Origins of the Galley 'Aileach'.

The Galley (in Gaelic Birlinn) Aileach was built in 1991 at the MacDonald Bros boatyard in Moville, Co Donegal, Eire. She was designed by Colin Mudie of Lymington, Hampshire. The primary purpose behind building her was to further knowledge into the design and use of Celtic Galleys. No Celtic galleys have ever been recovered although the Trust is keen to encourage archaeological exploration for galley remains.

The design of Celtic Galleys: although much can be guessed at from the earlier design of Viking ships from which the Birlinns were derived. The design of the Aileach itself was based on quite detailed representations of galleys on gravestones, mainly from the 16th and 17th century. The best of these is probably the Macleod gravestone at Rodel Church on Harris (see photo). Clinker built of larch on oak the galley was designed to sail with one square rigged sail and to be rowed by 16 persons. The viking style steering oar is replaced by a rudder. The design of the tiller was difficult as there does not appear to be any tillers represented. With the wide stern a double handed tiller curving around the sternpost. She is a light boat designed to flex in waves and with her shallow draft (2ft) she can negociate shallow channels when necessary. After being built in Donegal her maiden voyage was in 1991 from West Port, Co. Mayo to Stornoway, the capital of the Outer Hebrides. The aim was to unite the two Gaelic worlds with a potent symbol of the revival of Gaelic culture. She is named after Aileach, a fourth century Celtic princess after whom is named not only the Iron Age fort 'Grianan of Aileach' which overlooks Lough Swilly in Co Derry but also the Garvellach Islands in Argyll.

Aileach pages provided by Mallaig Heritage Centre