Curachs
West
Clare Currachs. A very active community group
that built and uses several local 21' Clare canoes since 2003,
based on a Kilkee canoe built by Cully Marinan in 1957. They
also re-constructed a 17' leather curach to a pre-1820s design.
Website: http://www.westclarecurrachs.com/
Contact: Richard 'Dixie' Collins
Meitheal
Mara. A Cork based group that builds and uses
curachs with young people. Meitheal Mara has been at the fore-front
of the currach making revival in the 1990s.
Website: http://www.mmara.ie/
Contact: Pádraig Ó Dúineen
Boyne
Currach Centre. Over recent years there
has been a great revival of the ancient and very eco-friendly
Boyne currach around Brú na Boinne. Thanks to Cliadhbh
O’ Gibhne and the Boyne Currach Centre there are now
more than twenty of these craft on this historical Irish river
again. Website: http://www.boynecurrach.com/
Causeway
Coast Maritime Heritage Group. The Portrush based
group is working towards conserving some of the rich maritime
culture of the North Irish Coast. They have been involved
in recreating Historic Celtic Voyages of the Saints and in
particular Colmcille/Columba. The 40 foot canvas covered 'Colmcille'
travelled to the Scottish Island of Iona in 1997 and later
to Northern France and Northern Spain.
Website: http://www.ccmhg.org/
Contact: Robin Ruddock
Naomhóga
Chorcaí Cork's
currach rowing and racing club. Website: http://www.naomhogachorcai.com/
The
Rosses Currach Club organises and takes
part in local regattas in Burtonport and Kincasslagh and competes
in the series of races organised along the West Coast of Ireland.
Website: http://www.kincasslagh.net/currach%20club.html
A site with no name by Colm
O Gairbhith, but excellent information
on curachs! http://www.thisbetterworld.org/cgi-bin/twiki/view/Currachs/WebHome
Tim
Severin, the great guru of all curach
navigators. He set out to America in the Brendan 1976, the
rest is history… http://www.timseverin.net/
Traditional Boats
GalGael
engage the community in building and sailing traditional boats
in celebration of Scotland’s heritage. They are building
boats modelled on a 1000-year-old Scottish prototype. GalGael’s
30ft long Orcuan was built in 2001. She is an interpretation
of the historic galleys of the West Coast; the Birlinn, Scotland’s
traditional Gaelic longboat. http://www.galgael.org/index.aspx
Working
Sail are traditional boat builders and
designers of classic wooden pilot cutters based on historic
pilot cutters from the Isles of Scilly. http://www.workingsail.co.uk/
Vikingships
and Norse Wooden Boats contains information
on Viking Age maritime archaeology and techniques to build
these boats as well as faerings etc. http://home.online.no/~joeolavl/viking/index.htm
Havhingsten
of Glendalough tells the story of the
excarvation of the Skuldelev Viking ship, its reconstruction
and the voyage from Denmark to Ireland. http://www.havhingsten.dk/index.php?id=277&L=1
The
Galway Hooker Association. Magic boats
that have seen a great revival. http://www.galwayhookerassociation.ie/index.htm
Boat Organisations
British
Marine Federation, looking after political
issues of boating: http://www.britishmarine.co.uk/
Heritage
Boats Association, Ireland. Mainly for
canal boats, still interesting information. http://www.heritageboatassociation.ie/
Heritage
Council of Ireland at last becomes interested
on Ireland’s maritime heritage… http://www.heritagecouncil.ie/
Royal
Yacht Association. Under the monarchistic
dust and the gin and tonic lies a lot of useful information.
Highly recommended publications, particularly on Navigation!
http://www.rya.org.uk/
European
Maritime Heritage. European association
for ships in operation. Useful for restoration and conservation
issues. http://www.european-maritime-heritage.org/
European
Ships Preservation Database. Excellent
for tall ships stuff and heritage issues. http://www.shipspreservation.com/db/index.php3?Lang=english&ID=Index
Cargoships
-a maritime ships and boats search engine… http://www.cargo-ships.org/
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Boat Building Suppliers and Chandleries
Mailspeed
Marine. A broad range of chandlery products
by mail order. Competitively priced: http://www.mailspeedmarine.com/
Traditional
Boat Supplies. Unusual tools and consumables
for traditional boats, mail order. http://www.tradboats.com/
Classic Marine.
Classic products for traditional boats. http://www.classicmarine.co.uk/
Davey
& Co. Ltd., London. Most beautiful
catalogue, amazing range of brass and bronze stuff. http://www.davey.co.uk
Duckworth
Boat Builders Supply. US based traditional
boat chandlery for all the stuff you can’t get anywhere.
Sail making products. http://www.duckworksbbs.com/index.htm
Union
Chandlery, Cork. Irish chandlery, most
consumables and boat building products. http://www.unionchandlery.com/
Marine
Super Store. Competitively priced electronics
etc. All the stuff you need but would hide under the deck
of a traditional boat… http://www.marine-super-store.com/
CH
Marine Ltd. Five depots in Ireland: Newtonards,
Kilkeel, Skibereen, Cork and Newry. Sponsors of the Glandore
Classic Boat Regatta, Baltimore and Crosshaven Traditional
Boat Regattas. www.chmarine.com
Seachest.
Marine bookstore. http://www.seachest.co.uk/
British Seagull.
