Ireland boasts a rich tradition of harvesting seaweed, a legacy that endures to this very day. We annually harvest around 40,000 tonnes with over 95 percent being naturally cultivated.
In the 1900s, Irish tenant farmers dwelling in coastal regions with less fertile soil than their inland counterparts turned to seaweed as an alternative to manure for fertilisation. They would gather it during the winter months and spread it over the ground to ready it for spring planting.
Due to its high potash content, seaweed is especially well-suited for crops such as potatoes. In the rocky and unproductive coastal fields of Ireland, the blending of seaweed with substantial amounts of sand could effectively generate arable soil for cultivating crops essential to feeding families. The harvesting of seaweed can be accomplished through various methods, ranging from hand-held tools to mechanical processes.
Throughout the history of Ireland the privilege to harvest seaweed was vigorously defended by landlords and disputed by their tenants. Instances where public rights triumphed over the assumed entitlement of the landlord were hailed as victories. Weighing the expense of legal proceedings and the potential displeasure of one’s landlord was a decision made in light of the benefits of securing access to a stretch of shoreline abundant with seaweed.
Today In the Republic of Ireland Section 3 of the Foreshore Act 1933 provides for the granting of a licence for the removal of or the disturbance of beach material on the Foreshore. In addition to licensed wild seaweed harvesting, there also exists the right of individuals to harvest wild seaweed, namely those who hold appurtenant rights and profite-a-prendre rights.
Cutting and collecting seaweed was laborious, difficult and dangerous with harvesting methods and hand-tools local to each coastal area.
Initially seaweed was manually collected from the shallows and later, a range of tools were employed including drag-hooks, crooks, scythe-like knives and pikes affixed to long wooden poles.
In modern times, people gathering seaweed from currachs or small boats use a specialised seaweed rake attached to a long pole. This tool which originated in Canada is gentler on the harvested crop and less physically strenuous for the harvester.
After being cut and gathered the heavy seaweed needed to be transported ashore. A creative method involved crafting a “climín feamainne” or seaweed bundle, which could then be towed to shore using a currach.
When moving larger amounts of seaweed traditional currachs and Galway hookers were employed. Today there are purpose-built trawlers, used to harvest commercially grown seaweed such as at Rathlin Island, Co Antrim.
Upon reaching the shore, smaller amounts were transported further inland using creels (baskets), which were either carried on the backs of individuals or loaded onto donkeys and then later onto tractors and trailers.
In modern times the seaweed harvest is brought to the beach in currachs and small boats and then collected by mechanical grab and loaded onto a purpose-built truck as recorded by the Ireland Made video team on location in rural Co Galway.
Since 1912 the Kilcullen Seaweed Baths have been in operation on the County Sligo side of Kilalla Bay. The water used for the baths is directly sourced from the Atlantic Ocean, then subjected to UV treatment and heating. In the present day seaweed remains a highly coveted commodity, valued both as a premium food item and for its applications in gardening and cosmetics.
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Information sources and photo credits:
Arramara Teoranta
Bord Bia
Coleman Dundas
Folk Life – some Irish techniques of collecting seaweed – TP O’Neill
Folklore of Ireland Society
Katheleen Price
National Museum of Ireland – Noel Campbell
Oireachtas.ie – Darragh O’Brien (PQ)
Ouririshheritage.org
Reuters – Clodagh Kilcoyne
Roaring Water Journal
Rob Cross @RobCross247
Seaweed.ie
TH Mason Collection
The Irish Times – Chris Maddaloni
The Maurice Curtin Collection
Tomás Ó Muircheartaigh Collection
UCD Cultural Heritage Collections
