Bringing boat building and rowing back to lough

Bringing boat building and rowing back to lough

29 January 2014

A BID is to be made to revive the ancient practices of boat building and coastal rowing in east Down. Anyone with an interest in boat-building has been invited to take on a New Year challenge launched by the Strangford Lough and Lecale Partnership (SLLP) with the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

The Down Community Coastal Rowing and Boatbuilding – Narrows Challenges promises participants the chance to take up a new activity, get fit, learn new skills and experience the deep pleasure of building a boat for the community.

As part of the scheme, eight St. Ayles skiffs, 22-foot traditionally styled wooden rowing boats, will be built at locations dotted along the coast from Donaghadee to Dundrum from January until the summer.

They will be based in eight communities but anyone can get involved.

This new community and tourism initiative has been approved by the Down Rural Area Partnership (DRAP) as part of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, which encourages investment in rural areas.

It is also supported by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Down and Ards councils.

SLLP manager Caroline Nolan said community coastal rowing was becoming increasingly popular with many classes of boats competing locally, regionally and internationally.

“The ultimate goal is to revive boat building and coastal rowing traditions in this area, involving as many people as possible, and culminating in annual “Narrows Challenge” races in the Narrows of Strangford Lough,” she said.

PSNI Superintendent Yvonne Davidson said they were also very keen to contribute to funding the initiative after seeing how similar coastal rowing projects in other areas have brought communities together, working towards a common goal and building good and lasting community relationships.

“Boat building engenders a real team spirit and camaraderie that can positively impact the lives of many people in our coastal communities,” she said.

“We look forward to seeing that spirit evidenced by the teams who will compete against each other next summer.”

Anyone over 11, with or without experience, is invited to get involved in the scheme and is asked to contact Gillian Armstrong at the Strangford Lough and Lecale Partnership to find out more.

Tel: 028 4272 8886 or 028 4272 9005 or email: Gillian.armstrong@strangfordlough.org