Hooks and Crookes
Hooks and Crookes are shantymen based in Waterford in the southeast of Ireland. Our name comes from the Cromwellian saying, 'of getting there by Hook or by Crooke'. Hook and Crooke are the name of the headlands on either side of Waterford Harbour.
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Maritime Matters
2024
Cape Clear, west Cork, 23–26 August 2024
Five of us (Olly, Tim, Shay, Joe and Dec) gathered in Baltimore on Friday afternoon where we had a pint or two and sang a few songs to the receptive audience. We got the 5pm ferry to Cape, though the crossing was lumpy enough because of the strong breeze. Mary O’Driscoll collected us and brought us to our accommodation where we were joined by Peter Prendergast, the Project Coordinator of the Creative Places of the West Cork Islands, an initiative of Cork County Council. We devoured the chicken casserole that Mary had prepared for us and after that feed we adjourned to Cotters Bar for the night’s entertainment. Peter joined us on Barret’s Privateers, and he also gave a fine rendition of The Lakes of Pontchartrain later on in the night. Kevin also sang a few songs (he knows a lot of shanties). We went back to the house and had a few drams of Tullamore Dew that Timmy brought from Waterford.
After a hearty breakfast on Saturday morning, we strolled around and also listened to St Fachtna’s Silver Band, over from Skibbereen on their annual visit. We sang 11 songs in four separate sets at the church concert at 3:30. Between our sets Margaret recited a few poems (she finished off with a tribute to Nell McCafferty who had died during the week), Kevin sang two songs and there was one further contribution (two songs). As ever it is a beautiful venue in which to sing, and the event was enjoyed by all present.
After food in Cotter’s that night we sang away for the evening, both shanties and ballads. A group of lively rugby lads from Clonakilty sang a few songs too and Kevin added a few more.
We had breakfast in Mary’s house at 11am on Sunday with Margaret, Kevin and Bridie and Ciarán. We all went down to a demonstration of a Gug digester, after which we went to south harbour for a stroll in good sunshine (we were blessed with the weather all weekend). We went down to the graveyard near the harbour at around 2:30pm where Father Des said mass at 3pm. During the mass we sang Ag Chríost an tSíol and Ár nAthair, Home from the Sea and The Farewell Shanty. Two of the crew (Dec, Olly) went for an invigorating swim after mass (the water was cool!). We had dinner in Cotter’s at 8pm and we sang away then for the evening. Danny arrived too and he sang several songs (Caledonia, House of the Rising Sun, Flower of Scotland, Rose of Allendale etc) and Kevin added a few more.
It was an early start on Monday as we got the 9am ferry to Baltimore. After breakfast in Casey’s Hotel, we departed for Waterford. Another wonderful weekend was had and enjoyed, our tenth annual visit to Cape. Where does the time go?
But what a place......a special place, no doubt. And many thanks to Mary and Ciarán for inviting us and for their hospitality over the weekend.
Internationales Festival Maritim, Sea Music Festival, Bremen-Vegesack, 2–4 August 2024
We left Dublin Airport on Thursday (1st August) for a flight to Hamburg and arrived by train and taxi in Vegesack in plenty time to have something to eat and to perform at the Church Concert at 7pm. What a lovely venue in which to sing. We, and the other groups, sang three songs each and it really was a wonderful night of music and song. The official opening of the Festival was at 19:00 and we performed at 19:45 on the Festival Café stage. We had two street performances on Saturday followed by a stage performance at 19:30, again on the Festival Café stage. We were recorded and interviewed by a Bremen TV station, which was later broadcast to the nation. The weather all day was superb but the forecast was for a thunderstorm and rain, which duly arrived an hour or so later. By Sunday the rain had cleared, and we had two more stage performances, at 12:00 and 19:00. The Shanty Slam followed with several groups singing two songs each (we sang Molly Malone and Song for Ireland). The last group to perform were Los Paddys and they included two Irish dancers lit up as swans and that performance was magical in the fading light. Then all groups gathered on the main stage and finished off with Leave her Johnny, The Leaving of Liverpool and Roseanna, which the large audience really enjoyed. To finish off, a spectacular fireworks display lit up the skies over the Wesser River just off the main stage. What a festival, full of music, song and dance and we were delighted to meet up with old friends and new.
Many thanks to Fritz, Jorn and Lars for inviting us and for treating us so well over this fantastic weekend. We also have to thank Jutta and her colleagues for the superb food, washed down with Beck's, the local speciality (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic). Wonderful.
Bhí sé ar fheabhas ar fad
Roundstone Regatta, Galway. 20–21 July
The annual gathering of the Galway Hookers took place in late July in the pretty village of Roundstone. The weather was great on the Saturday and the Connemara mountains were a fine backdrop as the boats moved around in the waters offshore. Good crowds around too. The weather took a turn for the worse on the Sunday, with low cloud, mildering rain and mist. Not nice for the currach races, but they went ahead anyway to much fanfare. A pity there very few around to see them. Despite all that it was a great day, plenty Guinness was drunk amid all the traditional music and chat. A wonderful occasion, in mighty surroundings graced with high mountains, blue seas and plenty of banter.
Wild Atlantic Shanty Festival, Rosses Point, Sligo. 21–23 June
It was Friday Morn (as the song goes) when half the crew left Waterford railway station early on our way via Dublin to the Wild Atlantic Shanty Festival in Rosses Point in Sligo. We arrived at 4.30pm where we were met by Kieran (Joe’s son) who drove us to our weekend accommodation. Our landlady kindly drove us to Austies Bar for the launch of the festival and where we were well fed and watered. It was great too to meet up with other groups most of whom we had not seen since last year’s festival. Then we headed to Harry’s Bar where we were the opening act on the night at 9pm. A super performance on the night was well received: we sang two songs each and one common song and after a couple of pints later we adjourned to the cot, weary after a long day travelling.
After breakfast in the Radisson Hotel on Saturday morning, we were brought on a grand tour of Sligo by Kieran where we took in all the tourist spots (it’s amazing what you can do with a person who knows the area). We were back in time for an afternoon performance in Harry’s at 5pm. We were the last act to perform, and the place was jam packed so we sang a dozen songs to much applause. After dinner we met with Medbh Gillard who allowed us to use her house as a store for the weekend for which we are very grateful. The night-time performance was in Austies to a very appreciative audience; eight songs later we were able to relax over a few well-earned drinks.
On Sunday morning Medbh collected Shay and Pat and brought us to the sailor’s mass, where some evocative songs and hymns were sung, and afterwards to the blessing of boats in the harbour. The afternoon performance in Austies took place in glorious sunshine and Joe launched his balloon song which was very well received. After another eight songs it was back to Harry’s for the closing ceremony and a great sing song.
Then on Monday the weary crew made the return trip to home port.
A special thanks to Hugh O'Neill for inviting us and for all his help over the weekend and all the other wonderful people we met, chatted to and sang with over the few days
more details on 2023 performances.....
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