Documenting Ireland's last surviving traditional wooden boatyard

A beautiful exhibition of photographs closed earlier this summer after several weeks on display at Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre in Skibbereen, Co. Cork. The exhibition Hegarty’s Boatyard: Last Surviving Traditional Wooden Boatyard in Ireland is the work of documentary photographer Kevin O’Farrell. Kevin was born in Kenya to Irish parents. While later living in the UK, he studied Art and Design and Documentary Photography. Kevin returned to live full-time in Ireland in 1980 and based himself in west Cork.

Paddy Hegarty cutting the port garboard rabbet line, with an adze, on the Saoirse. (2019). © Kevin O’Farrell. Image courtesy of Kevin O’Farrell.

The subject of Kevin’s exhibition is Hegarty’s boatyard, the last surviving traditional wooden boatyard in Ireland. The boatyard was established by Paddy Hegarty on the banks of the River Ilen in Oldcourt, west Cork shortly after the Second World War. The boatyard is today run by brothers Liam and John Hegarty. Paddy Hegarty’s grandson Paddy, is the third generation of the family to work at the family’s boatyard.

Paddy Hegarty. (2019). © Kevin O’Farrell. Image courtesy of Kevin O’Farrell.

Kevin’s relationship with Hegarty’s boatyard stretches back thirty years when boat building advice from Liam and John Hegarty turned into a friendship. By 1995, Kevin began to photograph the boatyard with uninterrupted access. Through his important work, Kevin has captured ‘a world that is fast disappearing – one where skills and traditions are passed down from one generation to the next, and beautifully hand-crafted boats are made with passion and integrity.’

Phil Jackson and Fachtna O’Sullivan caulking the port side of the AK Ilen. (2005). © Kevin O’Farrell. Image courtesy of Kevin O’Farrell.

Recording bevel angles at the frames to be transferred onto the new plank. Restoration of the AK Ilen. (2014). © Kevin O’Farrell. Image courtesy of Kevin O’Farrell.

Kevin’s photographs of the Hegarty’s boat restoration work have been produced in two publications, Hegarty’s Boatyard: Last Surviving Traditional Wooden Boatyard in Ireland (2019) and Hegarty’s Boatyard: Building Conor O’Brien’s Saoirse (2023). Cormac Levis, maritime historian and author, has provided introductory essays for both books.

Kevin O’Farrell has captured and preserved a beautiful and informative visual record of traditional wooden boat building and sailing in West Cork. His empathy with key custodians of this vibrant tradition is really apparent.                                                                                      Críostóir Mac Cárthaigh, Editor, Traditional Boats of Ireland.

Kevin’s photographs become more important each year as traditional wood working and boat building skills decline. It is important that as wide an audience as possible experiences Kevin’s work and I hope his exhibition Hegarty’s Boatyard: Last Surviving Traditional Wooden Boatyard in Ireland will make an appearance in our Museum in 2024.

Fitting the last port bulwark plank, on the Saoirse. (2019). © Kevin O’Farrell. Image courtesy of Kevin O’Farrell.

My sincere thanks to Kevin O’Farrell.

O’Farrell, Kevin, Hegarty’s Boatyard: Building Conor O’Brien’s Saoirse, Skibbereen, Co. Cork: Ilen River Press, 2023.

O’Farrell, Kevin, Hegarty’s Boatyard: Last Surviving Traditional Wooden Boatyard in Ireland, Skibbereen, Co. Cork: Ilen River Press, 2019.