Watch: Memorial offers nod to the past at Cruinniú na mBád

A headstone sculpted in Inis Méain and transported across Galway Bay to Kinvara remembers a fisherman who was swept away to sea off the shore of the middle Aran Island 122 years ago.

It took four hours for An Cheathrú Rua hooker, The Norah, skippered by owner Seán MacDonncha, to cross the bay with the headstone of Beachla Ó Fátharta who died on Inis Méain in 1893.

Beachla, also known as ‘Iascaire Pheigín’, was fishing when he was swept away to sea. He was just 18 when he drowned; and his body was discovered washed up in Kinvara.

His family gathered this week to erect the headstone at the old cemetery at Mount Cross in Kinvara as part of Cruinniú na mBád.

“The trip is a little bit of heritage and history as well,” says Mr MacDonncha, An Cheathrú Rua native.

“Years ago hookers would have been used to transport headstones from the islands to Connemara. Probably not Kinvara because they had the limestone of the Burren but certainly to Connemara because the limestone on the islands was easier to sculpt than the granite in Connemara.”

A founding member of Cruinniú na mBád, Tony Moylan, who passed away in June, was also remembered at this year’s festival, the 37th.

“That was the big story locally – it was the first time in 37 years that Tony wasn’t at the festival. He only died two months ago and his sister, Roisín, scattered his ashes,” explained County Councillor Joe Byrne, committee member of Cruinniú na mBád.

Last Friday night, Kinvara junior hurlers were defeated by Micheál Breathnach, who won the inaugural memorial Tony Moylan perpetual cup, named in his honour.

Another highlight of the festival, which drew big crowds to South Galway, was the presence of Canadian ambassador to Ireland Kevin Vickers.

Mr Vickers opened the festival, a nod to the links between Canada and piers along the West Coast of Ireland, including Parkmore. He also unveiled a plaque at Parkmore pier by sculptor Tom Glendon during the festival.

“In the 1880s and 1890s the Canadian Government funded the building of 29 piers along the west coast of Ireland, including Parkmore Pier in Kinvara. This is the first time ever that the Canadian links to the piers has been celebrated . . . The festival itself was a great success. It was a celebration of the links between South Galway and Connemara and a celebration of the traditional, local boats.

“It is spectacular to see the traditional boats out in the bay – we had hookers, púcán, gleoiteog and leath bhád. It is spectacular,” said Cllr Byrne.