I knew the St Agnes well back in the 30s. She was black and moored off The Island facing SW to face the prevailing wind. All big boats in the harbour were so moored. In my time she was owned by Tom Power who lived opposite the Butcher's near the Post Office. She had no engine, just long sweeps to get in and out of the harbour. She was always kept beautifully.

In the summers Dr Haughton (from Dublin I think) used to charter her - together with Tom - to go fishing and she was a common sight out on the bay or up towards Creadan Head. The doctor used to wear an Aran sweater and a flat cap on top of his white hair.

Close alongside her - just a few feet away - was moored another boat about the same size but a different design (an Irish Sea Trawler I think). She had small side decks, unlike the St Agnes which had none. I was told that these sailing trawlers used to trawl down-wind with one warp from the stern of the boat and the other from about the middle of the boom, but adjustable via a block at the end of the boom, They could steer by moving this warp in and out along the boom.

This boat belonged to Sam Mitchell who lived near Tom, or, if not, he spent a lot of time with him chatting at Tom's front gate.

On regatta days they fixed a spar across between the two boats and this was used as the 'greasy pole'. My memory is that Davey Murphy who lived at the top of the Island Lane could not be beaten once he locked on to the pole.

Years later I recognised the St Agnes painted blue and white and with a wheelhouse amongst the salmon boats. You could not mistake her lines and her beam.

I am looking forward to seeing her after restoration.