A Dream Set Sail in Carrigaholt

On Saturday, October 13th 2024, beneath a sky that seemed to nod its approval, the boat finally touched water for real.

Launched from the slipway of the beautiful village of Carrigaholt, it was more than just a vessel setting off—it was a dream made tangible.

The moment was electric, filled with emotions that ran deep: the sheer joy of accomplishment, the almost surreal realisation that what was once an idea was now floating before our eyes, and the overwhelming sense that this was never just one person’s dream—it had become a shared purpose, a collective triumph. 

None of it would have been possible without the hands, hearts, and minds that made it happen. Breda O’Driscoll from Limerick and Clare ETB, whose belief and support were instrumental. Steve Morris, Shipwright, who poured his skill and soul into every plank and joint. And, of course, the people of Carrigaholt, whose spirit of community turned ambition into reality. 

Borrowing that phrase from the film Field of Dreams, “If you build it, they will come”, this adventure has proven something even greater—if you so much as dream of building it, the right people will emerge, drawn to the vision, ready to bring it to life. 

And so, as the boat slipped into the water for the first time, it carried with it more than its own weight—it carried a story of belief, of unity, and of the remarkable power of human collaboration.