How She Came
to the Club
Lovely Anne is the club’s flagship boat, and it was during her restoration that the idea of starting a club first began to grow. Built by Patrick Brannelly around 1884, Lovely Anne came onto our radar when Ross Forde, a participant in our first Hooker Skills Course, discovered he was Brannelly’s great-great-grandson.
After researching Brannelly’s boats, Ross found Lovely Anne and tracked her to Killybegs. Following months of negotiation with the owner, Jim Parkinson, Ross and Ciaran Oliver travelled there and brought Lovely Anne back to Galway in November 2018.
Restoration
and Revival
A company, Galway Hooker 2020 CLG, was formed to manage donations, funds, and grant support for Lovely Anne. From there, a team of dedicated boat builders and volunteers spent six months restoring the then 137-year-old Gleoiteóg. Completing the restoration of a traditional wooden boat in such a short time was unprecedented — a herculean effort from all involved. On Good Friday, April 19th, 2019, Lovely Anne was officially relaunched into Galway Bay from Blackweir, Clarinbridge, and sailed triumphantly to the Claddagh, where a joyous crowd awaited.
Lovely Anne’s restoration is not only a moving story of reviving a vital part of Galway’s maritime heritage — it also inspired a new generation to connect with the ocean and traditional sailing. Recognising the need for a community hub to share this passion, the Galway Hooker Sailing Club was officially founded in
September 2019.
