Saint Columba’s curragh 1/24 scale

[Seamus107]

This is a model of the 36’ Irish curragh that carried the exiled Saint Columba (a.k.a., Colmcille) from northern Ireland to the island of Iona in Scotland Around 653 A.D. The model was constructed In the same fashion as the original, with a sewn leather covering over a basket-like frame of ribs (hoops) and stringers tied together with sinew. Plans were provided by the Causeway Coast Maritime Heritage Group of Derry, who built a full-sized replica In 1997 to duplicate Columba’s voyage. The figure at the bow represents Saint Columba releasing a ceremonial dove before departure, and the figure at the stern represents one of the twelve monks that accompanied him, patiently waiting for Columba to finish his little ceremony. Both figures were made from epoxy clay over wire armatures. All the wood is basswood, and the leather skin was hand-sewn from “hides” cut to scale from a piece of split thickness pigskin of the type used for the linings of jackets and purses.

James Norton
Maine

 

[Seamus107]

Most of my 1/24 scale models include figures, and one of the figures is always a man with snow-white hair. This is the avatar of my father, whose ship modeling tools and supplies I inherited after his death and who produced beautiful sailing ship models for each of his children. He has traveled in the Bounty‘s launch, sailed across the Atlantic with Saint Brendan, traveled from Cornwall to Australia on the lugger Mystery, and served as a steersman on a Pitcairn island Longboat. He is the monk at the stern in this model, with the 20th century haircut. In his honor, I include him on my models whenever possible.