'Cruinniú na mBád' and the Galway Hooker - From the Archives

This week sees the return of the Cruinniú na mBád Festival in Kinvara. Now in its 42nd year since its revival in the late 1970s, the Festival attracts up to one hundred of the famous Galway Hooker boats, among many others, as part of a celebration marking the tradition and rich history of the Galway Hooker and of sea faring along the West coast.

The boats, with their distinctive sails, are synonymous with Galway and the West of Ireland. Within the Archives of the Library are numerous collections which make reference to and document various histories and information about the history of the boat and its connection to the sea and the people. Material is present in the digitised journal, Rural Ireland, published by Muintir na Tíre, The Tim Robinson Archive includes a photograph of a Galway Hooker from 1953 and the Heinrich Becker Collection has numerous photographs of the boats across the Claddagh and Galway Bay in the 1940s.

G22_59_1_002 From Heinrich Becker Archive

Within the Bob Quinn archive are a number of archive images from previous Cruinniú na mBád at Kinvara. A contact sheet of images is present from the Kinvara festival in 2002. Quinn is a famous Irish film-maker and photographer who has a well renowned list of award-winning films and documentaries. Poitín (1978) was the first feature film made entirely in Irish. The film starred Cyril Cusack, Donal McCann, and Niall Tóibín.

From the Quinn archive of photographs are these images from the 2002 Cruinniú na mBád which show the Galway Hooker in full sail and with the locals enjoying the festivities.

Bob Quinn was also awarded an honorary Doctorate of Arts by NUI Galway in a ceremony in April 2022. The full catalogue of the Bob Quinn Photographic Archive is online here.

P99_4_13 - Galway Hooker at Kinvara, 2002. Bob Quinn Archive

P99_4_13 - Galway Hooker at Kinvara, 2002. Bob Quinn Archive

P99_4_13 - Galway Hooker at Kinvara, 2002. Bob Quinn Archive

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First Galway Film Fleadh takes to the Screens

The first Galway Film Fleadh was staged in Jul 1989 as part of the Galway Arts Festival. It was a huge addition to film and film production in Ireland. It has since become one of the largest and leading film festivals in Ireland. The archive of the Galway Arts Festival contains many records from  and references relating specifically to the Galway Film Fleadh.

Press Release, First Galway Film Festival

The first Film Fleadh opened on Jul 19^th and ran for five days, culminating on 24 Jul 1989. Its opening screening featured “Venus Peter”, the last film to feature the late Ray McAnally and directed by Ian Seller. The management team of the Galway Film Fleadh included Miriam Allen, Leila Doolan, Joe McMahon, Bob Quinn and Steve Woods.

Official Press Release: First Galway Film Fleadh

The Film Fleadh had dedicated events and screening for Irish language film, Irish made film in English and European and other foreign cinema. It was noted in the press release for the Galway Film Fleadh how Charles Haughey had recently announced his intention of supporting the foundation of an Irish language. The press release further describes the Galway Film Fleadh as being “about the films, film people and film politics; a veritable feast and one not to be missed”.

As well as film from established, new and emerging film makers, the Fleadh featured a series of screenings of archival films from the collection of the Irish Film Institute. The trip down memory lane included footage of rural electrification, T.B. eradication and an Tostal. Films in this series dated from 1911 to the early 1970s and range from advertisements to feature length films.

The Galway Arts Festival archive also contains programme records from the 1996 and 1997 Galway Film Fleadh. The records of the first and trend-setting Galway Film Fleadh, a brave an exciting departure in Irish and European film is a terrific addition to this already intriguing collection. 

Invitation to the premiere of "Venus Peter"