Gaelic Nautical Renaissance.

[Bully MacGraw]

Gaelic Nautical Renaissance.

Scotland is enjoying a renaissance in wooden boat building. Organizations are building West Highland Galleys and many ferings are being built. Such organizations such as GalGeal are using boat building and the boats as a way to reintroduce Gael culture to the people of Scotland and Ireland. In fact Gal Gael built a boat for the Arron Islands. The Lord of the Isles Trust has a full size Birlinn that they operate.

The world renowned Scottish small boat designer Ian Oughtred has taken traditional Scottish vessels designs and adapted them to modern construction techniques. One of his designs the Ness Yawl is currently being built and sailed in many parts of the world.

Every year there is a race across Scotland called Sail Caledonia. Small craft from all over Europe gather for this race. Ian Oughtred one last year racing a boat of his own design.

In Ireland Currach construction is gaining popularity. There is even an active US organization that race Currach in the East Coat. The organization is called the North American Currach Association.

In California a number of Currachs have been constructed by Renaissance fair participants. In Northern California two vessels were built by St. Patrick’s Guild for the Northern California Fair. One of these vessels was rowed under the Golden Gate Bridge. In Southern California two currachs were built. One even had the traditional hide covering.

I have enclosed a number of links to the sites that I referred to above. I encourage every one to look at our nautical history as part of our studying our Gaelic culture.

Be safe out there!

Ed McGrath

Northern California

http://www.galgael.org

http://www.birlinn.org/

http://www.thisbetterworld.org/cgi-bin/twi...urrachs/WebHome

http://www.ccmhg.org/

http://www.newgrangecurrach.com/

http://www.mmara.com/

http://www.geocities.com/nacarowing/

[Deadeye]

Interestin' stuff there, Lad! thanks for postin it!