Last updated: May 6, 2013
Hooks and Crookes
Hooks and Crookes are a sea shanty group of men based in Waterford in the southeast of Ireland. Our name comes from a light-hearted view of the old Cromwellian saying, 'of getting there by Hook or by Crooke'. Hook and Crooke are the name of the two headlands on either side of Waterford Harbour.
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Haul on the Bowline The Mermaid Tomorrow
Maritime Matters
Dungarvan Maritime Festival
6 May:The inaugural Dungarvan Maritime Festival was held over the weekend and it was a superb weekend of fun, frolics and music. The Festival was blessed with good weather and the crowds turned out in style. HOOKS and CROOKES sang there on Sunday 5th May. We performed first onstage at 4pm which was followed on the quayside opposite by an enactment of activities that took place there many years ago. We then sang again to a diminishing crowd (unfortunately the clouds rolled in and the wind strengthened). Grub and grog followed in the Moorings Bar and when we had had our fill we rambled around 4 or 5 pubs singing a few songs in each and having the crack with ourselves and the revellers (the pubs were buzzing!). The redoutable Dick Miles followed us as we went and sang his few songs after we performed. We ended our night in the Yacht Club where we sang two more songs to great applause before leaving for Waterford just before 12 midnight. A great day indeed. More details of the Festival at Dungarvan Maritime Festival 2013.
RNLI Mayday appeal
19 April: The RNLI has been saving lives at sea since 1824 and it is run by a nationwide band of volunteers who give their time and energy in supporting the 
organisation and in saving lives when disaster befalls them at sea, often at considerable risk to themselves. The RNLI is funded largely by public contributions, cake sales, merchandise sales and ongoing fund-raising efforts, again coordinated and run by volunteers as it takes resources and a lot of money to to achieve what the RNLI achieves annually. For example, a pair of yellow wellies costs €50 (wellington boots with steel-capped toes and essential grip soles to protect the crew when on a call-out at sea). The public are now being asked to run welly-themed events between May 1st and the 6th to raise funds for the RNLI. The easiest way for you to support this appeal is to buy a yellow-welly key-ring, which will be on sale for the week. So do your bit and support the RNLI.
The Old Fogies are at it again
12 April: The temperature has just gone up a few degrees and the sun has finally begun to shine after a long winter when we saw very little of it. That bitter easterly wind too that blew in across Europe from Siberia and hit us hard these last few weeks has finally blew itself out and the mild southerlies have returned. No sooner had its warm breadth touched us when the three old fogies decided to go wandering again along the wild coast of Waterford. And there isn't much wilder than that stretch of coast between Kilfarrasy and Garrarus. So the 3 boys waited for the tide to turn (you have to as otherwise it is inaccessible) and off with them. A lovely day it was too! (by the way, you only see two of the old fogies as the third, the oldest fogie of them all, was taking the pictures). Aye..........APOLOGIES!!! he was being photo'd as he was admiring the cliffscape (see photo 4!)
Sacred Heart Church, The Folly
22 March: The Friends of Waterford Regional Hospital organised a charity concert to raise badly needed funds for WRH, and Hooks and Crookes were delighted to perform in this lovely Church for such a good cause. Several acts performed and it was a great night of songs and singing. We sang second after the interval and from our vast repertoire we entertained the audience with A Drop of Nelson's Blood, Lady of Autumn, Haul on the Bowline and Time Ashore. Fair play to the audience too for venturing out on what was a bad night; everyone agreed that it was worth it for the quality and variety of the singing.
We adjourned then to the Uluru where we celebrated Olly's birthday with copious amounts of grog.
Seascapes
Seascapes is a radio programme broadcast every Friday night on RTE Radio 1, from 10.30-11.00 pm, which deals with all maritime issues. It is produced and presented by Marcus Connaughton (a lovely man and great supporter of Hooks and Crookes). You can find more information on this wonderful programme by clicking the link Seascapes. Podcasts of previous programmes can also be listened to there.
Our Tall Ships CD can be bought online, along with all our other cds. Click here to purchase.
