A.K. ILEN, Ireland's last wooden ocean-going ship

A.K. ILEN is one of Ireland's last surviving, traditionally-built wooden ocean-going ships, originally built by The Fishery School in Baltimore, Cork, in 1926 and named after the local Ilen river. Conor O'Brien, regarded as a pioneer in the world of sailing and Ireland's first amateur circumnavigator of the globe, sailed 'ILEN' from Ireland to the Falkland Islands, where she spent the next 70 years as a transport vessel between the islands. Repatriated back to Ireland in 1998, 'ILEN' spent the next 10 years being restored skillfully to her former glory, by descendants of her original builders, in Hegarty's Boatyard, Baltimore. She now plies her trade with Sailing Into Wellness, a sailing charity, providing educational and therapeutic sailing programmes to a wide range of community organisations.
During 16th, 17th August, A.K. ILEN will be on display in Kinsale, Co Cork and all are welcome to come onboard for a guided tour of this beautiful ship, and learn more about her remarkable history, as part of Heritage Week 2025. Join her sailing crew for an interesting 'talk' about her journeys and get involved in the some demonstrations of traditional ropework. If you would like to try your hand at some nautical knots for yourself and be a part of other fun activities check out the 'open on-board' times to join in! Sailing Into Wellness look forward to meeting you and celebrating A.K. ILEN's heritage together.