Most people will know that Malin Head is Ireland's most northerly point of Ireland and the sea has affected this community forever; Malin Head used to have a large salmon fleet, it also had the biggest brown crab fishery in Europe, and over the years, the sea has allowed many families to survive in this area. The fishing fleet has changed, and there is a much smaller fleet here compared to 40 years ago.
The Malin Head Heritage group have been collecting local stories for over 25 years and publishing their findings in the Malin Head heritage booklets their next project is to try and gather as much of the history of the fishing fleet over the years.
Fishing at Malin Head and Inishowen in yesteryear Photo: Courtesy Malin Sea Heritage Group
They are asking for people to come to their round table meet-up on Wednesday 26th at 7 pm in the Malin Head community centre to tell their stories so that they can be recorded.
"The heritage group want to hear about lobster fishing, fishing poles, trawling the Inistrahull sound and the shallow bed"
Stories and old pictures are wanted. When people look back at how difficult times were for fishermen in this area, landing at Portmor or Portronan, which were unsafe ports with no facilities.
The heritage group want to hear about lobster fishing, fishing poles, trawling the Inistrahull sound and the shallow bed, poaching trout, Salmon fishing and trying to avoid the naval services on both sides depending on what licence you had, gathering seaweed or picking winkles, catching 80-100 boxes of crab with 200 pots compared with the crab fishing today.
Malin Head fishermen Photo: Courtesy Malin Sea Heritage Group
The heritage group are great at listening and is eager to learn new stories about Malin Head and Inishowen and the sea.
