ADMIRALTY charts of Irish waters may still be out of date and dangerously flawed, but the nefarious activities of foreign "renegades" may have prevented further shipwreck off the south and west coasts.
It was thanks to piracy off west Cork that the first sailing directions for the island of Ireland were published, Mr Hal Sisk, maritime historian, told the Glandore Summer School yesterday.
The equivalent of late 20th century drug runners, these English and Dutch "renegades" were based principally in Sale Morocco, but worked out of west Cork inlets like Long Island Sound, Crookhaven and Castletownshend during the summer months. Broadhaven Bay in Co Mayo also provided handy shelter, Mr Sisk said.
He was speaking on the first day of the summer school, which was opened yesterday by the Maritime Institute of Ireland's research officer, Dr John de Courcy Ireland.
Drawing parallells with contemporary events, Mr Sisk described the pattern of legitimate trade, a thriving black economy and crime. Hence, the West Cork saying, "Beyond Leap, there is no law"
In 1611 a Dutch expedition was dispatched to combat the illegal activities, without much success. The most tangible, result was the first published sailing directions for this island, produced by Hessel Gerritzoon in 1612 in Amsterdam. Over 50 Irish traditional craft have been identified by a team attached to the summer school, which intends to publish a book on the subject, co-ordinated by Mr Donal Lynch of Glandore Yacht Club.
The three day summer school continues in the west Cork harbour town today with a keynote address by the Minister of State for the Marine, Mr Eamon Gilmore, on the future of Irish fisheries. The classic boat regatta is due to be opened by the former Taoiseach, Mr Charles Haughey, skipper of Celtic Mist, on Friday.
