Gallery

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St. Agnes in dunmore around 1910-1915

Being lifted from the dock in Dunmore in 2005 after she had sunk

On the quay in Cheekpoint, Co. Waterford, around 2000

Being lifted from the dock in Dunmore in 2005 after she had sunk

The hull, before she was cut back down to original sheer, which was much lower

Cutting down to original sheer

Deck and wheelhouse removed

Removing fiber glass from the hull to get at the timber

Cutting new sawn frames

Sheer decided on

Old planks removed, new battons around the boat to hold the original shape and to keep original frames in place until new ones are cut

New sheer

At original sheer

Priming new frames

New bow and transom in place, starting to plank

Thomas and Tony deciding on the shape of a frame

Planking just complete above the water line, original planking meets new

Making a steam box to steam the new steamed frames in

Steam box with gas cylinder attached. The gas cylinder is filled with water and a fire lit under it to produce steam. The steam is piped into the steam box where the oak frames are placed for 2 hours. The steam softens the oak and they are clamped into the boat . When they cool they hold the original shape

Steam box in operation

Planking complete above the waterline

Tommy Hannon having a cup of tea

Planking complete above the waterline

Planking just complete above the waterline, original planking meets new

Boat lifted up higher on her side to see what work needed to be done on her bottom, and remove damaged planking

Damaged planking removed

Thomas having a look up through her bottom

Primed new planking

Colette McGrath having a chat with the lads, more tea!

Tommy and Tony. They worked together on the building of the Dunbrody, and on the Thomas McDonagh. True shipwrights

Michael Tyrrell from Arklow about to start to record her lines

Michael in the process of recording lines

Aerial view

Thomas cutting douglas fir trees for mast and spars. The trees were cut in Walter Whitty's wood on the bank of the river just above Passage East in december 2006

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