Sir, - In his denigration of successive Irish governments for their shameful neglect of our fishing resources Kevin Myers (March 27th) also presents us with a picture of the Irish as lacking an interest in the sea, which is far from accurate the Irish have not been indifferent to the sea throughout the ages - they have been forced off it. Despite Kevin Myers statement that "the English did not prevent Irish vessels going to sea" they did in fact do just that.
Michael Gibbons, the distinguished archaeologist based in Connemara, has told us that Cromwell decreed that no Irish were to fish or have boats. Forts were built along the coast to ensure that the law was obeyed. I wonder if this law was ever repealed?
The inhabitants of Ireland have, in fact, been mariners since the earliest times - our first Irishmen arrived by sea, after all, and traded, in prehistoric times, with Britain and the Continent as the discovery of Irish artefacts in other countries has shown.
Kevin Myers' statement: "Only the Celtic nations seemed largely indifferent to the sea" cannot go unchallenged. In Celtic times in Ireland extensive raiding took place - St Patrick was picked up on such a raid. Daithi, killed by lightning at the foot of the Alps, did not walk from Ireland. Extensive Irish settlement took place in Wales and Scotland with close connections with Ireland being maintained. The Celts in coastal regions of Europe were notable sailors, until destroyed by the Romans. Celts in Scotland, with its many islands, must have been skilful to survive in those seas and later Scottish connections with France must have involved much sea traffic. The Spanish fishermen of Galicia are, of course, of Celtic origin.
In early Christian times in Ireland St Brendan made his mark as a voyager to America. St Colmcille brought his monks to Iona. Irish missionaries travelled all over Europe - they reached the Continent by sea directly from Ireland, until Viking raiders destroyed the sea routes for them and for Irish trade which had been extensive - Irish woollens, wolf hounds etc were much in demand.
Grace O'Malley is one of the raiders and traders best known to us - she probably never travelled in Ireland by road. Her fleets were so extensive that one could travel across estuaries on foot from ship to ship. All her trade was with Spain and France. It was all in due course destroyed, but a later trade was established in the 18th century. The close links (by sea) between France and Ireland were strengthened when Irishmen, who had been travelling to France since Tudor times, for an education, also engaged in the import of contraband wine which was eagerly sought, even by those in authority.
No doubt the Famine sounded the death knell of fishing off our coasts. Starving fishermen sold their boats and nets in order to survive. Those who did so embarked on ships for emigration. A tradition of small boats, some of only currach size, remained hardly fit to compete with large foreign trawlers and factory ships.
I do not know if it is the case that Irishmen nowadays do not care to choose a life on the sea. If so, the fishing line which, for historic reasons, was broken needs to be repaired. - Yours, etc.,
Priory Avenue,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.