Hi Tim, I realize after searching through your blog postings that you specialize in Native American and circumpolar Inuit archaeology-anthropology, but there is a question that I must present to you with regard to Irish currach (naomhog) boatbuilding-an ancient boatbuilding tradition that may have origins in Northern Europe or Central Asia, with some parallels to Dene mooshide canoes, Eastern Algonquian moose-skin canoes (mu'sewulkw), caribou-skin canoes (qalipu'lkw) and perhaps the Mandan bullboat. I have recently been in correspondence through e-mail with the Newgrange Currach Project-Boyne Currach Project (Tionscadail Currach Bru na Boinne...) (http://www.boynecurrach.com/newgrange-currach-project.html) about getting a spokesperson like Claidhgh O'Gibne, author of the internationally renown book "In the Shadows of Newgrange" to come to Newfoundland (Talamh an Eisc) to share his knowledge on currach building with the Newfoundland general public. Claidhgh O'Gibne has responded to this e-mail inquiry with an expression of interest in coming here to Talamh an Eiscto give a lecture or presentation. He was wondering if I knew of a contact person(s) who he could speak with to make such arrangements, As I don't really know anyone in the Rooms or MUN who could initiate or facilitate such a seminar or public speech, I though that you would be the ideal candidate given your social networking connections in the local area. It has always come to a mystery to me that neither Irish currach building nor Irish Gaelige language did not take root or survive here in rural NL, especially given the strong Irish migration to the Avalon peninsula, particularly the Southern Shore, or Irish Loop. I think that it would be fascinating and intriguing topic to revitalize this lost tradition here in NL, as well as some day reintroducing Irish Gaelic as optional courses in the public school curriculum to help pique public interest in revitalizing the lost language among NL communities with a strong Irish Catholic presence. I was hoping that you could reply with a response on the blog or perhaps e-mail Claidhgh O'Gibne with some tips or leads on contact information at either the Rooms or MUN who could assist and expedite this endeavour. Included below is a copy or extract of the e-mail response from him with his contact information [Dubhan Peice-query ending here]:
"Hi Dwayne thanks for your inquiry. The projects long term objective is to prove that Stone Age Europeans had sufficient maritime skills and experience to cross the open seas. The scope of the project is determined by the funding it receives from public bodies and private support. If you think that or fell that there is a financial programme that could fund such a project, please don't hesitate to forward any relevant information
The idea of travelling to Newfoundland land to promote our project sounds interesting, Do you have a contact name of someone who works within the Museum with whom I could liaise?
The boat has been tongued together using rawhide. It was deliberately chosen as a material to experiment with to see how long it could last before having to be renewed. All of the project is based around areas of which there is no concrete information remaining. Instead only fragments, that point us in hopefully the right direction. Tim Severn on his voyage to Newfoundland used flax to sew his craft of leather together, a luxury for which the passage tomb culture had not used.
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Hi Tim, I realize after searching through your blog postings that you specialize in Native American and circumpolar Inuit archaeology-anthropology, but there is a question that I must present to you with regard to Irish currach (naomhog) boatbuilding-an ancient boatbuilding tradition that may have origins in Northern Europe or Central Asia, with some parallels to Dene mooshide canoes, Eastern Algonquian moose-skin canoes (mu'sewulkw), caribou-skin canoes (qalipu'lkw) and perhaps the Mandan bullboat. I have recently been in correspondence through e-mail with the Newgrange Currach Project-Boyne Currach Project (Tionscadail Currach Bru na Boinne...) (http://www.boynecurrach.com/newgrange-currach-project.html) about getting a spokesperson like Claidhgh O'Gibne, author of the internationally renown book "In the Shadows of Newgrange" to come to Newfoundland (Talamh an Eisc) to share his knowledge on currach building with the Newfoundland general public. Claidhgh O'Gibne has responded to this e-mail inquiry with an expression of interest in coming here to Talamh an Eiscto give a lecture or presentation. He was wondering if I knew of a contact person(s) who he could speak with to make such arrangements, As I don't really know anyone in the Rooms or MUN who could initiate or facilitate such a seminar or public speech, I though that you would be the ideal candidate given your social networking connections in the local area. It has always come to a mystery to me that neither Irish currach building nor Irish Gaelige language did not take root or survive here in rural NL, especially given the strong Irish migration to the Avalon peninsula, particularly the Southern Shore, or Irish Loop. I think that it would be fascinating and intriguing topic to revitalize this lost tradition here in NL, as well as some day reintroducing Irish Gaelic as optional courses in the public school curriculum to help pique public interest in revitalizing the lost language among NL communities with a strong Irish Catholic presence. I was hoping that you could reply with a response on the blog or perhaps e-mail Claidhgh O'Gibne with some tips or leads on contact information at either the Rooms or MUN who could assist and expedite this endeavour. Included below is a copy or extract of the e-mail response from him with his contact information [Dubhan Peice-query ending here]:
ReplyDelete"Hi Dwayne thanks for your inquiry.
The projects long term objective is to prove that Stone Age Europeans had sufficient maritime skills and experience to cross the open seas. The scope of the project is determined by the funding it receives from public bodies and private support. If you think that or fell that there is a financial programme that could fund such a project, please don't hesitate to forward any relevant information
The idea of travelling to Newfoundland land to promote our project sounds interesting, Do you have a contact name of someone who works within the Museum with whom I could liaise?
The boat has been tongued together using rawhide. It was deliberately chosen as a material to experiment with to see how long it could last before having to be renewed. All of the project is based around areas of which there is no concrete information remaining. Instead only fragments, that point us in hopefully the right direction. Tim Severn on his voyage to Newfoundland used flax to sew his craft of leather together, a luxury for which the passage tomb culture had not used.
Slán agus go raibh maith agat
Claidhbh Ó Gibne"
Boyne Currach Heritage Group
Boyne Currach Centre
Dún Uabhair
Droichead Átha
Co. na Mí
www.boynecurrach.com