A record 41 Galway hookers participated in this year's Féile an Dóilín, the largest ever gathering of Galway Hookers at a regatta. The figure, smashing the previous record of 34, included the newly-built Anna Jude.

Féile an Dóilín, held in An Cheathrú Rua (Carraroe), in Connemara, Co Galway, over the August bank holiday weekend, is the oldest and largest Galway Hooker regatta in the country, and included boats from both the east and west coast of Ireland.

"The huge number of boats this year is stunning, especially when you take into account all the new Galway Hookers that are being built," said Féile an Dóilín director, Rónán Mac Con Iomaire. "When Féile an Dóilín started in the late 1970s, the Galway Hookers were almost extinct, and what we have on our hands now is a full-scale revival."

About 5000 people attended the various Féile an Dóilín events, which included the annual Paráid na bhFathach (Parade of the Giant), where a mock evil giant lurking in the seas of Galway Bay was captured and brought ashore by boat and marched in a parade, which finished with him atoning for his sins by being burnt.at the stake!

This year's Féile an Dóilín was sponsored by the Gaeltacht tourism agency, Gaelsaoire.

Comments (0) »

Show/Hide comment form

Name

Email

Title

Comment

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment