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Newspaper report from 1976 (Source unknown)
McDonagh Best in Moran Cup
Eleven yachts turned out to race from Renville up to the Weir at Kilcolgan for the Moran Cup, presented to the Galway Bay Sailing Club by Mr. Michael Moran of the Weir.
The
first yacht to cross the line was Dr. Donie O'Beirne's 'Shipman' but the
Handicap winner on corrected time was Mr. Colm McDonagh's "St. Phelim",
a yacht which the owner had constructed himself in Oranmore.
The race started in very light conditions and the brightly coloured Spinnakers made a fine picture as the Yachts ran down to the Margaretta Buoy.
The Yachts remained closely bunched for a while, but as the breeze refreshed, Donie O'Beirne started to forge ahead, closely followed by "St Phelim". At this stage Robert Molloy's Yacht developed rigging trouble and had to send a man aloft to sort things out, thereby losing many lengths.
After rounding the Margetta, the yachts came onto the wind and with a freshening breeze Donie O'Beirne lengthened his lead. At this stage Michael Casey in his Hooker found conditions to his liking and closed up well with the leaders.
When the Yachts entered the Kilcolgan river, they met testing conditions with a head-wind and the tide against them. Short tacking was the order of the day and provided exciting sailing for the fleet.
A large crowd down the Weir saw Donie O'Beirne cross the line ahead. The "St. Phelim" which had sailed a very consistent race, was however ahead on corrected time and won the first-ever running of the Moran Cup.
The event proved to be an outstanding success and will in the future be one of the highlights of the Oyster Festival activities.
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