There is no record of what year the Lovely Anne was built in Blackweir on the northern shore of Clarinbridge Bay. The builder of Lovely Anne, Patrick Brannelly, was drowned in Kinvara Bay on the 14th of October 1892. He was only 33 years of age. Three of his boats are still sailing today; Tónaí, Morning Star and Lovely Anne.

Photo: Supplied by Galway City Museum — Photo: Supplied by *Galway City Museum*

To the best of our knowledge, Lovely Anne was built sometime between 1884 and 1885. She was built for Patrick McDonagh (Pat Thaidhg) who was living in Leitheannagh, Cashel, Co. Galway. Patrick McDonagh’s family is reputed to have come from Glan, Oughterard, to the Cashel area in the 1860s. He worked as a Bailiff for the local landlord, Thomas Hazel. McDonagh’s job specification was to develop and protect the Oyster Beds in Beirtreach Bhuí Bay, near Cashel.

Around 1884, Thomas Hazel built a house for Patrick McDonagh in Cannure, across Cashel Bay from Leitheannagh. The house is still there to this day and is known locally as the ‘Watchhouse’. Patrick McDonagh acquired a workboat, a Púcán (rigged with a dipping lugsail and jib) for his work as Bailiff. His work with the boat entailed transporting oysters between Cashel and the Oyster Banks in Ros Cíde, in the upper reaches of Kilkerrin Bay. This boat was later called the Lovely Anne.

The boat was passed on to Patrick McDonagh’s son, Tady (Tady Phat Thaidhg). Tady used the boat for fishing for some years and later sold her to Máirtín Keane (Máirtín Thomáis) in Glynsk, Carna. Máirtín’s sons; Colm, Tomás and Páraic continued fishing with Lovely Anne. They also continued her tradition of oyster and scallop dredging in Beirtreach Bhuí Bay. The boat was still Púcán rigged and helmed by Colm Keane would often take part in local regattas in the Púcán Mór class, even winning from time to time. According to Tomás Keane, Colm’s nephew, the boat was named Lovely Anne by a visitor to the Zetland Hotel in Cashel. Colm Keane used the boat to bring tourists on sailing trips on Cashel Bay and sometimes to Roundstone. One day, Colm told his guests that the boat did not have a name, a lady on board was very impressed by the boat and was surprised it didn’t have a name. She told Colm she was naming the boat Lovely Anne. Tomás Keane now owns the Bádóir Mór, a Gleoiteóg Mór in Carna.

Coílin Hernon sailing Lovely Anne after her restoration. Photo Credit: Jonathan Curran. — Coílin Hernon sailing *Lovely Anne* after her restoration. Photo Credit: Jonathan Curran.

Páraic Barrett from Mweenish, Carna, bought the Púcán from his uncle, Colm Keane, around 1943. Colm and his neighbour, Tom Anthony Coyne, sailed the boat to Céibh an Phortaigh, in Mweenish. Páraic Barrett later owned the Faoileán and the Nóra Bheag for a number of years.

Lovely Anne was fishing for the Mullins family in the Aran Islands in the late 1940s. She was fitted with an inboard engine and her sail area had been reduced. In the 1950s she was owned in Carraroe by Colman Flaherty (Cóil Choilm Deárb). Colman’s son, John, and grandsons, Colm, Dermot, John Paul and Aongus now own the American Mór, Naomh Ciarán and Caroline Anne. The next owner was Máirtín Bán Breathnach, he used the boat for angling.

When Jim Parkinson bought Lovely Anne, he had her rebuilt and began salmon fishing with her. He did this for a number of years before moving to Killybegs. Lovely Anne was more than 40 years in Killybegs when current owner Ross Forde brought her back to the Claddagh on the 1st of November 2018.

MORE TO FOLLOW SHORTLY ON ROSS’ STORY.