The ‘Holy Ground’ is a legendary part of Cobh, renowned in song and remembered in the Cork Harbour town’s folklore.
Now the ‘Holy Ground Lady’ is part of Cove Sailing Club, a boat built by local shipwright Mark Richard in the late 90s who ran Cuskinny Boats and built five of the boats of which type it is one.
The ‘Holy Ground Lady’ is the first one converted for sail and has been gifted to Cove Sailing Club by local man John Hennessy who had used it for fishing. He wanted it to become a club sailing boat which could particularly be used to introduce young sailors to the sport.
The 'Holy Ground Lady' sets sail in bright winter sunshine at the Cove Sailing Club Christmas Race Photo: Bob Bateman
The wooden boat was reconditioned this year. Sails have been donated by Jason Losty and recut by Owen O'Connell, who has carried out extensive work on the rigging.
“Cove Sailing Club is delighted to receive this boat from John,” said Club Commodore Dominic Losty at the hand-over at the clubhouse following the Christmas Dinghy Race in which it was sailed for the first time by George Radley Junior and crew. “We appreciate the work that has gone into it,” said Commodore Losty.
At the hand-over ceremony, Cove Sailing Club donated €1,000 to the RNLI, the proceeds of entry fees to its annual Cobh-Blackrock Race, held last September.
Afloat's Tom MacSweeney interviews John Hennessy at the Cove Sailing Club Christmas Race 2022 for the podcast below
For my Podcast this week, I talked to the man who owned and has given the Holy Ground Lady to Cove Sailing Club, John Hennessy, also to Maurice Kidney, one of those who led the revival of the Rankin dinghies and to the builder of ‘Holy Ground Lady,’ Mark Richard, who refurbished it. First, John Hennessy told me how he had bought the boat and used it for fishing:
Listen to the Podcast below
A video of the light air start of the Cove Sailing Club Christmas Race by Mary Malone with the Holy Ground lady (313) among the fleet.
The Cove Sailing Club Christmas Race festivities included a €1,000 cheque presentation for the Cobh Branch of RNLI, the proceeds of entry fees to its annual Cobh-Blackrock Race, held last September. (from left to right) Dom Losty Commodore Cove Sailing Club Shirley Scandrett RNLI Cobh Branch Anne Aherne CSC Nial Hawes CSC and Eoin Carmody RNLI Cobh Branch Photo: Bob Bateman
