East Wall group re-launches boat

A LARGE crowd gathered at the East Wall Water Sports Group recently for the re-launch of the East Coast Rowing Skiff

‘An Tulcha’.

Patsy Whelan, a Shipwright with the Dublin Port Company, rebuilt the boat to her former glory.

Patsy’s late father, also named Patsy, a renowned Shipwright, originally built the skiff in 1983. The boat construction was done in collaboration with a group of adults with a learning disability, from St Michael’s House.

Mr Whelan worked on the project one day a week where he was based at the East Wall Water Sports Group’s centre on Alfie Byrne Road.

The group’s chairman thanked all involved but particularly the members of St Michael’s House. He told them they should be very proud of what they have achieved.

“Many people young and not so young will get great use of the rowing skiff for many years, and we hope that we can continue to work with St Michael’s House,

? he said.

The group’s next boat-building project is a Naomhog Currach, from Galway, which was raced for many years in County Kerry but now needs to be restored.

East Wall Water Sports Group would like to thank Dublin Port Company and Dublin City Council for their continued support and all who helped with the project.