The Galway Hooker is a traditional Irish fishing boat, mainly used around Galway. Easy to recognize, it has a single mast, a main sail and 2 headsails. These 3 sails are dark red, and the hull is black: impossible to miss!
A Galway Hooker – cosmo_71 – cc
The Galway Hooker was created around the 18th century, in the heart of Galway Bay. Strong and maneuverable, it was ideal for fishing and transporting materials. In those days, it was not uncommon to see numerous Galway Hookers relaying Connemara and Galway to transport limestone blocks, farming equipment and foodstuffs from the fishery.
Today, there’s a real revival of interest in this boat. In fact, the Cruinniú na mbad festival takes place every year, providing an opportunity to admire countless Galway Hookers as they sail across Galway Bay from Connemara to Kinvara.
Note that some of the bay’s ports even offer tourists the chance to board these boats for a stroll. A really nice experience, but often expensive!
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