Currachs take to the water in Barcelona, Spain this Sunday to mark Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations.
The 11th annual Mediterranean Currach regatta is a festival of Irish heritage and culture, run by the Iomramh Cultural Association and the Irish in Barcelona.
Festival founder, artist and currach maker Mark Redden, said crews rowing from the Barcelona club will compete with currach rowers coming from Ireland and North America.
The regatta, which starts at 10 am on Sunday, March 13th, will take place at Espigó de la Mar Bella, near Base Nàutica Municipal de Barcelona.
An Irish culture “showcase runs from 11 am to 6 pm on the same day at CEM Mar Bella outdoor space
“Throughout the day there will be a range of kids' activities: we have joined forces with Anellides, Oceanogami, Plàstic Preciós and Biook, four educational organisations that work tirelessly to save our seas and will offer activities for the young,” Redden says.
“ Koala Art for Kids will do a creativity and art workshop, and for the youngest in the family Mammaproof will provide a playground,” he says.
“ Los Stompers, Nuala Irish Dancers, The Boozan Dukes, Lemon Twist and Aires Celtes will set the rhythm of the day. Irish Dawn Meats burgers and Guinness will keep us all going for the day! “
"The currach is a potent symbol of sustainability. Where the most is made from the minimum and a seafaring craft is made in the most ecologically considerate way possible with locally available crude materials,” Redden says.
“This connection that Iomramh has with a century-old sport that takes place at sea has led us to want to take care of it more than ever at a time when the need to react to the amount of plastic waste dumped in it over the years has become clear,”he says.
“Join us for a joyous day on the coast of Barcelona featuring currach races, Irish music,” Redden says.
Admission is free, and the main sponsor of the event is construction company Kingspan.
“This collaboration between Kingspan and Iomramh has been promoting society's environmental awareness for three years now,” he adds.
More information here
