North Sligo's Boatbuilding Heritage - Past and Present

Cliffoney Community Forum invites you to our free community event celebrating our local boat building heritage. Join us at Cliffoney Hall where Steve Barker will talk about the great tradition of boat building from the 1860s until 2004 at Mc Cann's boatyard Moneygold, Co Sligo and also the construction of Shadow V. You will also hear about the valuable collection of records, boat moulds, tools and maritime equipment dating back many generations uncovered at the boatyard and how all of this valuable heritage material has been recorded and preserved for the future.

The second part will be devoted to this strong boat building tradition that has continued in Cliffoney Village to this day. Peter Macarthur has been a fisherman and boat builder in north Sligo for over 45 years. Having learned his skills from the late local boat builder Rodney Lomax. Peter has built more than twenty wooden boats of various designs and has restores countless more. Peter will talk us through his most recent boat construction. Recorded by his family using video and photography they have created a fantastic record of the traditional skills and techniques used in the process of timber boat construction.

Refreshments will be provided and there will be opportunities to ask questions and interact with our two local speakers. This event has been supported by a grant from Sligo County Council.