IRISH CURRACH CLUB OF BEAVER ISLAND
PO BOX 22 // BEAVER ISLAND // MICHIGAN // 49782 // bicurrach@gmail.com
Established 2020
Background
In September of 2019, the Irish Currach Club of Milwaukee brought two currachs and ten members to the inaugural Emerald Irish Feile, due in part to a grant from the Milwaukee Irish Festival Foundation. The currachs were a huge success at the Feile generating so much local enthusiasm that the Irish Currach Club of Milwaukee left a boat here to encourage the development of a currach club on Beaver Island. In 2022 The Beaver Island Historical Society became the official sponsoring agent of the club as an active supporter, providing storage for the boat. In 2024 the Beaver Island Irish Heritage Group assumed official sponsorship of the club.
The currach has been used in Ireland for centuries for fishing, transportation and rescue. Currachs have a hand-made wooden frame and are today covered in canvas that is hardened and water-proofed with oil-based paint; older currachs were covered in cow hide and tarred. Each coastal region of Ireland has its own style of currach; the boat on loan from the Irish Currach Club of Milwaukee is modeled after the 4-seat currach from the Dingle Peninsula. The currach is flat-bottomed and has no keel, so it sits very high on the water and can navigate up shallow rivers and can also handle rough waves out on Lake Michigan. Currach oars, each about 10 feet long, are distinctively blade-less, used for stabilization and to propel the boat through high surface contact.
Club Goals
The Irish Currach Club will seek to introduce the currach and its connection to the nautical heritage of Ireland to the Beaver Island community and to the northern Michigan region. Additionally, it will introduce the Beaver Island community to the culture of currach racing in North America. Beaver Islanders are naturals around the water, and the introduction of the currach club may lead to a group which could race in sanctioned regattas. Another goal of the club will be the development of ties between members of the overall Milwaukee Irish community and the Beaver Island Irish Community. Finally, the club will provide a healthy leisure activity for members.
Membership / Sponsorship
Anyone interested in promoting the Irish Currach Club of Beaver Island is welcome. You may wish to join because you are interested in rowing for fun, developing skills to be a competitive rower, want to work on boats, or just want to see these beautiful boats add a beautiful silhouette as they glide across the harbor. Membership dues and sponsorship donations will be used to pay for insurance, safety equipment, annual dues to the North American Currach Association.
Annual Membership Fee: $75.00 Adults; $35 Youth. This allows the member to use the currach during regularly scheduled practice times. Memberships valid from January 1–December 31.
Sponsorship: Donations in any amount will be accepted. Donors will be recognized on the club’s webpage, Facebook page and in press releases.
2025 Expected Rowing Season Activities
IRISH CURRACH CLUB OF BEAVER ISLAND
LIABILITY WAIVER AND MEDIA RELEASE
In consideration of being allowed to participate in any Irish Currach Club of Beaver Island sponsored activities (“ICCBI Activities”) I agree:
1. I understand the nature of the ICCBI Activities and acknowledge my experience and capabilities and believe I am qualified to participate in such Activity. I further acknowledge that I am aware that the activity will be conducted in facilities open to the public during the Activity. I further agree and warrant that if, at any time, I believe conditions to be unsafe, I will immediately discontinue further participation in the Activity.
2. I FULLY UNDERSTAND that: (a) ICCBI Activities involve risks and dangers of SERIOUS BODILY INJURY, INCLUDING PERMANENT DISABLILITY, PARALYSIS AND DEATH (“Risks”); (b) these Risks and dangers may be caused by my own actions, or inactions, the actions or inactions of others participating in the Activity, the condition in which the Activity takes place or THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE “RELEASEES” NAMED BELOW; (c) there may be other risks and social and economic losses either not known to me or not readily foreseeable at this time; and I FULLY ACCEPT AND ASSUME ALL SUCH RISKS AND ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOSSES, COSTS, AND DAMAGES incurred as a result of my participation in the Activity.
3. I HEREBY RELEASE, DISCHARGE, COVENANT NOT TO SUE, AND AGREE TO HOLD HARMLESS the ICCBI, it’s respective administrators, directors, agents, officers, volunteers, employees, other participants, any sponsors, advertisers, and if applicable, owner and lessors of premises on which the Activity takes place (each considered one of the “Releasees” herein) from all liability, claims, demands, losses, or damages on account caused or alleged to be caused in whole or in part by the negligence of the “Releasees” or otherwise, including negligent rescue operations and further agree that if, despite this release, I, or anyone on my behalf makes a claim against any of the Releasees named above, I WILL INDEMNIFY, SAVE AND HOLD HARMLESS EACH OF THE RELEASEES FROM ANY LITIGATION EXPENSES, ATTORNEY FEES, LOSS LIABILITY, DAMAGE OR COST ANY MAY INCUR AS A RESULT OF ANY SUCH CLAIM.
4. I HEREBY GRANT to ICCBI a non-exclusive, transferable, world-wide license to use my name, likeness, persona or identifying characteristics in connection with the broadcasting of ICCBI Activities and in connection with advertising, publicizing, exhibiting and exploiting ICCBI Activities in whole or in part, by any and all means, media, devices, processes and technology now or hereafter known or devised in perpetuity throughout the universe. I hereby acknowledge that the ICCBI shall have no obligation to use my name, likeness, persona or identifying characteristics. Further, I hereby release for the ICCBI, its assignees and licensees from any and all claims for invasion of privacy, infringement of my right to publicity, defamation (including libel and slander), false light and any other personal and/or property rights.
I HAVE READ THIS AGREEMENT, FULLY UNDERSTAND ITS TERMS, UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE GIVEN UP SUBSTANTIAL RIGHTS BY SIGNING IT AND HAVE SIGNED IT FREELY AND WITHOUT ANY INDUCEMENT OR ASSURANCE OF ANY NATURE AND INTEND IT TO BE A COMPLETE AND UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF ALL LIABILITY TO THE GREATEST EXTENT ALLOWED BY THE LAW AND AGREE THAT IF ANY PORTION OF THIS AGREEMENT IS HELD TO BE INVALID THAT THE BALANCE NOT WITHSTANDING, SHALL CONTINUE IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT.
CLUB RULES
- No person is allowed to go on the water without an approved ICCBI Captain.
- The boat captain is in charge of the boat and their instructions have to be followed.
- All persons on the water must wear a lifejacket/buoyancy aid from the moment the slip area is approached and must be worn until leaving the slip area.
- Each person must ensure that all equipment is always treated carefully.
- All persons have the right to be treated with respect, both on and off the water.
- No person is permitted to go towing while under the influence of intoxication liquor or other substances.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult or guardian and should be always supervised while around the slip or in the currach.
- All persons must be satisfied that they are physically able to row and must inform the captain of their boat if they become unable to row.
Data Protection: ICCBI will hold and use your personal and sensitive data for the purposes of your involvement in club activities. You understand that by submitting this form you are consenting to receiving information about the club by post, email/MMS, text, online or by phone. Your data will not be shared with any third party. If you become a Club Captain, your contact details including your phone number will be shared with all current members.
Membership runs from January 1– December 31.
Irish Currach Club of Beaver Island
PO BOX 22
bicurrach@gmail.com