Drumgallagh N.S: HVES Cruiser story

The story of the HVES Cruiser

This story began in Harbour View Elementary School in Charleston, South Carolina. The children in HVES prepared and placed letters, poetry, recipes, emblems and coins all relating mainly to South Carolina and America in the sealed compartment of the mini boat. The boat was then launched by the US Navy on May 10^th 2017 and began its long journey across the Atlantic Ocean. It travelled through rough and treacherous ocean in a North East direction and came ashore briefly on Dullivan Island before moving again and then coming ashore in Fahy, Ballycroy. The boat was discovered by Phelim Conway as he was walking along the shoreline. The boat which had a GPS tracking devise was recorded as it travelled along the N59 road later that day.

Phelim and his sons Ethan and John took the boat to Drumgallagh National School. The children in the school were overjoyed to discover the contents of the sealed compartment from the children of HVES. Although some of the letter were damp with sea water it was possible to identify names of children and piece together recipes and poetry and letters. There was also a picture of the South Carolina Flag and some American coins and a keyring.

Drumgallagh immediately emailed HVES to inform them that their mini boat had arrived safely in Ireland. The children then wrote letters to the South Carolina children informing them all about Drumgallagh School and Ballycroy i.e. the games played, school life, areas of scenic interest such as the beautiful coast, rivers and mountains and Ballycroy National Park and the Dark Skies status.

The American children have replied and have since been pen pals to the Drumgallagh children.

However the story does not end there. Michael Mc Glynn who is of Irish decent and lives in Boston is grand uncle of Finnley Mc Glynn of HVES, who was involved in the initial launch of the boat, took a great interest in the project. He made contact with Lisa O Laughlin of HVES and she stated that it would be wonderful if the boat could be relaunched from Ireland. Michael then made contact with The National Marine Institute in Cork and found a very willing and enthusiastic Cormac Gebreurs who agreed to organise events on this end. Cormac travelled to Mayo during the Easter holidays and collected the boat from Mary Calvey at Drumgallagh NS and brought it to Cork for necessary repairs and upgrading of the GPS system. He took with him items the children are putting in the boat...Letters, Irish emblems, Irish stew recipe, Brigid’s cross, coins and Michael Mc Glynn will add items from the children of HVES and some coins and items of his own .Also a bilingual information sheet will be included.

Michael Mc Glynn amazingly then made the journey from Boston to Ireland such was his interest in this project. After arriving in Shannon he travelled to Cork where Cormac gave him a tour of the Marine Institute. He then travelled to Mayo and came to visit Drumgallagh NS. The children were delighted to hear Michael tell them all about Boston and America and he brought some gifts American Coins, American map, Story book by a Boston author and an information book on Boston. The Children also presented Michael with emblems of Ireland and Mayo…St Brigid’s crosses, a woollen Mayo braid, a wooden shamrock and a card. They danced, sang and played music for him and Michael gave a rendition of some of his favourite Irish songs. It was a very educational and entertaining exchange.

Phelim Conway who had found the boat in Fahy took Michael to the shore to the exact area it had come ashore. Michael also visited Ballycroy National Park and toured Ballycroy, Mulranny and Achill before departing for Galway to catch up with his relatives there.

When the boat is repaired and fully seaworthy again the plan is that hopefully it can be relaunched off Portugal near the island of Madeira and possibly then it may head back towards America.

This has been such an interesting story from the start and it is not over yet. Hopefully when the mini-boat is relaunched in the coming months it may come ashore and be discovered and the story will continue.