Last year was my first time at Cruinniú na mbád in Kinvara and I admit to being hooked.
As a young lad in the 60's I was lucky enough to sail on a Hooker, the traditional Irish sailing turf boats that plied the west coast right up to the late 60's, early 70's. So seeing the Cruinniú (gathering) of these majestic workhorses was and is very special. And to be there this year, the 40th Anniversary of the Festival's inaugrration. The local committee and all the work groups do a wonderful job.
There was music in every pub on Friday Saturday and Sunday night and musicians of many races wondering the streets looking for a session that suited them. I was lucky and fell into a session on Saturday in Keogh's with a bunch of musicians, among them Brendan Larrisy who I met on Boffin earlier in the summer and Paul O'Shaughnessy, who I knew from sessions in Dublin 50 years ago..
I was sorry to have just missed a session in Tully's with one of my favourite flute players, Mick Mc Goldrick.
I spent most of Sunday taking snaps of the boats. Below are a few examples which feature th O'Briain boat , An Tonaí, that brought me to the Aran Islands an many occasions in my youth.
An Tónaí took the honours this time in the Báid Móra Class after a tight tussle with Cailín .
If the sea is in your veins, this is a great festival.
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