Coastal Rowing

Published in Shannon Estuary

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About The Author

WM Nixon

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William M Nixon has been writing about sailing in Ireland for many years in print and online, and his work has appeared internationally in magazines and books. His own experience ranges from club sailing to international offshore events, and he has cruised extensively under sail, often in his own boats which have ranged in size from an 11ft dinghy to a 35ft cruiser-racer. He has also been involved in the administration of several sailing organisations.

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