Cruinniú na mBád 2012
Cruinniú na mBád Kinvara
17th-19th August 2012
Up to 100 unique Irish boats, the Galway Hookers, once the workhorses of the coast of Connemara and North Clare, will gather for a weekend of racing and celebration at Cruinniú na mBád (Gathering of the Boats) festival in Kinvara, Co. Galway, from the 17th-19th August, 2012.
Since its revival in 1979, the festival has become one of the most unique and successful weekend festivals in Ireland. It will include a series of races for the four types of Galway Hookers. They include: the Bád Mór, which is the largest vessel measuring between 35 to 44 feet in length; the second largest, the Leath Bhád , has a hull length of roughly 32 feet; the Gleoiteog; and the diminutive Púcán.
The hookers, laden with turf, will lead the fleet from Connemara to Kinvara, as they used to do until the 1950s when they ceased to trade. Some of these boats are 180 years old, and are owned and crewed by the same families for five generations.
Saturday evening features some lively Gleoteoig (small hooker) racing and, on Sunday, the Hooker and Leath Bhad (half hooker) races will take place, against the backdrop of Dunguaire Castle and the Burren landscape of South Galway Bay. Gaelic is the language of the bádóirí (boat people) and sean nós (old style) singing, dancing and music will feature prominently.
For More information check out www.Kinvara.com
