I spotted this fascinating map drawn by Kipperman Mike Smylie on his stall at the Nordhorn Fest der Kanäle this weekend and wanted to share it – it’s here with Mike’s permission. It shows how Viking, French and Dutch influences turn up in traditional fishing vessels.
The slightly fuzzy snap was taken with my phone but it’s worth a good long look – some of it will be fairly obvious, but there are some surprises, such as the French influence on the north-west coast of Ireland that I have somehow missed in the past. I should spend a little time reading up on Irish traditional craft…
See our post on Mike’s latest publication on herrings, the herring trade and of course how to eat them…
Hi Gavin,
The French influence on the Northwest (Mayo/Sligo) coast of Ireland might be due to the French army under General Humbert landing there in 1798 to help in the United Irishmens rebellion of that year. In 1796 when Wolfe Tone tried to land with a French force in Bantry they left what is now known as the Bantry bay gig and this is the boat used by the Atlantic challenge. I am of course open to correction on the French Mayo connection. By the way the founder of the Argentine Navy is also from Mayo, William Brown.
As always enjoy reading intheboatshed.
Tiernan