The Causway Coast Maritime Heritage group

Established in 1994, the Portrush based CCMHG are working towards conserving some of the rich maritime culture of the North Irish Coast. The group have forged links with other like minded communities from the shores of Ireland to Scotland and beyond.

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.

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..

In subsequent years, CCMHG has focused on voyaging in the curragh Colmcille. Recent voyages have established links with the western coasts of Ireland and Scotland, whilst plans are afoot for a voyage in North America, potentially in 2012.