Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Tributes have been paid to Badóirí an Cladaigh for illuminating their fleet of Galway Hookers this Christmas time in Galway. The traditional boat fleet takes pride in lighting their rigs in the city's basin for special occasions.   As regular Afloat readers know,…

Galway Docklands Festival has become an established event on the west coast maritime calendar, after a successful event last weekend. Restoration work on various vessels, knot-making, and walking tours of the Claddagh area were among the themes of the three-day…

He brought new life afloat and ashore. And there was and is so much in the story of the late Mick Hunt “of Howth and Connacht” that thousands of words could be written about him. Yet we can get a…

Afloat.ie regret to record the death at the age of 83 of Mick Hunt of Howth and Connacht, who was best known for his restorations and sailing of traditional craft, but was equally adept at bringing new life to old…

The heart of Galway's maritime heritage comes to life with the much-anticipated Galway Docklands Festival, taking place from September 29th to October 1st, 2023. As Afloat reported earlier, the three-day festival promises an unforgettable experience celebrating Galway's rich marine industry,…

The heart of Galway's maritime heritage will come to life at the end of the month in the three-day Galway Docklands Festival, which will be held from September 29 to October 1. It will be “an unforgettable experience celebrating Galway's…

Full results of the Cong-Galway Race 2023 have been published after a very successful race at the weekend. As Afloat reported earlier, a total of 26 entrants in the dinghy class and six in the cruiser class participated in the…

When the late Tony Moylan and his friends got together 44 years ago to inaugurate the Cruinnui na mBad at Kinvara in order to celebrate and help the preservation of the traditional sailing boats of Connemara and Galway Bay, most…

Tight competition marked the 44th annual Cruinniú na mBád festival in Kinvara, Co Galway at the weekend. In spite of a dark and overcast day, the festival was a success on and off water, with An Norah taking the top…

Kinvara’s annual Cruinniú na mBád takes to the water this weekend, with racing confined to Sunday due to weather conditions. A small craft warning for Saturday means the festival’s activity will be shore-based for the first day of the 44th…

Gentle to moderate south-westerly winds are forecast for this weekend’s Feile an Spidéil. Many currachs crews and a fleet of Galway hookers will take to the water off An Spidéil, Co Galway, with conditions particularly suitable for the hooker fleet.…

Those of us who have found it challenging enough to get a sailing dinghy with a purpose-designed road trailer into a road-ready and race-ready condition was in awe this week of the achievements of Aongus Ó Cualáin of Connemara and his…

It was well worth the significant logistical effort of skipper Aongus Ó Cualáin to transport his Galway Hooker Blát na hÓige from Connemara to Dublin's River Liffey by road last week as the 1896-built traditional vessel won first prize in Saturday's…

Currachs and Galway hookers will take to the water off An Spidéil, Co Galway, on Sunday, June 11th for Féile an Spidéil. Kerry, Clare and Donegal teams have travelled to the event in past years to join crews from across…

A restored Galway Hooker has been named after two south Connemara brothers who built the vessel originally. The Meaircín Joe returned to the water last week, marking what has been described as “a significant milestone in preserving Ireland's rich maritime…

The organisers of Tóstal na Gaillimhe in Galway’s Salthill say the revived event earlier this month was so successful that they intend to invite more traditional Irish rowing clubs and teams from home and abroad next year. A “tight” senior…