Gandelow

The gandelow is a traditional wooden fishing boat used on the River Shannon on the west coast of Ireland.

In Limerick, some boats were used to take pilots out to the ocean-going vessels or acted as small lighters transporting goods to the docks.

[2] The fishermen of those times would no doubt be astonished to see that their working boat is now being built again, prized by the Limerick riverside community for its beauty and raced for entertainment and exercise.

The 23-foot boats of the traditional Shannon type are specialised craft which evolved different forms in various parts of the estuary over the centuries.

Each boat was therefore unique with parts shaped to fit the minor variations caused by the quality of wood available and whether the builder used any moulds, frames or templates (many did not).

On the occasions when the westerly wind was right to blow the boats back up the Shannon then a simple sacking sail would be fastened to an upright oar (as Jim McInerney's book explains).

In 2014, at the invitation of the mayor of Venice, four gandelows were taken there to take part in the annual Festa degli asparagi (Asparagus festival).

This was also an opportunity to directly compare the gandelow with local Italian boats of a similar design (such as the 's'ciopon' - meaning 'big gun'- or a 'sandolo').