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The first boat is a Galway Hooker. There are four “types” of these famous fishing and cargo boats.
“Bád Mor”, at 14 metres (45 feet) long, is the largest.
Next is “Leath Bhád” which is usually under 10 metres (32 feet) in length.
The third biggest, is the “Gleoiteóg”, which is what our boat is. Our Gleoiteóg is 7 metres (23 feet) long, and sits, in perfect condition, on the first floor of the aquarium.
The smallest of the Hookers is the “Púcán”, which is usually around 6m (19 feet) long.
Hookers were used throughout the West of Ireland for over a hundred years, as both fishing boats and cargo vessels. Indeed, turf, which was the major cargo of Hookers, was traded along the Connemara coast and Aran Islands , using the Hooker, right up until 1974. |
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Our Second is the (still mostly intact) wreck of a
Long Island Mackerel Boat.
It is 6m (19 feet) long and sits, stranded, as a bridge between our Ray Pool and Ray Nursery. Many of our fish in these two tanks, particularly the sleepy Dogfish, use the boat as a place under which to rest for a bit of peace and quiet.
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