Corrib Clinker

"This is a Corrib Clinker boat. It was made by my father Michael John O'Sullivan in the 1960s for the Baer family from Switzerland. It featured on the front cover of Home & Garden 1975. This all wooden boat was made from larch oak and teak in the traditional form in my dad's old shed. It was made without plans and had over 1000 copper nails which had to be capped and riveted. The oak ribs were boiled in an old cast-iron downpipe to make them pliable for a few moments when they were fitted and moulded into the boat to give it strength. They were bored with a drill bit made from a bicycle-spoke shaped to the exact bore for the copper nails to be tight. These boats are no longer made as all boats are now in fibreglass. Dad's two boats from this era (1960s) have been returned to me by the Baer family. I am currently trying to restore one. The other one can be gifted to the museum along with original oars which are also a work of art - made from a single piece of wood with an oak rowlock (I also have one completed oar and one half-completed one which he was working on before he died 16 years ago). With the boat there is also an old split cane rod and a wooden reel. All items show signs of usage but the boat and other items are in storage under cover but I would be delighted to part with them to the museum - we will not see the like of these again as they demand too much care and attention for today's fishermen (people) and would not travel as well as the fibreglass boats which are today's favourite for this reason also."