Leisure
Trá an Dóilín, Carraroe.
By Brían Hoban
6, Aug 2012 - 10:59

Galway Hookers are a distinctive form of native Irish boat, and Carraroe is today probably the single most important centre for these boats. Every August bank holiday, Carraroe hosts Féile an Dóilín, the largest Galway hooker festival in Ireland, and one of the largest maritime festivals in the country.

The view from Trá an Dóilín, Carraroe with Galway Hookers racing in background.

Trá an Dóilín, a blue flag beach near the village of Carraroe, is noted for its very fine "coral". Contrary to the English name (Coral Strand), the beach is actually made of coralline algae known as maerl. This biogenic gravel beach is rare and of great conservation importance.