Topaz
History, Folklore and Construction
Traditional Boats of Ireland Book
History, Folklore and Construction
Read reviews/press release & see inside
- Recorded Boats
- 12ft punt
- A. K. Ilen
- Aigh Vie - Manx Nobby
- Curach Adhmaid
- Currach - Blasket Island
- Currach - Inisheer Island
- Currach - Inishturk Island
- Currach - Inishkea Island
- Currach - Scattery Island
- Drontheim
- Fishing Smack - Richard Hall
- Free State
- Galway hooker
- Galway Hooker - Gleoiteog
- Hanorah - Heir Island lobster Boat
- Kerry Naomhóg
- Kinsale Hooker
- Lake Angling Boat - Lough Corrib
- Lough Erne YC - Model 1
- Lough Erne YC - Model 2
- Lough Erne YC - Model 3
- Lough Erne YC - Model 4
- Lough Erne YC - Model 5
- Lough Erne YC - Model 6
- Lough Erne YC - Model 7
- Lough Erne YC - Model 8
- Lough Erne YC - Model 9
- Naomh Brigid
- Naomh Lua
- Rankin dinghy
- Saoirse
- Seine Follower Boat
- Tern - Hegarty Lobster Boat
- Three Hand Kerry Naomhog - Model
- Topaz - Manx Nobby
- Water Nymph 1885
- West Cork Mackerel Yawl
- Boatbuilders
- Jimmy Furey
- Walter Levigne
- McDonalds - Model 1
- McDonalds - Model 2
- McDonalds - Model 3
- McDonalds - Model 4
- McDonalds - Model 5
- Tyrells - 35ft Motor Fishing Vessel
- Tyrells - Model 1
- Tyrells - Model 2
- Tyrells - Model 3
- Tyrells - Model 4
- Tyrells - Model 5
- Tyrells - Model 6
- Tyrells - Model 7
- Tyrells - Model 8
- Tyrells - Model 9
- Tyrells - Shipwright
- Daingean Museum Store
- Four Oared Boat
- Two-masted carvel-built boat
- GreenCastle Museum
- GreenCastle Museum Model 1
- GreenCastle Museum Model 2
- GreenCastle Museum Model 3
- GreenCastle Museum Model 4
- Turlough Park Museum
- Currach Collection
- Museum Interior
"Traditional Boats of Ireland affirms its intellectual property rights over the information on this web-site.
Copies and / or reproductions of material on the web-site shall Not be made without the express permission of Traditional Boats of Ireland."
- Name of vessel
- ......Topaz
- Designer
- ......
- Builder of vessel
- ......Fisheries School Baltimore, Co. Cork
- Date of vessel
- ......1899
- Some given dimensions of the yacht (LOA, LWL, Draft etc)
- PRINCIPAL PARTICULARS (calculated)
- Length Overall (On Deck).........................11.5m (37ft 9in)
- Length L.W.L..........................................10.9m (35ft 9in)
- Beam......................................................3.8m (10ft 6in)
- Draught ..................................................1.25m (4ft 1in)
- Displacement...........................................17.27t (11 tons Official tonnage)
- Cp .........................................................0.590
- Scale of the model
- ......Full Size Vessel
- Owner's name / Home port.
- ......
- General Description:
- The Topaz is a Nobby built at the Fisheries School in Baltimore, Co. Cork in 1899 at a cost of £130 on behalf of the Congesteded Districts Board. Currently lying at Renvyle Co. Galway.
- Any other information.
-
The Congested Districts Board (CDB) was established in 1891. Its objective was to relieve poverty in the overpopulated or ‘congested’ districts of the west of Ireland. Its activities included land reform, improvements in infrastructure and housing and the establishment of craft industries.
It took over responsibility for fisheries from the Board of Works and set about a radical overhaul of the native fishing industry which was then dominated by small inshore craft. The CDB introduced larger, decked boats, powered by sail, such as the Scottish Zulu and the Manx Nobby, which had proved themselves in English and Scottish waters. Instructors in building and fishing methods were brought from Scotland to promote building in Irish boatyards and fishing by Irish fishermen
In all, by 1909 a total of 189 new boats had been commissioned; 90 were built in Irish boatyards, including 30 boats plus two hookers in Co. Galway.
During the 30 years of its existence the CDB made an enormous contribution to improving the conditions of the communities for which it was responsible. The board was dissolved in 1923 and its staff was absorbed into the Irish Land Commission when its functions were assumed by the Department of Fisheries and Rural Industries.
Recording of this vessel has been part funded by the
Heritage Council of Ireland 