List of
Ownership
| Owner List | Year | Owner Name | Vessel Name | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Owner | 1925 | Marbn Conroy, Tír an Fhia, Leibr Móir | – | 22′ Bád Iomartha (Rowboat) |
| 2nd Owner | 1927 | Michael McDonagh, Rosmuc | – | – |
| 3rd Owner | – | Val Clarke, Rosmuc | – | – |
| 4th Owner | 1983 | Páraic McDonnacha, Doirín Glas, Leibr Móir | – | – |
| 5th Owner | 1983 | Páraic Hanniffy, Maree | Renamed ‘Sorcha Mairéad’ | Gaff Rigged (Gleoiteóg) |
| 6th Owner | 2009 | Nicholas Dolan, Claddagh | – | – |
| Current Owner | 2012 | Port of Galway Sea Scouts | Renamed ‘The Loveen’ | – |
| Caretakers | 2019 | Galway Hooker Sailing Club | Renamed ‘Loveen’ | Full Restoration by Cóilín Hernon & Sons |
Crafted at
Spanish Arch
Loveen was built as a 22-foot bád iomartha (rowboat) by John Francis Reaney (John Mhichíl a’ Ráinne) in 1925. Reaney also built MP Martin McDonagh’s Gleoiteog “Claddagh” and the original “Truelight” owned by Martin Oliver. Loveen was built on the site of what is now the Galway City Museum at the Spanish Arch, for Martin Conroy (Máirtín Pháraic Phatchsín) of Tír an Fhia, Leitir Móir.
Working the
Connemara CoastLINE
During her early years, Loveen was used for carrying seaweed and for fishing. In 1927, she was sold to Michael McDonagh (Michaelín Mhaitias) of Rosmuc, and later to Val Clarke, also of Rosmuc. Around 1978, Val installed a 13-horsepower Lister inboard engine to tow climíns of seaweed to the Arramara Seaweed Factory in Kilkerrin, Carna.
A New
Sailing Life
In 1983, Páraic Hanniffy of Maree, Co. Galway, bought the boat from Páraic McDonnacha (Páidín Choilmín Jeaic Sheáin Dhomhnaill) of Doirín Glas, Leitir Móir. He renamed her Sorcha Mairéad after his two daughters. The engine was removed, and she was rigged for the first time as a Gleoiteog (gaff rig), competing in regattas like Cruinniú na mBád, often skippered by Cóilín Hernon.
Passed to
Sea Scouts
In 2009, Nicholas “Nicky” Dolan of Claddagh Quay, Galway City, bought Loveen. Following Nicky’s passing in 2011, his mother, Molly Dolan, kindly donated the boat to the Port of Galway Sea Scouts. Although sailed several times by Ciaran Oliver and the Sea Scouts, Loveen needed significant restoration and was later stored while focus was spent on finding funds and building up a network of traditional boat building skills and knowledge .
Rebuilt by
A Community
In 2019, funding from FLAG/BIM through the Galway Hooker 2020 project enabled complete restoration of Loveen. The Hernon family led the rebuild with support from over 100 volunteers of the Galway Hooker Sailing Club. After two years of dedicated work, Loveen was relaunched in September 2021 and now proudly serves as a sail training vessel for the Port of Galway Sea Scouts, the Galway Hooker Sailing Club and the wider community.