Inistioge party awaits currach rowers
THE River Nore will be transported back in time this weekend as one of Ireland’s most picturesque waterways plays host to a fleet of traditional Irish currach boats and their crews.
A 24-strong team of rowers from Cork’s Naomhóga Chrocaí club began their Nore adventure at 10am this morning at Graiguenamanagh Boat club, arriving at St Mullins Quay at 12pm for a coffee break before rowing on to New Ross this evening.
Tomorrow morning the team, led by Jack O’Keeffe, will set off from Ross after a hearty breakfast at Kennedy’s Boutique Hotel, rowing with the flow the 10km distance to Ballingoth before arriving in the picture-postcard village of Inistioge at 3.30pm, where a crowd of curious onlookers is expected to greet the rowers on the final leg of their Nore journey.
Local sources have assured KilkennyNow.ie full hospitality will be afforded to the weary rowers, who will be escorted to the comfort of O’Donnell’s pub before heading slightly uphill to The Otter, where a delicious buffet dinner will await them courtesy of owners Alan and Catherine Shier.
Naomhóga Chorcaí have taken their currachs all over the country on their trips, including the Blackwater, the Barrow, the Shannon Estuary and the Lee. The Cork club also transported two naomhóga (currachs) on a 2,000 mile round trip to Galicia, where traditional Galician boat clubs were invited to share in the experience of currach rowing.
The construction and design of the currach are unique to the west coasts of Ireland. They are also referred to as a naomhóg, meaning “little holy one” or “little female saint”.
