Pirate wreck focus for Baltimore Wooden Boat Festival

The colourful tale of what is believed to be a 17th century ship, stolen by a notorious pirate, wrecked in a storm, and now lying beneath the seabed off West Cork, is a highlight of the 13th Baltimore Wooden Boat Festival.

Research funding is being sought to enable further investigation of the mysterious vessel.

The weekend festival, which begins on May 23 in conjunction with the Baltimore Seafood Festival, will kick off with a lecture on the 17th century vessel which now lies in a uniquely preserved state beneath the seabed in the Long Island channel off the village of Schull. The vessel is complete with a cargo of coconuts bearing the planter’s stamp.