The Original Nuala Star
The Second Nuala Star
In spring 1999, I started working for Creevy co-op under the watchful eye of the unsinkable Molly Reynolds. I spent a couple of great years there and I learned a great deal about running charter boats. That knowledge has always stayed with me. I am eternally grateful to Molly and to all the crew at Creevy co-op for the chance at a job, which has now turned into a way of life for my family and I.
I stayed with them until 2001, when I was given the option to lease the Assaroe Star from Paddy Danagher and Ballyshannon Marine. This was a great opportunity to see if I could make a good run of it, and I suppose it went alright. Ballyshannon Marine offered to sell me the Assaroe Star, but I couldn't afford it at the time.
In 2005, I had a feasibility study done by Eunan from WestBIC. I went out on a limb and secured a loan, a BIM diversification grant, to move from the fishing industry into tourism. I used this to get the second Nuala Star built by Darragh Ltd in county Monaghan. In May 2006, she arrived in Teelin.
The Caoimhe Star
The Nuala Star arrived to Teelin in May 2006, so I returned the Assaroe Star back to Ballyshannon Marine. I worked her hard the first few years, to try and keep making the repayments and make a living too. It wasn't always easy. I had to pay the insurance in instalments. Any minor breakdowns or extra maintenance were a nightmare. I could do the basics myself but for any bigger jobs I had to go to the professionals. These experts were more than helpful and allowed me plenty of time to get money together and never put me under pressure. I am very grateful to them for their patience.
Time marched on and in 2010, Ballyshannon Marine offered to sell me the Assaroe Star again, and after much thought I bought her. I renamed her to the Caoimhe Star, again only changing half the name. Now I had two boats, capable of carrying 24 passengers altogether. At the time, I was doing lots of angling trips during the weekends with sightseeing trips before and after the fishing. Eventually, I decided to give up full day angling trips and concentrate on the 2 hour sightseeing tours.
In 2017, I managed to pay off the boats and I was in the black for the first time in years. Then I got a phone call from an old friend I went to Anco with. He asked me if I wanted to buy another boat.
The Moonshadow
After a call from an old friend, I went to Carrigart to look at a boat. The old lady was in need of a fair bit of tidying up, and at the time I said the last thing I need is another boat. I went home and forgot all about it. About a year later my friend asked me back to see what I thought it was worth. So I went back and looked at her again I knew this time that I was buying her. In 2019, I bought Moonshadow. She is an offshore 32, built back in 1984.
I got a quote for the work and a completion date from a company in the Rosses only to be let down by them at the last minute. The boat sat for another year. In order to get her up to specification, I got the use of a friend's sheep shed to work on her. Friends and family rallied around and we got her ship shape. I applied for a P3 licence for 12 passengers plus 2 crew, but then Covid-19 struck. The world stood still and I figured I didn't need any boats, let alone 3. So she sat for another while. We finally got her licenced in June 2022 and got her into action.
In summer 2023, I rented the Bundoran Star from Patrick O'Doherty in Bundoran and soon discovered I could run 4 boats. So I went on the hunt again.
The Sliabh Liag Bounty
After renting the Bundoran Star, I went looking for another boat. People said I should go for a big one that could carry 50 or 60 passengers, and I did consider it. I came to the conclusion that it's far better having small boats with a dozen passengers because it adds a personal touch to the tours. Each skipper adds his own story and style to the trips.
I went off in the van with my lovely wife, Colette, and headed south. I ended up on Valentia Island to look at the Skellig Bounty and she ticked all the right boxes. I returned home and thought about buying her. She was fairly expensive but I knew that there would be some flexibility.
I went back down a few weeks later and I got to see her out of the water. I was sitting in the yard, still debating whether I would buy her or not. When I looked up and saw the Donegal flag flying proud on the mast I knew I was taking her home. People from Kerry will claim it was a Kerry flag, but I know the truth.
I couldn't keep the name as the previous owners wanted to keep it, and the Skellig Bounty wasn't an appropriate name for a boat running to Sliabh Liag. So the Sliabh Bounty was born, yet again only changing half the name. After jumping through hoops, we got her licenced to operate in Donegal Bay and had her working in April 2024. I now had a capacity for 48 passengers between the 4 boats.
30 Years in Business
For 30 incredible years, we have had the privilege of welcoming passengers aboard and sharing the beauty of our coastline through Sliabh Liag Boat Trips. We are deeply grateful to every customer, supporter, and friend who has been part of this journey whether you joined us once or returned time and again. To our dedicated team, past and present, thank you for your hard work and passion. Here’s to the memories we’ve made together and to many more adventures on the water in the years ahead.