Hauled out in Killybegs

Things moved quickly after our arrival in Killybegs. The local paper did a big write-up about our visit, featuring a photo of us with a group of former workers from the boatyard. Most of them came aboard for a look but sadly one or two were unable to get down the ladder, including one man, Columba Cunningham, who started work in the boatyard in the 1950's. Here he is holding a book about Killybegs showing him working at the boatyard at the tender age of 14½!

Brian McGillowry, Patsy McGowan & Columba Cunningham

Michael O’Boyle had arranged for us to get hoisted out for free by Mooney’s Boatyard, where the Ros Ailither was originally built back in 1954. So the following afternoon we took her over to the lifting bay, built on the site of the boat railway where she would originally have been launched..



It was a historic moment that obviously brought back lots of memories. The foreman at the yard, Patrick, came in specially on his day off to operate the container hoist. His father, Patrick, was foreman when Ros Ailither was built, and his son, also Patrick, works there too. Michael O’ Boyle was there with his son Martin and little grandson, as were former workers Pat Cunnahan, Jackie Neehan and Josie Murran. Pat Nolan, author of ‘Sea Change’, a book about the BIM Irish 50-footers, had driven down from Northern Ireland, and representatives from the Marine Times were there to take pictures.


Michael O'Boyle, Pat Nolan, Patrick the foreman, Martin O'Boyle

We all watched as the Ros Ailither slowly came up out of the water and was set on chocks next to the hoisting bay. Everyone remarked on what good condition she was in for her age. Lee Mooney, owner of the yard, came over for a good look inside once he could get away from his work. His father worked in the BIM yard prior to taking over the boatyard and it was obviously still a thriving business. It looked deceivingly quiet from the road but two brand-new (aluminium) boats were under construction in the huge shed, not to mention several boats out of the water for repairs.

Lee Mooney on board with Dave

For the next four days, David worked hard on getting the topsides and bottom rubbed down, filled and painted. It was a great spot to work, uncrowded and with a lovely view over the harbour entrance, shame about the annoying rain showers! Dave had several visitors who were all able to add more snippets of information of how the Ros boats were built.

Mooney’s yard was instrumental in making Killybegs such an important fishing harbour back in the 1950’s, building 37 wooden fishing boats during the 1950’s alone. They built two or three boats simultaneously, each with a team of 19 shipwrights working on them. Surprisingly little was available in the area so all the nails and steelwork, for example, had to be specially made and shipped in.



Hazel and Katie spent the days exploring Killybegs. It is a small town (with no coffee shop!) totally dominated by the large fleet of enormous fishing boats on the quays. We happened upon St Catherine’s Well, a source of natural spring water dedicated to the town’s patron saint, and still used as a place of prayer. Our arrival coincided with the street festival weekend and Katie was very excited to see the funfair setting up. Obviously she is a bit small for the ‘Drop Zone’ ride but enjoyed clambering up the inflatable slide!

longest carpet loom in the world

I was surprised to discover at the Maritime & Heritage Centre that Killybegs was also world famous for carpets. This was the site of Donegal Carpets, makers of high quality hand-knotted wool carpets. We were shown a video of women at work in the 60’s – it is a slow business and took a team of women four months to make a single (large) carpet, each one individually designed for its destination. We saw the largest loom in the world (42 feet long and weighing over 4 tons!!) and were allowed to put a couple of knots in a ‘show’ piece of carpet in-the-making. The factory is now only a fraction of the size and was not in use when we were there but still goes into operation when a commission comes in.



On Monday morning, Ros Ailither was looking much the better for a lick of paint, and we had even painted the original (trademark) shamrock back on the bows. Lee Mooney himself lifted the boat back in the water with Michael and Martin O’Boyle who came to watch and take photos (and video for u-tube!).



We moved back to the fishing quay for a short while then made a move the 10 miles down the bay to Teelin in order to get the boat straight for sailing again.
We would like to thank Lee Mooney for the free haulout and use of all his facilities, and to Michael O’Boyle for setting it all up, and for all the background information. Thanks to everybody who gave us such a warm welcome and sorry we didn’t hang around for longer. When the weather’s right, you’ve got to keep moving!