The 2024 poster is by local artist and photographer Thomas Quinn, and depicts An Mhaighdean Mhara, a legendary south Connemara hooker, from An Cheathrú Rua, arriving in to Kinvara quay
(Mhaighdean Mhara translates as mermaid, or selkie)
Copies are available for purchase in Burke’s Eurospar and other venues for €15
(and at the Farmers Market on Friday)
An Mhaighdean Mhara belongs to Clann Johnny Jimmy Pheaitín, known colloquially as “Na Jimmys”
See them in their element below
It was built in a field in Cuileán, An Cheathrú Rua around 1852 by Pádraigín Mhicil Rua Mac Donnacha. Pádraigín was an uncle of Peaitsín John, Máirtín John and Mike John, all of whom worked aboard. She then passed on to Jimmy Pheaitsín John and then to his son Johnny Jimmy na nOileán in 1944.
An Maighdean Mhara was the last of the Galway Hookers to carry cargo when she took a load of turf to the Aran islands in 1973.