QUAY TO UNLOCK OLD MEMORIES

Cheekpoint hosts the Heritage Boats

The magnificent Tall Ships are not the only rare boats visiting Waterford next week. Coming to salute their past partners in maritime commerce is the fleet of the Heritage Boat Association. Amongst their number are Grand Canal Company barges 68M and 72M. These veteran boats, in their commercial working life, carried cargos from all over the country along the rivers and canals, to the port of Waterford. From there they were transhipped to the far corners of the world by boats similar to the current Tall Ships and their successors.

Cheekpoint was an important milestone on the barges journey, for it was here that the barges turned onto the Suir for the final leg upriver to the ports of Waterford and Carrick. It was also here that the local Eel Fishermen would often cadge a tow from an upriver barge saving them a long and difficult row in their traditional Prongs. In turn the barge men might enjoy a bit of company, a chat over a brew of the ‘kittle’ on the Bolinder and perhaps a few fresh fish for the supper. And so a fine co-operative grew up between the bargemen and the fishermen that led to many lasting friendships. It is fitting therefore that Cheekpoint once again acts as host to these unique boats, for they enjoy a shared heritage that deserves to be celebrated by both their crews and the local communities.

This year’s journey commenced on a frosty morning in March when 68M headed north on the River Shannon and turned onto the Grand Canal north of Banagher. At the same time 72M quietly slipped her moorings in Naas and led the now growing fleet south onto the River Barrow at Athy. At towns and villages along the waterway, communities celebrated the arrival of the Heritage Boats and the revival of the Barrow Navigation, thanks to the excellent work by the engineers and staff of Waterways Ireland. 2011 is a significant year, marking the 220th anniversary of the opening of the Navigation. Five counties are celebrating with a series of events and festivals taking place all year to mark the occasion.

From the June 27th until the July 3rd, the Heritage Boats will be based at Cheekpoint Quay and a wide range of activities are planned with the local community. This visit will highlight the work of the Friends of Cheekpoint Quay to restore the harbour as the focal point of the village.

The Reading Room in the village will be the venue for a River and Maritime and a Heritage Boat Association Exhibition. There will be guided walks in Cheekpoint and Faithlegg Woods, a Village Fete on the Green, the launch of the Newfoundland Dory, a Flotilla of Boats from Cheekpoint to Waterford, a School Art Happening and other events.

ENDS

Contacts:

Paul Martin, Chair Heritage Boat Association 087 2523908 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Sean Doherty, Friends of Cheekpoint Quay 087 6236112

Ray McGrath, Friends of Cheekpoint Quay 083 1067042

FÓGRA PREASSA

Meitheamh 21iú 2011

CÉ CHUN SEAN CUIMHNE A SCAOILEADH

Fáiltíonn Cheekpoint na Báid Oidhreachta

Ní hiad na Báid Arda iontacha na t-aon báid neamhchoitianta atá ag tabhair cuairt ar Port Láirge. Beidh cabhlach an Cumann Bád Oidhreachta ag teacht chun onóir a thabhairt do a sean pháirtí i trádáil muirí. Ina measc tá báirsí an Grand Canal Company 68M agus 72M. D'iompair na sean bháid seo, ina saol oibre, lasta ó gach páirt den tír ar na abhainn agus canálacha go dtí cuain Port Láirge. Ó sin bhíodar iompartha go dtí cúinne fada an domhain ar báid mar na Báid Arda.

Bhí Cheekpoint mar marc tábhachtach ar turas na báirsí, mar bhí sé anseo a chas na báirsí isteach ar an tSúir chun an páirt deireanach den turas chuig cuain Carraig an tSúir agus Port Láirge a freastail. Bhí sé anseo freisin a fhaigheadh Iascaire Easann tarraingt ar téad ó na báirsí go minic – iomramh fada a sábháil dóibh. Ar son sin d'fhéadfadh na fir bád beagán comhluadar a bheith acu, caint thar cupán tae tarraingítear ar an Bolinder agus bhféidir cúpla iasc don dinnéir. As sin d'éirigh comhoibritheach idir na fir bád agus na iascaire a spreag go leor sár cairdeas. Tá sé cóir mar sin go bhfuil Cheekpoint ag cur fáilte roimh na báid seo arís mar go bhfuil oidhreacht coitianta eatarthu a thuilleann ceiliúradh óna foireann agus an pobail áitiúil.

Thosaigh turas an bhliain seo ar maidin reoch in Márta nuair a d'imigh 68M ó thuaidh ar an tSionainn agus chas sí isteach ar an Canáil Mhór lastuaidh de Beannchar na Sionna. Ag an am chéanna d'fhág 72M a feistiú i An Nás ag stiúradh an cabhlach, atá ag fás anois, ó theas isteach ar An Bhearú ag Baile Átha Í. Cheiliúr bailte agus sráidbhailte an uiscebealach teacht na Báid Oidhreachta agus athbheochan An Bhearú. Is bliain tábhachtach í 2011, tá sé mar féile 220 oscailt  an uiscebealach. Tá cúig contae ag ceiliúradh le srath imeachtaí agus féilte i rith na mbliana.

Ó Meitheamh 27iú go dtí Iúil 3iú beidh na Báid Oidhreachta ag Cé Cheekpoint agus beidh imeachtaí éagsúil ar shiúil in éineacht leis an pobail áitiúil. Déanfaidh an turas seo aire a tharraingt ar obair Cairde Cé Cheekpoint an a deisiú mar phointe chomhtheagmhála an sráidbhaile.

Beidh The Reading Room san sráidbhaile mar suíomh do taispeántais Abhainn agus Muirí agus Cumann Bád Oidhreachta. Beidh siúil treoraithe do Cheekpoint agus Faithlegg Woods, Feis Sráidbhaile ar an Faiche, scaoileadh don Newfoundland Dory, Cabhlach Báid ó Cheekpoint go dtí Póirt Láirge, Scoil Ealaín agus imeachtaí eile.  

CRÍOCH

Contacts:

Andy Roche, CBO as Gaeilge, 086 2573671, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Paul Martin, Cathaoirleach Cumman Bád Oidhreachta, 087 2523908, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Sean Doherty, Cairde Cé/Friends of Cheekpoint Quay, 087 6236112  

Ray McGrath, Cairde Cé/Friends of Cheekpoint Quay, 083 1067042

Suíomh Idirlíon:  www.heritageboatassociation.ie