Galway Hooker

The Galway hooker (Irish bad mor and related types) is a traditional wooden sailing workboat of Galway Bay and Connemara on Ireland’s west coast, distinguished by a black tarred hull, a single mast, and a gaff-rigged mainsail with two foresails. Built to carry turf, livestock, and goods across the bay, the type largely fell out of working use by the mid-20th century but survives through restoration and regatta racing. Classes include the leath bhad and the smaller gleoiteog. The hooker is an emblem of Connemara maritime heritage.