The Boyne currach is a vessel, which enables individuals to actively pursue their personal interests upon the river and the environment, which surrounds them. For many, it is simply to slowly saunter around the bends and curves of the river valley while having a bit of fun on the way. For others, it is also a physical link with the past and 5,000 years of history on the river, which up until recently was the highway for countless waves of cultures to come and settle on its fertile soil, each leaving behind a distinctive landmark or monument with which currah folk were involved, by procuring building materials and the harvesting of fish. 

The Boyne Currach Heritage Group was established in1997, and since then there has always been a debate, which surrounded the concept of the existence of a Newgrange currach. The unanswered question, over how so many thousands of glistening white sun stones (quartz) were transported from Co. Wicklow to the Boyne valley in Co. Meath and the more recent theory, that the curb stones, which surround the same passage tomb also came by currach, but not within. Instead, they were strapped to the outer floor and floated upriver with the ebbing tide to Brú na Bóinne, as depicted in Dr.Geraldine Stout's book, "Newgrange". 

            

 

 Over the years extended versions of the woven Boyne currach have grown from 6ft to 15 ft to 26 ft to now 36ft and has progressed from river use to the estuary, and now the sea. The 26ft craft (Boann) used 10 cowhides and was used in the documentary called the Blood of the Irish, which set out the evidence that the Irish originally come from the Bay of Biscay in Spain. The 36ft (An Cú Gla) presently being constructed will use 30 cow skins with the wish of reenacting this crossing Between Europe and Ireland.  With 7 benches it is a 15-man currach that should weigh two and a half tones and hold two sails. Few references are given to such a craft through history but one in particular allocates 30 men to two seven benchers for expeditions as part of the communities tribute toward their king.

This is refered to in the book The Picts and the Scots At War, by Nick Aitchison. Quote: "The 'Senchus fer nAlban' records that the unit of assesment in each of the three cenél of Dál Riata was the house (tech) and that every group of twenty houses was obliged to provide 'two seven-benchers' (da shecht-sess). This obligation is directly related to the number of oarsmen required to crew a ship, which is why the Senchus specifies the size of the vessels concerned in this manner. With a minimum of 15 men crewing a 7-bencher, 14 oarsmen (2 to a bench) and 1 steersman, each group of 20 houses was required to provide at least 30 men for naval service". Local folklore surrounding the Boyne currach attracts equal attention, as the relatives and extended families of the same currach folk continue to live in the local community. Archival material such as photos continues to be found almost yearly. Lost film footage from the 34mm copy made from an original production still evades us while were hopeful that more photos will appear now that the archive of the Royal Irish Antiquities is being revamped. 

In the future the Boyne currach could play a roll in the much-needed conservation of the river and canal by reintroducing a new generation to the beauty of our river and for them to feel part of their greater community. The historical archives that continue to be found will play an important roll in attracting tourism to our community and county, while the success of the Newgrange currach can benefit all of the above by proving the link between our earliest ancestors and the currach we've come to love.