“Badoiri”, Joe St Leger’s documentary about the people and the western world of the traditional Galway Hookers, is due for its first screening on Monday May 23rd on RTE One at 7.30pm writes W M Nixon
As Afloat.ie previously reported, The storyline covers the varying fortunes of the traditional craft of Connemara and those who have built them, re-built them and sailed them during the past thirty years. This period has seen a revival of enthusiasm for the traditional sailing boats, which used to be the backbone of the transport system in the Galway Bay region and beyond.
Now used mainly for regatta racing and also for the traditional ceremonial transportation of Connemara turf to Kinvara in the southeast corner of Galway Bay in the annual festival of Crinniu na mBad (the Gathering of the Boats) each August, the documentary’s use of both old film and rare still photographs evokes the spirit of a place, a people and their traditional boats which for many of us express the very essence of Ireland.