You won't catch a glimpse of it among the fleet on Galway Bay this summer, but it shouldn't be long before True Light takes to the water again. That's the intention of four individuals who have set out to restore the last of the Claddagh hookers.
Commissioned by the Claddagh fishing family of Oliver some 70 years ago, True Light has a distinguished history. Or what is left of the vessel, that is. At a "beach party" in Carna, Connemara, several weeks ago, the keel and stem were "blessed", before being handed over to boat-builder Colm Mulkerrins.
Among those at the ceremony were members of the Rainey family who built the craft in 1922. Worked as a fishing boat until the early 1960s, True Light survived the Cleggan disaster of 1927 and Hurricane Debbie in 1961. It was sold to the poet Richard Murphy and was used as a charter vessel for about a decade, while also competing in regattas during the early stages of the traditional boat revival around Cleggan and Inishbofin.
The Kennedy family of Baltimore, Co Cork, acquired it and used it as a sail-training craft until about 1989.
A group of "unlike-minded individuals" purchased the remnants from Dominick Hunt of Howth; they have recently applied to Udaras na Gaeltachta for a restoration grant. Emer Joyce, a solicitor in Clifden, Padraic Folan and Donal Greene of Carna, and Tony Moylan of Kinvara, Co Galway, share one thing, an admiration for what has been acknowledged as the most beautiful of Galway hookers.
Supporting them in their efforts is Kate O'Toole, daughter of the actor Peter. She has many irons in the fire, including a taxi service and links with the Druid Theatre Company, and she helped to organise the laying of the keel ceremony in Carna.
The turnout at the event was a tribute to the vessel itself, and to those who built her. Among the attendance were Johnny Bailey of Ringsend, who owns the hooker, Capall; Tom Rainey, son of the builder (who was also present when the original was launched); Ms Maureen Cunningham, only daughter of the original owner, Martin Oliver; and many familiar faces from the Claddagh and Galway docks, including the roving merchant seaman, Brendan O'Donnell.
The True Light shareholders aim to keep their own diary of the task ahead, and each stage will be recorded on film for a possible documentary.
