A yawl (the traditional working boat of Achill), which was built recently as part of a boat-building training scheme, began its journey to Boston in the United States yesterday.
The craft has been purchased by an importer of antiques, Mr Charlie Mullaney, who has west of Ireland roots. It was loaded into a container at Mulranny Industrial Estate yesterday to be transferred to Amsterdam, from where it will be shipped to Boston.
The 26-foot-long boat, made of oak and larch, was constructed with the assistance of FÁS as part of a campaign to revive the craft, which was to Achill Island what the Galway hooker is to the Aran Islands.
The yawl fell into disuse during the past 20 years and there were only three in existence when a group of local people, under the direction of Independent TD Dr Jerry Cowley, began a campaign to promote the building of new yawls and arranged a racing competition for them. The number of yawls has now risen to 25 and the racing event has become a tourist attraction on Achill.
"The boat was the main mode of conveyance for Achill islanders for more than a century and was used to transport goods, building materials and turf to and from the island," Dr Cowley explained.
The yawl bound for Boston was constructed by boat-builders Marty Eoin Patten and Black Marty McGinty, both from Saula in Achill, and trainee boatbuilder Michael Sweeney, from Polranny.
"It is wonderful to be exporting yawls rather than people. The yawl will be a showpiece in America," Dr Cowley said.