Currachs cruise from Cork to Venice

Never mind the gondolas, Venice has gone mad for currachs.

Irish rowing enthusiasts have made a huge splash after rowing currachs through the city’s famed canals as part of its world-renowned Vogalonga race.

Members of Naomhóga Chorcaí reckon they are the first people to ever row the naomhóg — a traditional four-man currach from west Kerry — from Venice’s Grand Canal into its lagoon and along the 32km route.

“We’re almost sure it’s the first time currachs were rowed through Venice,” said club secretary Shane Murphy. “They were very interested in our boats because most of them had never seen anything like them before.

“We have been talking about doing it for years but the logistics were complicated.

“But this year, we got great help from CAB Motors in Blackrock who gave us a 2-litre Ford Kuga to tow our trailer, which carries our three boats.”

The club’s three four-man currachs were built by Naomhóga Chorcaí’s sister club, Meitheal Mara.

More than 20 club members travelled to the city to take part in the 40th anniversary of Vogalonga.

The traditional boat-and-oar race began in response to an increase in the use of water taxis and ‘moto ondose’, or motorboats, on Venice’s canals.

The founders hoped the event would reclaim Venice’s canals for rowing, and rekindle and foster an interest and love of traditional oar-powered boats.

The event has grown over the years to a point where this year, some 2,100 boats — including dragon boats, kayaks, and gondolas — and some 8,000 participants competed.

Mr Murphy said the start of the race was spectacular. “It starts at the head of the Grand Canal, in St Mark’s Basin,” he said. “They had huge speakers blasting out what I think was a Verdi opera, and then they set off cannons. It couldn’t have been more Italian.”

The route takes rowers out around the island of St Helena before plying a route to the islands of Vignole, Sant’Erasmo, and San Francesco del Deserto.

Rowers then pass the islands of Burano and Mazzorbo before entering Murano Grand Canal, the Cannaregio Canal, the Grand Canal, and back to the Punta della Dogana in front of San Marco.