Editorial

The New Year has brought with it special meaning for the Galway Hooker Association as we celebrate the 40th anniversary since our establishment in 1978. Such an important milestone is usually a good time assess what the Association has achieved thus far, and also to lay the foundations for significant plans for the future.
We must heartily thank all the owners and the shipwrights of Galway Hookers for the love they put in taking care of historical crafts, passionately preserving and fixing them, and building new ones, according to the aims our Association was established for. They of course are the primary investors in the boats and the GHA.
We are obliged to all the people that helped us to grow, those who inspired, those who laboured, those who invested, and to those who educated. Johnny Healion, Dick Scott, and Tom Darba are only but a few names of a long list of people who actively promoted a revival of Galway Hookers and thanks to their efforts the image of the most traditional of Irish boats has spread far beyond the boundaries of Connemara, thus becoming an iconic symbol all over the world of what is truly indigenous Ireland.
Now it’s up to us, the new generations, to follow their example, taking their legacy and developing new projects, using the power of Media and Web to enhance the prestigious image of Galway Hooker. With this in mind, we want to involve the young people, organizing navigation courses and stages. We’re also working to boost events and festivals linked to these boats, looking for prominent races sponsorships which can help us in growing bigger and bigger. We’ve also many other ideas in store to build up a significant presence of the Galway hooker in tourism market, so keep on following our website and Facebook pages, where you will be able to find more detailed news about our projects.

All in all, the wind has blown the sails of the little Hooker in our logo for these past 40 years, join us in wishing a constant and gentle breeze at her back for many successful future days!