A few specialists working with these old reliable outboards
and also supply parts: http://www.saving-old-seagulls.co.uk/
; http://www.britishseagull.co.uk/
, http://www.seagullparts.co.uk/
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Materials & Tools
Design
(R)evolution. Design for Sustainability
exhibition at The Eden Project, Cornwall in 2004, curated
by their research assistant Holger Lönze. Research tool
and database for sustainable materials and technology. Plenty
of information on curachs and Irish craft traditions. Excellent
design by Aidan Simpson… http://www.graphicsfalmouth.com/images/dynamic_media/aidan_simpson/
Traditional
Beams and Barns. David Smith can supply
boat making quality timber including larch and oak.
http://www.traditionalbarnsandbeams.co.uk/
Axminster
Powertools offers multitude of brands
and ranges are brought together in an annual catalogue of
over 600 pages and 15,000 products. http://www.axminster.co.uk/
Dick
Fine Tools - Europe's largest selection
of Japanese hand tools and other rare tools. http://www.dick.biz/
Speedy
Stitcher is a very useful hand-sewing
awl. We do all the stitching on the curachs with this tool
now. www.speedystitcher.com
N.B. For traditional boat building
tools (like adzes, dollies, caulking tools, etc.) also
check chandleries like Traditional
Boat Supplies and Classic
Marine.
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Sustainability
The
Guardian Climatecare. Calculate your carbon
profile and the impact of your house and travel on the environment.
Website: http://www.climatecare.org/guardian/calculators/
Centre
for Alternative Technology.
Based in rural Wales, CAT has been experimenting and researching
into alternative building, energy generation and lifestyle
since the 1970s. They also have a mail order shop for alternative
and environmentally-friendly products.
Website: http://www.cat.org.uk/
The
Yarner Trust. A Devon based charity dedicated
to promoting sustainable and creative living, and offering
practical solutions to environmental problems through residential
and day courses. Website: http://www.yarnertrust.co.uk/
Design
(R)evolution. Design for Sustainability
exhibition at The Eden Project, Cornwall in 2004, curated
by their research assistant Holger Lönze. Research tool
and database for sustainable materials and technology. Plenty
of information on curachs and Irish craft traditions. Excellent
design by Aidan Simpson… http://www.graphicsfalmouth.com/images/dynamic_media/aidan_simpson/
Brotus
Rural Crafts is based at Brotus in Fife,
Scotland. It was established in 1988 to further traditional
woodland crafts and has since evolved to include a wide range
of related activities, centred on the use of wood. Website:
http://www.brotus.co.uk/
Transition
Culture. Thoughts, insights and facts
about peak oil, the growing energy crisis and environmental
impacts by Rob Hopkins. Website: http://transitionculture.org/
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Boating Knowledge
The
Mother of all Maritime Links. Says it
all... http://www.boat-links.com/boatlink.htm
The great guru of early yacht design: Dixon
Kemp. www2.friend.ly.net/~dadadata/kemp/dictNO.html
Messing
about in Boats. The classic US small craft
newsletter. http://www.messingaboutinboats.com/index.html
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Safety, Navigation and Communication
Ofcom.
To register VHF marine radio license. It is free online! http://www.ofcom.org.uk/
An introduction to VHF
marine radio: http://www.ybw.com/ybw/vhf/dsc.html
Maritime
Coastguard Agency, Form C66. Free safety
registration for boats and ships. Just in case… https://mcanet.mcga.gov.uk/public/cg66/
Reed’s
Nautical Almanach. The bible of the sailer,
should be standard reading at every toilet… http://www.reedsalmanac.com/
A simple, comprehensive online navigation
course: http://www.sailingissues.com/navcourse0.html
Sailtrain
also provides a free online navigation training: http://www.sailtrain.co.uk/navigation/dr.htm
Online catalogue for Admirality
Charts: http://catalogue.ukho.gov.uk/index.asp?session=expired&ReferringURL=/home.asp
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Sail & Rig
A classic publication on sail making,
from Historic
Naval Ships Organisation: http://www.hnsa.org/doc/steel/part4.htm
Jim
Michalak explains the principles of lugsails:
http://ftp.apci.net/~michalak/1feb05.htm
Hemp
Traders. Suppliers of hemp rope and material.
http://www.hemptraders.com/
British Millrain.
Suppliers of Duradon synthetic and othersail cloth.
http://www.britishmillerain.com/index.cfm
Whaley’s
Bradford. Suppliers of cotton canvas and
calico. Mail order. http://www.whaleys-bradford.ltd.uk/
Opas
supplies specialist sailmaking tools and fittings.
http://cs2.kompass.com/catalogues/index.aspx/en/10000039/catalog01/page37?fs=std&cl=&vd=/en/10000039/catalog01/page37
Animated
Knots by Grog. If you can’t get
the hang of it…
http://www.animatedknots.com/index.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com
Kayospruce
Ltd. supplies tools, fittings and hardware
for sails and canvas structures, also materials.
www.sailcloth.co.uk/
Contender
Sailcloth is supplying sailmakers with
the best available fabrics for all their sail making requirements.
http://www.contendersailcloth.com/index1.asp?Sid=3&SHid=530&SWid=1004
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Other
Lough
Neagh Partnership is a non-profit company
made up of representatives of bodies interested in the development
and protection of Lough and focusing on the marketing and
promotion of Lough Neagh. www.discoverloughneagh.com
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