Seoighe Inish Bearachain

John William Seoighe
Background information
Born	19-02-1919

Martín Cóilín Seoighe
Background information

John Bhabín Seoighe
Background information

Seoighe Inish Bearachain was a name used for three Joyce cousins, John Bhabín Seoighe, Martín Coilín Seoighe and John William Seoighe who came from the island of Inis Bearachain, Lettermore, in Connemara in County Galway, Ireland. Both John Martín and Martín Cóilín were born on the island of Inish Bearachain (Irish: Inis Bearachain). The third member of the crew, John William, was born on the nearby island of Inse Gaine, but later moved to Inish Bearachain when he married there.

The Seoighe Cousins won many titles in the All-Ireland currach rowing championships known as the "Tóstal ". In the 1950s and early 1960s the Joyce cousins won a record four All-Ireland titles. Amongst these was the exceptional achievement of winning three years in a row in 1956, 1957 and 1958. They also won a fourth All-Ireland race in 1961. To compete in the Tóstal final teams had to win qualifying races in their own Gaeltacht regions. The Joyce cousins qualified in the Lettermore region and went on to the finals, which were held at Salthill in County Galway.

The 1957 Tóstal final race was rerun because of the disqualification of all the teams except for the one from Clare Island. The Joyce cousins had won this first race, but the Tóstal committee claimed that only the Clare Island team ran the correct race course. After much complaint and debate the Tóstal committee decided that the race would be rerun in Kilkee, County Clare, in later weeks. The Seoighe cousins won the second race at Kilkee and were presented with the trophy by the then president of Ireland, Éamon de Valera.

During the years the Joyce cousins competed, the main Tóstal race attracted huge crowds, with over 50,000 spectators at Salthill one year. In a time before television it was a source of entertainment for people, and there was huge interest in the races, which were broadcast on the radio. Crowds thronged to Salthill with any form of transportation they could get; some walked, others came on bicycles, and a few came in cars and buses.

John William Seoighe was born on the island of Inse Gaineamh in 1919.

John William Seoighe is also known as an experienced sailor of the traditional boat known as the Galway Hooker. John William and John Bhabín Seoighe were both involved in the turf or peat trade to the Aran Islands and County Clare. They used their own, Bláth na hÓige (Flower of Youth), to deliver the turf. The turf was loaded into the boats and brought to these areas to use as fuel, but in time lorries supplanted the boats.

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