The Seol Sionna Project has just been awarded funding by Leader RRD. This is our biggest and most ambitious project to date and involves a training programme which will run next winter in West Clare to build a traditional wooden sailing boat typical of the Shannon Hookers that worked the lower Estuary of the Shannon in the past. Open Day in Querrin on July 11th 3 to 5

Follow our regattas through the summer with regattas in Clarecastle, Kilrush and Kilkee in July



Our Club
This is the website for the West Clare Currach Club. We are an umbrella group for 7 local clubs and regatta committees on the Clare Coast.

With the help of Leader RRD funded training programme in 2004 we built 6 local fishing currachs of the West Clare design over a two year period involving upto 35 men and women on the Loophead peninsula. We help share the boats, cover insurance costs and get more people rowing wherever we can.

In 2009 under the guidance of James Madigan we ran 8 training programmes around Clare and built 8 West Clare Canoes. These have now been given out to clubs and we have had requests for 4 new clubs to be start rowing and building in their own areas.

Local regatta groups are in Carrigaholt, Kilkee, Kilrush, Kilbaha, Doonbeg Quilty and Coonagh. There is now a Traditional boat building club in Shannon, and interest in clubs to be set up in Kilmihil, Ennis and Ballyvaughan.

We are planning new projects for the coming year including;
Project for Eddie and Martin - This is in memory of Eddie Mc Sweeney and Martin McInerney, last two currach fishermen out of Kilkee.
We intend to build 2 man currachs as a starter boat for juvenile rowers. This currachs doesn't need a trailer and can be put on a roof rack; lighter and easier to move around. Thanks to Liz Ann and friends of West Clare Currach Club in Yonkers, New York for fundraising that is going to get this started. Details to follow.

We work cooperatively to promote our own local fishing canoes in the area and we also travel to other regattas and races such as the Great River Race in London,Events in Brittany and the Ocean to City Race in Cork.

We are interested in linking with other boat building projects where people are keeping their local boats on the water and all that that involves.

If you are interested in getting a currach built along the Clare design you can contact.

James Madigan on 00 353 087 6523728.