Shock at death of sailor in Galway Bay tragedy

Date Published: 08-Sep-2009

THERE was widespread shock over the death of one of the most renowned traditional sailors in Connemara when his boat sank off the coast of Kinvara at the weekend.
Johnny Sheáin Jeaic Mac Donncha (67) and his brother Josie (66) were sailing in a gleoiteog, a smaller version of the Galway Hooker, when it capsized about three miles out to sea off Kilcolgan Point shortly before 11am on Saturday.
They were both pulled from the water but efforts to revive the older brother were unsuccessful. Josie Sheáin Jeaic was treated in University Hospital Galway but later released.
The tragedy unfolded when the two brothers set off in their gleoiteog, named McHugh, for a regatta in Rossaveal, alongside the hooker Bláth na hÓige. One of the men in the second hooker jumped into
the water to rescue the brothers.