Dingle Curragh

Current boat name

Dingle Curragh

Boat class

6968

Function

Fishing and Hunting

Type

Length (m / ft)

7.57 / 24ft 10in

Beam (m / ft)

1.28 / 4ft 2in

Present use

Store

Dingle curragh (4 man). 24’10”.Ostrich shed, centre aisle, north boat of pair fourth from East door. Curraghs are used for inshore fishing, crabbing and sometimes for transport. The oars are bladeless for ease of use in rough water. Though apparently frail, curraghs are remarkably seaworthy craft. Extreme lightness enables them to lift over both waves and surf as they work from beach or harbour. The motor is fitted into a box well, built about 6 feet forward of the transom. They are used for transportation and communication but the more general use is for line fishing, salmon netting and lobster potting. Basking sharks are also caught from curraghs but mainly to avoid them fouling the salmon nets. Historical records of curraghs date back to 500 AD and they are still being built on the Atlantic seaboard of Ireland where they survive in a number of forms. Curraghs are seldom sailed now, the outboard motor having replaced the sail. These two curraghs were built by Mr John Goodwin of Castlegregory, on the Dingle peninsula of County Kerry in 1968