Padraic Dolan visits the village of Claddagh in Galway City and speaks to some of the local people about their unique traditions and how the old way of life has changed over the years. Claddagh was once a self-governing community with its own king, a new ruler was elected on the 24th of June each year, on the Feast of St John.

Ancient superstitions and customs governed the fishing fleet and were strictly upheld by the king, the fishermen would abandon their seafaring plans for the day if they spotting a red-haired girl or a white cat, a black cat, on the other hand, was a sign of good luck.

Peadar O’Dowd talks about the various kinds of boats which were used by the fishermen, The Bad Mor (Hooker), Leath Bhád, Púcán and Gleoiteog and the types of fishing that were popular in the region.

Women were an important part of the fishing tradition, they managed the marketing and selling of the fish, which meant they had control of the village's money. Claddagh's young men were excellent sailors and in the early part of the century, a great number of them left in search of a new life with the British Army. This vacuum of young men, coupled with competition from larger fishing trawlers, meant that the local fishing industry suffered and the traditional way of life began to change. 

The old thatched fishermen’s cottages were demolished in the 1930s and replaced with modern council houses. This was another sign of the changing times and a move away from the old way of life. 

Presented by Padraic Dolan (First Broadcast in 1993)