Continuing a Tradition: Aran Currach Experience
Starting only this year, owners Tomás Sharry and Máirtín Seoighe decided to share the spirit of the Aran Islands with visitors by opening up the Aran Currach Experience on Inis Oírr. With prices starting at €25, visitors can help build a currach, stone walls, potato ridge, tour the Lock Mór and even take a currach for a spin.
The Galway Now team were able to give the experience a try, and we can confirm it’s magical.
Jump into the workshop
Photography by Nathalie Marquez Courtney
So many tourist experiences fall short when it comes to connecting visitors with the true heritage and history of an area, but not so with the Aran Currach Experience on Inis Oírr.
Starting this summer, you can now step into a living piece of island history with a traditional hands-on currach building workshop. “As two islanders who grew up with these boats, we want people to experience something real. This isn’t a performance – it’s our everyday heritage,” says Tomás.
Before the building begins, visitors will be given a glimpse into the story of the currach and those who depended on it with a mini museum right inside the workshop.
Traditional tools, photographs and artifacts have been donated by islanders for visitors to get a better understanding of the currach with.
“Each item has its own story, and many are connected to families who still live on the island today…[currachs] weren’t simply boats, they were survival and everyday life on Inis Oírr,” explains Tomás.
Taking to the water
Photography by Nathalie Marquez Courtney
After spending time in the workshop, it’s time to hit the lake, which, up until now, has not been accessible to tourists.
In licensed currachs, visitors will be taken out to the water and get a chance to take the oars and soak up the beautiful Aran Island scenery and wildlife (we spotted a cluster of adorable baby ducks on our trip), all while Tomás or Máirtín explain the history of the island and share their tips.
More than just a boat
Tomás and Máirtín started the Aran Currach Experience to continue a tradition that has been passed down through generations.
“From a young age, we were rowing currachs with our fathers, just as they had with their fathers before them. Growing up here, the currach wasn't something you learned about- it was simply part of life,” Tomás said.
Máirtín is one of the last traditional currach builders on Inis Oírr. With this responsibility in mind, he wanted to create something that would persevere the stories, values and way of life, not just the actual craft itself: “Our hope is that visitors leave understanding that the currach is more than a boat – it's a symbol of resilience, ingenuity and community spirit that has sustained island life for centuries.”
This is only the beginning
The community and visitor response and encouragement to the experience has been overwhelmingly supportive.
“Many arrive expecting to learn about a boat, but they leave feeling connected to the people, the history and the culture behind it. Seeing that appreciation makes all the work worthwhile,” Tomás said.
Looking to the future, Tomás and Máirtín hope to make sure the tradition survives. They want to continue welcoming visitors from all over the world and younger people to ensure the skills can continue to be learned and valued.
“If years from now someone else is building and rowing currachs because of what they’ve learned here, we’ll know we’ve achieved what we set out to do.”
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