Do you have your own piece of news to share with the community? Perhaps a review of a recent event? Do you have a coracle for sale, or want to share a notice with fellow members? Send it to us via Contribute and it could feature here or in the Journal
Click any headline to view the full story
On 16th December 2013, one of the greatest coraclemen of his generation died. Raymond’s family have, for over two hundred years, practised the art and skill of making coracles and using them on the river Twyi with consummate skill. This fact was recognised by the granting of an MBE to Raymond by the Queen in 2011 for his services to the coracle heritage and inshore fishing in Wales, which replicates many years earlier that of a BEM to his grandfather for similar services.
It is with great sadness that The Coracle Society announces the passing of Raymond Rees MBE, aged 79. Our thoughts are with his son and daughter-in-law, Malcolm and Julie, and the rest of the Rees family at this time.
Raymond was one of his generation's most well known coraclemakers, playing a key part in preserving coracle heritage in Wales. He was awarded an MBE for services to coracle heritage in 2011.
Having just completed the build and launch of our currach, we attended a heritage skills seminar in Durham and were introduced to Dr. Keith Bartlett, director of the Lindisfarne Gospels Exhibition, which was to be open for three months during the summer of 2013 at Palace Green next to Durham cathedral.
Video footage from this year's Ironbridge Regatta
Dave Purvis and Ian Welford were filmed by WoodlandsTV at the 2013 Wild About Wood event talking about how coracles are made, how you get about in them and more. You can view the film below
Following on from two recent coracle builds by Dave Purvis and Chris Morgan, Barney O’Kane and his colleagues at the Down to Earth Project in Swansea, which caters for pupils with special needs and learning difficulties, decided it would be appropriate if they added two traditional Welsh coracles to their ever growing collection, for use on their many river expeditions during the year.
For the first time, the Coracle Society was invited to organise a coracle build during the annual Islay Festival of the Sea during the weekend of 3rd-4th August 2013.
The appeal was launched over a year ago in an effort to raise £5000 to be used as matched funding for a Heritage Lottery bid, which would be used to rescue two iconic coraclemakers workshops before they deteriorated and disappeared into oblivion - namely those of the late Eustace Rogers at Ironbridge, and the late John Christmas Thomas in Cenarth, the home of the National Coracle Centre.
Unlike last year we had sunshine and a bit of wind. The lavender ice cream man was back, as well as the regulars from the River Stour Trust who run and organise the event. We had a good selection of different craft on show. There was Dick's Teifi replica with ally lathes and green tarpaulin cover and also his new one, which is a Towy replica, using more traditional construction.
The Carmathen Coracle and Netsmens Association were delighted to welcome Society members Brian and Jane Pearce to the River Towy. Joe Woodhead won the Novice trophy, donated to the Camarthen River Festival by the Society.
Article below by Carmarthen Journal
The annual event on the quayside was this year run by Carmarthen Boat Club, Gwendraeth Valley Paddlers and Carmarthen Coracle and Netsmen Association.
17 September 2019
Our 2019 Annual General Meeting will take place on Saturday 19th October. For more information and to RSVP please visit this page
20 July 2019
Press release from the Carmarthen Coracle and Netsmen's Association - 17 July 2019
In January this year, an inquiry was held on behalf of the Welsh Government to examine the All Wales Salmon and Sea Trout Byelaws.
13 July 2019
Jeremy and I left Insh very early taking with us two of our new fiberglass coracles, the Teifi and an Ironbridge, in our newly adapted trailer. The trailer is too narrow to carry them flat and the shape of the Teifi required extra padding to protect the side as it cannot rest on the gunwhale.
02 June 2019
Article from The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News - December 1937.
Copyright Illustrated London News Group
This course does not include introductory membership to The Coracle Society
Build your own coracle or currach of your choice of design under the expert guidance of Mick Petts, landscape sculptor during a 3-day course. Location on mountainside with lovely views over Usk Valley.
Our AGM will be held at the Green Wood Centre, Coalbrookdale, Ironbridge
For more information please see our Annual General Meeting page
Login | Privacy, Terms & Safety | Contact us | Contribute
E&OE. Unless otherwise stated, all content on this site is Copyright © 1990 - 2019 The Coracle Society and contributors
