Cóilín is regarded as a master boat-builder. His upbringing involved working on Currachs, small Gleoiteógs and Púcáns in his native Carna, Connemara alongside his father Pádraig. He bought his first Currach at 14 years of age and had to fit two planks to her hull, where she had previously been holed. Cóilín used this currach to tow seaweed which he had cut along the local shoreline and which he would then sell to the seaweed factory in Kilkerrin for 2 pounds and 2 shillings per tonne. The Hernon family still own and use this currach to this day. Cóilín has also completed repair work on several Galway Hookers over the years, most notably our club boats; Nóra Bheag, Lovely Anne , Loveen and Caper Beag. Cóilín and his family owned, repaired and sailed a number of Gleoiteógs while he grew up in Carna, including the Múrlach (later Fíona/ Ga Gealaí), the Caorán (also known as Roisín na Mainíoch), the Asurnaí (Bád Joe Conaola) and the Nova Scotia. In 1972 the Hernons rigged the Múrlach as a Púcán and began sailing her. Cóilín bought the Nóra Bheag (then known as Púcán Mhadaoin) during the year that he did his Leaving Certificate. The boat was later restored in her entirety in 1987/88 in the Hernon’s back garden in Renmore, Galway City. She was launched shortly after that and rigged her as a Gleoiteóg. She has sailed out of the Claddagh every year since then and has participated in, and won, her fair share of regattas.
Cóilín Hernon is our club’s gifted master boat builder and a wealth of knowledge in the history and traditions of Galway Hookers. He oversees all of our hooker restoration projects along with his two sons, Éinde and Cóilín Óg. He is a retired secondary school vice-principal and is always willing to guide youngsters and the volunteers through the boat building process. Galway Hooker Sailing Club are very grateful for his expertise, dedication & passion.