Mayo author launches special book telling story of the curragh

MAYO Books Press has published The Curraghs and Naomhóga of Ireland, by Dr. Breandán Mac Conamhna, which was launched in the Erris Coast Hotel, Geesala, on Friday night.

The book, launched by James Cahill, Castlebar, tells the story of the curragh from prehistory up to the present day.

It starts with a description of what archaeologists think the ancient curragh of prehistoric times was like, and follows that with a description of written references to the curragh from Roman times up to about 1850.

The Industrial Revolution had a profound effect on curragh design, and 10 different curraghs designs emerged on the west coast in the second half of the 19th century. Two further curragh designs emerged in Donegal in the first half of the 20th century, and two more in the second half of that century.

Each curragh type has a chapter to itself, which gives its home range, a detailed description of the curragh, a plan and a table giving the dimensions of all its component parts.

The book was first published as Curaigh na hÉireann, by Cló Iar Chonnachta, 2016, and this English language edition is a very welcome addition to the corpus of books on Ireland's unique maritime heritage.

James Cahill, who has the most comprehensive collection of curraghs in Ireland or anywhere else, commented on the book: “It is a fascinating book which includes a social history based on official surveys and reports throughout the 19th century, and has several anecdotes based on the author’s own personal memories of the currragh.

“It explains not only the background and the building of currachs but exactly where and how they fit into the local economy, the part-time fishermen and farmers along the western seaboard from Donegal to Kerry. Many of these farmers had as little as two acres of arable land. Extreme poverty was widespread in many places with constant hunger, people living in damp hovels and having only homespun and homemade clothing.

“The book shows how the currach enabled people to exploit fishing grounds, export their catch to England earning good money in an effort to improve their lives.

“It shows the gulf which exists with the Ireland of today, and how late it was in many instances when technological innovation arrived on the west coast.”

He added: “I believe everyone with an interest in the sea and our background on the Atlantic coast should have a volume on their bookshelf.”

Eighty-nine-year old Breandán was born and reared in Belderrig, in the Erris Gaeltacht, and has lived for the last 40 years in Riverstown, Co. Sligo. He taught for 20 years as a teacher and lecturer in England, before being appointed principal of the Regional Technical College Sligo in 1980, and was later director of the Institute of Technology, Sligo.

He retired in 2001 and this is his fourth book to be published since then. He also helped to build three curraghs which, except for Covid years, he has had on display, most years, at maritime festivals in France.

Mayo Books Press will later this year publish another book by Breandán - Scéal Muirí Mhuigh Eo. This book is written in the Erris dialect of Irish, and is the first book in decades to be published in that dialect. The book will be launched by Minister Dara Calleary, on a date and at a venue yet to be determined.

The Curraghs and Naomhóga of Ireland is available in Castle Bookshop, Castlebar, or from mayobooks.ie.