UNESCO path opens for Galway Hooker as heritage status application sits with Department of Culture
The Galway Hooker boat may just be on its way to UNESCO recognition as an application waits in the hands of the Department of Culture.
A spokesperson from the Department has confirmed to the Irish Independent that an application was submitted seeking to add the Hooker to the UNESCO Representative List as an Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) element. That would then open the pathway for proper UNESCO consideration.
“Practices and living cultural heritage elements inscribed on Ireland’s National Inventory can seek nomination by the State for inscription on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, to which the State is entitled to make one nomination every year,” the spokesperson explained.
However, the Expert Advisory Committee (EAC), the group who reviews those applications, requested further information before making its recommendation to the culture minister.
The EAC is made up of Ireland’s Arts Council, Heritage Council and local government heritage offices, as well as academia, ICH practitioners and representatives from expert bodies.
As it stands now, the updated application has not been resubmitted and therefore no recommendation has been made to the Department.
Five elements of Irish heritage have been successfully inscribed in the last ten years.
They are Ullieann Piping in 2017, hurling in 2018, Irish harping in 2019, falconry in 2020, and dry-stone construction in 2024.
“Intangible cultural heritage refers to the practices, expressions, knowledge and skills that communities and groups recognise as part of their cultural heritage,” passed between generations.
The Irish Independent recently sat down with Galway Hooker Sailing Club captain, Ciaran Oliver, to discuss the culturally relevant values, and beloved status, the Galway Hooker has in the city making it a prime intangible cultural heritage (ICH) tradition.
While the verdict is still out on the applications progress, Mr Oliver told the Irish Independent that if it’s community “buy-in” UNESCO is looking for, the Hooker has it.
“I think with most of these people that have joined or come through our doors over the last five or six years, they found love in Galway, they fell in love with Galway, they stopped off for a holiday, and the ‘graveyard of ambition’ caught them,” Mr Oliver added.
“The hookers are the symbol - they’re on hats, they’re on t-shirts. When you’re driving out to Connemara, and any road leaving the city, they have all this metal signage and there’s a hooker symbol cut out of it.”