Mayo flag to fly as historic Belderrig currach sets sail for Scotland
The Béal Derrig pictured in 2022 during a race between the last two functioning Belderrig currachs. The Béal Deirg is now the last of its type still in use, the other currach can be found at the National Museum of Ireland in Turlough. Photo: Courtesy of Currachaí na Sceirí.
A traditional Belderrig currach carrying a Mayo flag will take on a 40km crossing of the North Channel this Sunday as a team of seven rowers will travel from Donaghadee in County Down to Portpatrick in Scotland.
The crew from Currachaí na Sceirí, a community of boatbuilding rowers and traditional currach enthusiasts based in Skerries, North Dublin, will make the crossing in the 'Béal Deirg' currach.
Among the crew are three Mayo men, Finbarr O’Connor from Knockmore and Anthony Moran and Shane Holland both from Killala, alongside members from Limerick, Skerries, Germany and Romania.
The expedition, named Slí ár Sinsear, translating to the Voyage of our Ancestors, will be the crew’s longest row to date and is expected to take around eight hours.
“We have done rows of 15km, 20 and 25km long, which are exceptionally long rows, you’re talking three or four hours, to help get us up to speed,” Finbarr said.
“It will be difficult going across a channel crossing, you have tides, winds, the conditions will be tougher without a doubt.”
The Béal Deirg is the last of its type currently functioning on the sea and has been based in the crew’s home port of Skerries for the past two years.
The boat also has a Hollywood connection, having previously appeared in both Game of Thrones and the King Arthur movie.
“We originally got the boat in Cork and that boat was used in and in the movie as well back in the day,” Finbarr explained.
“We got it and did a few modifications on it and designed it in the style of a traditional Belderrig currach. We have been using that for the last two years and that is what we are using to sail across from Donadee to Portpatrick in Scotland,” he added.
Finbarr grew up rowing from a young age on Loch Conn and the River Deel with his grandfather, who was a fisherman, and said he is looking forward to taking on the challenge.
“I’m really excited, I can’t wait. To be out in the Irish sea and cross from one land to another is really exciting and I’m looking forward to it. It will be tough, I’m sure we will be tired by the end of it all,” he said.
Finbarr explained that the team wanted to retrace the route their ancestors may have travelled thousands of years ago, paying tribute to those who crossed the North Channel over the centuries.
It is believed that some of Ireland’s earliest settlers may have travelled in skin boats or currachs more than 5,000 years ago, including groups such as the Fir Bolg and Tuatha Dé Danann. The crew hopes to reconnect with this ancient route on Sunday.
“It’s our heritage, it’s how people travelled back then, how they moved from land to land, caught fish, how they prospered and brought things to the island,” Finbarr said.
When the crew reaches Scotland they will camp in Portpatrick overnight before taking the ferry back to Belfast the following day.
“We will be meeting the locals, we hope to trade a bottle of whiskey and plant a Mayo flag as well once we arrive in Scotland - a celebration of Sam Maguire,” Finbarr said.
