Irish classic boatbuilders and owners are no strangers to the podium at the annual International Classic Boat Awards in London, and 2023’s ceremony in April was no exception.

Simon O’Keffe of Schull – the current family owner of the 1902 gaff cutter Lady Min designed and built in Schull by his great-grandfather Maurice O’Keeffe – had the well-earned satisfaction of seeing master-boatbuilder Tiernan Roe being suitably honoured with the trophy for the best restoration for boats under 40ft LOA, a rare moment in the limelight for a craftsman who normally and quietly gets on with the job.

The restored Lady Min – an “overnight success” after 121 years

Tiernan Roe of Roeboats, Ballydehob, Co. Cork has been chosen by the Crafts Council of Ireland to travel to Norway next month for a learning work placement at one of Norway's premier boat museums.
Based at Norheimsund 50 miles south east of the city of Bergen on the shores of the Hardanger Fjord the Hardanger Fartoyvern Senter is a working boat building museum. While there Tiernan will be working and learning alongside Norwegian boat builders restoring, maintaining and building traditional Norwegian boats.
"I'm delighted that the Crafts Council of Ireland have recognised the potential of wooden boat building for Ireland and I'm really excited about going to Norway, it's one of the premier wooden boat building countries in the world." says Tiernan " I'm also using the opportunity to visit other wooden boat builders and of course the viking ship and maritime museums in Oslo."
"Hopefully I'll learn lots and bring back plenty of ideas that can be applied here in Ireland on how to promote and preserve our maritime heritage"
Tiernan is one of three craftspeople going to Norway under the auspices of the Crafts Council of Ireland and the EU Leonardo programme.