"It was fascinating to see the work of the people who had spent their life learning their craft and trade. The work was REAL..." Eddie Cleary, Co. Tipperary
The workshop was fantastic, the crew in the boatyard were great, we all gelled together as a team and despite the busy social life, we managed to complete our work. Mike Ruane, Co. Wexford
For 3 days I was lost in time, watching and helping Fachtna & Liam turn out intricate frames from the rough-sawn slabs of oak Captain J.G. Burns, MNI, Serving Master Marine
I was convinced that not only did the shipwrights appreciate our assistance – however inexpert – they enjoyed too the colour, the banter & energy we brought with us. Críostóir Mac Cárthaigh UCD National Folklore Collection
Connect with a piece of the Ilen - sponsorship of a plank is a meaningful way for you to support our project.
Donations are very much appreciated and allow us to continue to provide hands-on education.
Limited edition poster print of the Ketch Ilen is now available.
What's Happening
- The Irish Times, Extract - An Irishwoman's Diary, Lorna Siggins
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...FURTHER ALONG the coastline, this Friday is also an auspicious day for Gary McMahon and a team of master shipwrights who have been working on restoration of a very special vessel. The ketch Ilen is as significant in Irish maritime history as the Asgard or it successor, Asgard II .
- Baltimore Wooden Boat Festival - Framing Out Ceremony
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One of the opening events of the festival this year is the Framing Out Ceremony of the good ship followed by a tour of the vessel and a talk on the Ilen Project.
- Next Workshop Dates Confirmed
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Traditional Wooden Boat Building
June Wed 23 – Fri 25th 2010
News Stories
The Irish Times, Extract - An Irishwoman's Diary, Lorna Siggins
FURTHER ALONG the coastline, this Friday is also an auspicious day for Gary McMahon and a team of master shipwrights who have been working on restoration of a very special vessel. The ketch Ilen is as significant in Irish maritime history as the Asgard or it successor, Asgard II . It was designed by pioneer Conor O’Brien, the first Irishman to sail around the world in a small boat, and was built by the Fisheries School in Baltimore, west Cork.
Bearing the name of a west Cork river, it was launched in 1926 and found its way to the Southern Ocean, having been commissioned by the Falkland Islands Company to serve as an inter-island trading vessel. It plied those challenging waters for over 50 years, before Gary McMahon secured its return to Ireland in 1998.
McMahon was so convinced that the Ilen represented the “perfect expression” of an Irish sailing vessel that he formed a not-for-profit maritime trust to reconstruct it, and held a number of “big boat build” workshops in the west Cork boatyard owned by Hegartys of Oldcourt. There is still a lot of work to do on deck beams, planking and suchlike, but a celebration of what’s been accomplished so far will be marked on Friday with Glenstal Abbey forester, Brother Anthony Keane at 5pm.
Master shipwrights Liam and John Hegarty and Fachtna O’Sullivan will explain how 27 sturdy frames of oak were put in place, and Criostóir MacCarthaigh of UCD, editor of Traditional Boats of Ireland , will speak about classic wooden boats and Ireland’s maritime heritage.
“The tide has turned,” McMahon says. “The Ilen . . . on sturdy keel is building up, gaining strength and moving unstoppably towards the sea”. The next workshop to that end runs June 23rd to 25th. Details on www.bigboatbuild.com
Brother Anthony of Glenstal Abbey speaking effortlessly of the wonder of a creature of land transforming to a creature of the sea.
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