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Rocking the boat: Three women working in a traditional man’s world
by Kate Kearns
20th Jul 2021
20th Jul 2021
Maunza Heidtke
Currach building is a skill traditionally practiced by men, so what have the experiences of three women been, when learning the trade?
On a cloudy summer day in North County Kerry, beneath the rugged Slieve Mish Mountains, Maunza Heidtke stands alongside an old wooden boat frame. She grips her hammer and thinks about the repairs she’ll make. She says she’s proud to work on the traditional Irish boat. Maunza is one of three women, including Olivia Cosgrove from County Fermanagh, and Elaine Moynihan from County Cork, who are rocking the boat and are building currachs. So, what’s...