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The Group have been involved in recreating Historic Celtic Voyages
of the Saints and in particular Colmcille/Columba. The 40 foot
canvas covered Colmcille Currach
travelled to the Scottish Island of Iona in 1997 and later to
Northern France and Northern Spain in 2000 and 2001 respectively.
In 2003, the Colmcille returned to Iona with a mixed American
and Northern Irish crew, and in the same year, the vessel circumnavigated
the island of Ireland, crewed by CCMHG members from various parts
of Ireland and Europe, and accompanied by the traditional Basque
fishing vessel Amerikataktik. An illustrated diary of this voyage
can be viewed at www.colmcille.homestead.com
CCMHG's Sister Group the Causeway Coast Kayak Association commissioned
a Traditional
Drontheim (the James Kelly). The Kelly frequently races against
other similar drontheims from Donegal and Scotland.
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In 2006, CCMHG played a major role in the
Celtic European Festival of the Sea: the first major maritime
festival held on the north coast of Ireland, which included events
at venues from Carnlough, Co. Antrim in the east to Moville, Co.
Donegal in the west.
As part of this major maritime festival, CCMHG ran the Portrush
Festival of the Sea, from Friday May 26th to Sunday May 28th,
in parallel with the annual Raft Race. CCMHG also participated
in traditional boat events at other venues. A highlight of the
Portrush Festival was the visit of a Norwegian Boatbulding team
who brought a number of traditional Faering type fishing boats,
whose construction is related to that of the clinker built Ulster
Drontheim, both being descended from Viking technology. Other
significant visitors were Marcos Day, leader of community based
maritime projects in Patagonia, Argentina, the Galgael
Trust, a community based maritime group based in Glasgow,
the (in)famous Scrap Boat, Philippe McClenaghan, our old friend
from our Breton expeditions, George from the Smock
Shop in Cornwall who provided us with great hospitality on
the Cornish expedition, as well as Drontheims and other traditional
boats from Donegal and other parts of Ireland.,
Entertainment around Portrush harbour included sea shanties by
shantyman and Living History exponent Derek Watson, an inspiring
dance performance set around the theme of St. Colmcille's Pilgrimage
to Iona, by the Dominic
Graham School of Irish Dance, an open air concert performance
by the Ballywillan
Flute Band, traditional harmony singing, fiddling and dancing
by the Raindancers Norwegian folk group, and a spectacular musical
performance including fiddles, whistles, flutes, accordions, harp,
bodhran and Lambeg drum from Ulster-Scots ensemble Nae
Goat's Toe.
The Raindancers also performed along with a local group of traditional
musicans headed by Davy Govan of Bushmills, at the festival's
official opening in Portrush's
newly refurbished Town Hall, as well as at a more intimate
event in Portballintrae Boat Club..
Galleries of festival pictures will be added shortly...
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