EEL fishing on Lough Ree, poitin hunts in Garumna, red haired women and "naomhog nua ar sean praighis" With a particularly persuasive sales pitch, a group of traditional boat builders are raffling a currach to raise funds for their craft.
The 21.5ft naomhog made by Meitheal Mara in Cork is the first (and only) prize in the competition, which is being held as part of the 1796 celebrations in Bantry, Co Cork, this weekend.
Built of oak, hardwood, spruce, cotton, tar, copper and galvanised steel the boat is based on a Kerry design. Traditionally, cow hide was used for the skin covering, but the builders' excuse is that they have not yet found a 22ft cow.
Founded in Cork in 1994 with FAS support, Meitheal Mara is a voluntary organisation dedicated to an appreciation of Ireland's waterways and marine resources, and traditional construction skills. Its club, Naomhoga Chorcai, won the Great River Race on the Thames.
Led by Padraig O Duinnin, the project has built 10 currachs, six of which are used by the club.
The raffle tickets will be on sale during the Castletownbere Bristol 1996 regatta, which opens in Castletownbere this weekend, and the draw takes place on June 8th. More than 70 craft are expected to participate in the regatta, including a replica of John Cabot's 500 year old vessel, the Matthew.
Up to 18 tall ships, including the 179ft US vessel Rose, are due to visit Dublin port this weekend for the Dublin Maritime Festival hosted by the Naval Association. The four day event begins on Friday with the arrival of the visiting fleet, including three naval ships.
An exhibition will take place from Friday in the Riverside Centre, Sir John Rogerson's Quay, and on Saturday there will be a traditional rowing display and a four boat "hobbling race" between the East Link and Matt Talbot Bridge.
Other events include the annual St Patrick's Ringsend Regatta on Sunday from 11 a.m. That evening, the Wexford Sinfonia will perform on the Guinness Gig Rig. The fleet departs on Monday, when there is also a river swim in aid of motor neurone disease.
