Into the west is a collaborative garden project between the Brothers of Charity services in Athenry, Clarinbridge and the GRETB. Over 50 people supported, worked together on making this vessel based on the iconic Galway hooker.

The garden is a snapshot of the West of Ireland inspired by the region’s traditional skills, native plants and cultural ties with the ocean.

A traditional Galway hooker is woven from willow gathered in south Galway and lined with a variety of indigenous flora and fauna grown in our native bogland, forests and coastline.

The hooker carries turf cut locally near Athenry to reflect the strong heritage of transporting fuel to the Aran islands and beyond in times past.

Bringing together a piece of the land, sea and the west coast’s rich history, the vessel and its construction shows that nothing is unachievable if you set your sail in the right direction.