Pirate Discoveries at the Baltimore Wooden Boat Festival

The picturesque fishing village of Baltimore is the place to be this May. From the 23rd until the 25th May, the Baltimore Wooden Boat Festival takes place. This festival celebrates the best in traditional timber sailing boats of Ireland and aims to encourage a local interest in the traditional wooden working boats of the area, promote the revival in traditional boat building and develop a regular event that would forget links with lovers of wooden boats from other area and countries.

What makes this festival more exciting is the recent revelation that a 17th century ship, stolen by a notorious pirate, is now believed to be lying beneath the seabed off West Cork. This ship, which is the main feature of the festival is believed to have been wrecked in a storm and research is being sought to enable further investigation.
The weekend festival, which begins on May 23 in conjunction with the Baltimore Seafood Festival, will kick off with a lecture on the 17th century ship which now lies in a uniquely preserved state beneath the seabed in the Long Island channel off the village of Schull.

Bizarrely the vessel is believed to be complete with a cargo of coconuts bearing the planters stamp. The then well-known Dutch pirate Claus Campane, commandeered the ship just off Schull. Records now show Campane indeed captured a ship which later sank in 1625 in the Long Island Channel in 1625, a favoured haunt of pirates, at the time.

An illustrated talk by maritime archaeologist Julianna O’Donoghue on ‘The Recent Excavation of a 17th century Shipwreck in Schull’ will take place at 5.30pm in Dun na Sead Castle, Baltimore, on Friday week.

“You usually find the remains of a hull, but in this case it seems the entire ship has survived and is protected by the sediment – the entire shipwreck and its cargo is preserved under the seabed,” said Ms O’Donoghue, who carried out what she describes as “a limited excavation” on the vessel in 2012.

“It is unique to find a 17th-century shipwreck like this buried underneath the sea — the coconuts on board even still have the planter’s stamp,” said Ms O’Donoghue.
The Wooden Boat Festival, which will feature vessels from mackerel yawls and lobster boats, brings a variety of competitions including a rowing boat race along the river Ilen, a dinghy race, a pilot race, a build-a-boat competition. This great festival finishes on Sunday the 25th May with a with a magnificent Parade of Sail.

For hotels near Baltimore given the short fifteen minute drive from Skibbereen to Baltimore, the West Cork Hotel is the ideal choice for exploring the vast array of things to do in Skibbereen and West Cork. This West Cork accommodation is the perfect proximity to enjoy the festivities at the Baltimore Wooden Boat Festival as well as a host of activities in the area from angling to kayaking and surfing.

Exploring the nearby islands, such as Cape Clear, Sherkin and Heir Islands are also a great addition to a weekend in West Cork and not only is this B&B in Skibbereen situated a short distance from Baltimore, for hotels near Schull, the hotel is situated a mere twenty minute drive.