Ilen sails home for her 100th!
Since the restoration of A.K. Ilen in 2018, this iconic symbol of our Irish heritage has found a very meaningful and rewarding role, as she is now the flagship vessel of Sailing Into Wellness, the Kinsale-based charity which delivers therapeutic and educational sailing programmes to underserved communities, across Ireland.
The unique setting of the sea is renowned for its natural therapy, and the health and wellbeing benefits experienced while immersed in blue spaces is becoming more widely regarded as a result of evidence-based outcomes. It is therefore not surprising that while Ilen continues to serve island communities, as she was originally built for, her current role has a slightly different working day experience.
ILEN’s ‘Voyage Programmes’ provide a beacon of support, hope and healing for so many, while also being a channel for personal development and International sailing accreditation opportunities. From experiential-learning on board, Ilen seamlessly provides an environment where valuable life-skills are developed, such as communications and teamwork, and where one naturally builds sailing skills by becoming part of the team on board. The overarching positives of equality, inclusion, wellbeing and empowerment are immersed in all of Ilen’s programmes and it is heart-warming to see evidence-based research highlighting the ship’s importance and intrinsic value.
Ilen’s ‘live-board voyages range from a ‘2-day Voyage’ up to a ‘5-day Voyage’, and for some community groups a ‘Day-Sail’ is sufficient. We focus on ‘People First, In Everything We Do’ and support youth groups, those with mental health challenges, intellectual disabilities, others who have graduated from addiction recovery programs, individuals experiencing social exclusion, those on the ASD spectrum and many more under-served communities across Ireland,
Aboard this iconic, 100-year-old traditional ketch, the ‘crew’ live, eat, sleep and work on the ship together, with skippers, participants, crew and group leaders, all equal. Team bonding and skills development unfold naturally, while simultaneously learning to navigate and sail this 56ft wooden icon, often in exciting and unpredictable Irish weather. On board, there is time for reflection and connection, space to develop coping mechanisms for life’s challenges, and like all positive environments a place where a sense of empowerment ensues and new horizons seem possible.
2025 National Heritage Award Winner
From Day-Sails to Multi-Day Voyages, Ilen has welcomed thousands of participants on board, and her 2025 National Heritage Council Award recognised precisely this blend of heritage preservation and positive community impact. As General Manager, James Lyons, says “ILEN is far more than a traditional Irish ketch – she is a living link between the maritime knowledge and traditions she represents, the craftsmanship she symbolises, and our charity’s focus to support the health and wellbeing of underserved communities across Ireland”.
Ilen 100 – Baltimore Bound (22nd August 2026)
This August 2026, a century after Ilen set sail from Baltimore on her maiden voyage to The Falklands, she will return home to the shores of the river Ilen, back to Baltimore for a weekend of centenary celebrations.
Ilen’s remarkable heritage will be shared, the traditional and exceptional craftsmanship of The Fisheries School (Baltimore), Hegarty’s Boatyard (Oldcourt) and The Ilen School and Network for Wooden Boat Building (Limerick) celebrated, and the people who were/are party to Ilen’s story remembered, with some entertaining stories thrown in for good measure.
Saturday 22nd August:
ILEN Open Ship – North Pier, Baltimore, Co. Cork, P81 HW89 (10:30am – 3:30pm) – Join the crew on board Ilen!
Ilen 100 – Cape Clear Bound (23rd August 2026)
Sunday 23rd August:
ILEN & SAOIRSE Sail to Cape Clear – Baltimore Harbour dept. (12 noon)
ILEN & Saoirse Open Ship – North Harbour, Cape Clear (2:00-4:00pm) – Join the crews on board Ilen & Saoirse!
– Remembering Denis and Con Cadogan from Cape Clear, Conor O’Brien’s crew on Ilen’s maiden voyage from Baltimore to The Falkland Islands, August 24th 1926
A flotilla of other traditionally-built wooden boats will join Ilen & Saoirse from Baltimore Harbour to Cape Clear, promising a colourful display of Irish boatbuilding craftmanship, weather permitting.
From life as a trading ketch, to a globally recognised symbol of Irish maritime heritage, fortunately, Ilen’s role continues to support numerous communities today.
Long may her vocation be and her heritage endure.
To find out more about Ilen’s centenary events, support her ongoing maintenance or learn about her therapeutic sailing programmes, follow Sailing Into Wellness on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube or email hello@sailingintowellness.ie