Boat builder’s last wish fulfilled for final voyage

A LEGENDARY boat builder’s dying wish was fulfilled when he was carried to his final resting place on the last boat he completed.

Lifeboat men formed a guard of honour and accompanied the remains of George Bushe, as his coffin was carried on board the Cánóg to St Patrick’s Cemetery in Crosshaven, Co Cork, at the weekend.

Mr Bushe, who died last Wednesday, aged 89, built the Cánóg from two-by-one white deal he bought in a hardware shop in Carrigaline in 1996.

“He said it would last as many days and nights as any other he built — and it’s still going strong,” his youngest son Mark said.

“There could be chairs inside the house broken but his boats would be perfect.

“He was a great character and there was a fierce celebration of his life at the weekend.”

Despite ailing eyesight, George raced Cánóg competitively until 2006, when he was 85.

George Bushe was born in Baltimore, Co Cork, and grew up on the family farm.

He began his career with his father who built small traditional punts.

He served his time at Skinner’s Boatyard before moving to work in a boatyard in Ringaskiddy with the late Jack O’Driscoll.

He then moved to Southcoast Boatyard in Rochestown where he worked during the late 60s and throughout the 70s.

He built several legendary racing boats for some of Cork’s best-known sailing families, including developer Clayton Love, and former Government minister, the late Hugh Coveney.

Among his best-known vessels are Irish Mist for Archie O’Leary, Golden Apple for Mr Coveney, and Midnight Sun, a stunning striped vessel which features on calendars and jigsaw puzzles.

He also built Silver Shamrock which won the World Half Tonne Cup with Harold Cudmore, and his eldest son Killian Bushe on board, and several cruising boats.

After his semi-retirement in the mid 1970s, George worked at the Royal Cork Yacht Club (RCYC) and was the Officer of the Day for the first Cork Week regatta.

He restored boats during the winter months and holidayed around the west Cork islands.

He is survived by his wife Carmel, and their children, Killian, a renowned boat-builder, Bernice, Fergus, Majella, a sail maker, and Mark, a shipwright.

“My dad left me all his moulds and drawings for the traditional West Cork sailing punt and I hope to start building one soon in his memory,” he said.