My life with Eoin Reardon: I built a currach during covid using only hand tools

The Cork craftsman built his first currach during lockdown and is now inspiring a new generation to embrace traditional skills

TikTok woodworker and content creator, Eoin Reardon, who has been named as this year's National Heritage Week Ambassador.

In hindsight, I probably should have kept away given the condition of the seas that day. But after much hard graft, the currach I had devoted months to constructing was finally complete and I was determined to try it out.

Willing something into existence with your hands and watching it function in the real world is an amazing feeling. Lo and behold, she floated.

My family came along to support me as I took to the rough seas in Garretstown. It was both thrilling and completely terrifying at the same time. However, my experience paled in comparison to those of my ancestors. Back then, people thought nothing of braving the high seas for everyday tasks such as catching fish and transporting turf. Knowing that this was happening off the coast of the island we live in only reinforced my fascination with currachs. These traditional Irish boats, with their narrow wooden frame of ribs, have captivated me since my school days. Not many 20-year-olds will tell you they built a currach during covid but my interest dates back even further than that.

Funnily enough — as much as I had wanted to — I never studied woodworking in primary school. My mother had advised me at the time to do business. Parents want what’s best for their kids and she felt I would be wasting my time with woodworking. Ironically, it was in computer studies that I really developed a love for these boats.

I often lost myself down this rabbit hole as I persevered to find out as much about them online as possible. I had no experience or any tools so I took to reading books and talking to older people.

I had been pestering my grandfather for his tools for ages when he finally told me I could take them away. I was like a toddler with a walker who was finally able to use their legs. There was no stopping me.

My first currach was built during the pandemic. I had just turned 20 and was excited to get stuck in.

My workshop was far from fancy. I only had traditional hand tools. They were using the same ones on the Aran islands 100 years ago. I had the same tools as our ancestors but with internet access and all the modern conveniences.

I started off by building the frame of the boat or the gunnels. Then I built the ribs which shaped the hull, and the slats that run the full length of the hull. At this stage it starts to look like the skeleton of the boat. All that’s left to do is stretch the canvas over it, the same stuff they used for bedsheets and paint each side of that canvas with Bitumen which is also used to pave roads.

I realised quite quickly, especially after I started sharing the likes of the currach build on TikTok, the huge interest from the general population for traditional woodworking.

Eoin Reardon out on his self-built currach

I’m not sure exactly what it is but I think people crave this connection to the past. So many of us lament the loss of these skills, crafts and trades. I wasn’t expecting the reaction, but I’m certainly very glad of it. This year, I felt privileged to be chosen as the official ambassador for National Heritage Week Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity. Christopher O’Sullivan TD, recently visited my workshop in Crossbarry in Cork to promote the initiative and learn about my efforts to introduce traditional craftsmanship to a new generation.

Naturally, there are far more efficient and practical designs from contemporary boat builders. However, it would be a shame to turn our backs on our heritage.

This traditional craftsmanship can be seen in other items I have made including shillelaghs which are basically black thorn sticks. I come along in Winter when the sap is low and the leaves are down. I then cut a stick that I think would make a good walking stick and leave it dry for two years before sanding and shaping it. The finishing touch is a little bit of brass at the end for protection. The Americans go weak for these walking sticks, but many Irish associate them with poverty or paddywhackery. There was a time when the Irish used them as weapons. They escaped detection from authorities by presenting them as walking sticks. Oftentimes, when I do have a shillelagh in public, people will share memories of seeing their grandfather with one.

We have a tremendous tradition of folk furniture here in Ireland such as sugan chairs and settle beds. These are distinctly Irish but sadly many people lack an appreciation for these pieces of furniture. Instead, we import furniture made on the other side of the world, only to throw it out after a few years when it goes out of fashion. The furniture passed down through generations was built to last, and built to be repaired.

• National Heritage Week takes place from August 15 until August 23. Organised by The Heritage Council, it includes thousands of events hosted by local communities, museums, and enthusiasts to promote an appreciation of craftsmanship. Follow Eoin Reardon on TikTok @pintofplane