The first appearance of a Galway Hooker on the Dutch canals is likely to create a lot of attention and there may even be links found between the traditional West of Ireland boat and historic vessels in Holland 

The ‘Galway Hooker Sailing Club’s Loveen Tour’ will take the 97-year-old vessel to represent Ireland’s traditional nautical heritage at NaWaKa, the Scout International National Water Kamp held every four years in the Netherlands with over 7,000 participants.

Loveen sailing on Galway Bay

Loveen, whose story captivated the Galway sailing community during her two-year restoration, will be accompanied by 40 Galway Sea Scouts, their leaders and family members at the event.

Loveen during her refurbishment in Galway

The gleoiteog was originally built in Galway in 1925 and gifted by the Dolan family in 2011 to become a sail training vessel for the Port of Galway Sea Scouts. The Scouts needed help to make her seaworthy, so the Galway Hooker Sailing Club volunteers brought Loveen back to her former glory, starting work in 2019. In October 2021, she was launched and has made an impressive sight since when seen sailing in the Claddagh and on Galway Bay.

Next month Loveen will join a flotilla of other national sailing vessels during Nawaka, from August 7 to 18 in Landgoed Zeewolde, 40 km east of Amsterdam.

Colette Furey of the Galway Hooker Sailing Club told me (below) about the new voyage of Loveen…