THE National Museum of Ireland – Country Life is inviting people in Clare with memories of boats and boat building in their community to submit their stories to an online archive of Irish heritage. 
The NMI memory project is looking at the vibrant maritime heritage along Ireland’s western coast. The project is part of Age & Opportunity’s Bealtaine Festival – celebrating creativity as we age throughout the month of May.
It is envisioned the memories, stories and family photographs collected will help inform the development of a new exhibition gallery about vernacular Irish boats at the NMI – Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar, County Mayo.
The NMI has a collection of over 30 traditional Irish boats including some of the oldest currachs in the world.
Curator with the National Museum of Ireland, Noel Campbell, wants to hear from people in Clare who can help the Museum tell this story.
“Did you grow up in a fishing community? Was your family involved in boat building or have you a memory of boats from the west coast? If you do, we would like to invite you to contribute your memories. We are interested in your story and remembering the fisher folk of the Atlantic.
“Memories that we sometimes think insignificant may in fact hold details that will assist us in our work. Whether boats were a large part of your life or you have fond memories of boating during holidays in the west, we would like to hear from you.”
To contribute your memory, image and story to this project, please visit ouririshheritage.org and follow the ‘Remembering our West of Ireland Boats’ link. You can submit your story using the online form.