We’ve been picking up a lot of trash during this pandemic and wanted to be able to reach trash in the middle of a nearby swale. One of our friends suggested we could get it if we had a round boat. You know a coracle, something I’ve only encountered in books till now. Using YouTube and the Coracle Society directions I was able to construct my first coracle.
I’ve wanted to paddle a coracle for many years. My wife promised me a coracle building course for my 70th birthday but by the time it came to book, she had become too ill to leave for a weekend. Lockdown provided an opportunity to fulfil that ambition.
One of our US members, Walt Peebles, exhibited coracles and curraghs at this year's Quiet Adventures Symposium, held at Michigan State University near Detroit back in February, before the coronavirus started to take effect in the western hemisphere. We hope to receive a report from him in due course, but some initial feedback from Walt was that the event went well and he was kept busy chatting to visitors.
Well, what a year it has been and we are only 4 months in to it!
We are all concerned about Covid-19 and when we will be able to get out safely on the water again with our friends. We have forgotten what life was like during the February floods.
Carmarthen Coracle and Netsmen’s Association have recently published an educational booklet on the Carmarthen Coracle.
We have been working with retired teacher and local story teller, Mr Andy Edwards and with the backing of the Heritage Lottery Fund, we have been able to preserve and record the old stories of the River Towy.
Following the change to the fishing by-laws, this year's coracle season for the Towy will commence on the 1st May (usually 1st March).
As we are classed as a commercial fishery, we are still permitted to fish but will obviously be practicing the self distancing guidelines (which is no problem when you’re on a big river!).
Carmarthen Coracle and Netsmen’s Association were lucky enough to receive grant funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund for a Coracle Story Telling Project. We have been working with retired teacher, Mr Andy Edwards, in recording the old stories from the older generation of coracle men so they are preserved and used to educate.
Our season at the Museum ended on 15 August 2019. During that time we had one thousand, one hundred and five people afloat on the millpond. We introduce them to coracles in a gentle and unhurried way, explaining as best we can about the uses and building methods around the world. We tend to focus on Welsh coracles and of course our own Spey coracle.
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.
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.
Article from The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News - December 1937.
Copyright Illustrated London News Group
Malcolm and Julie Rees were proud to receive "recognition for their outstanding services to Carmarthen Coracle and Netsmen's Association" from retiring Carmarthen town Mayor, Cllr Emlyn Schiavone at a recent ceremony in the Guildhall, Carmarthen.