AN ambitious project to build a traditional Celtic longboat known as a currach in just six days culminated with her launch in Minehead Harbour on Sunday in front of a large crowd of well-wishers.

The 'Mynydd' was crafted by Irish boatbuilders Padraig O'Duinnin and Dave Nolan from the firm Meitheal Mara - Gaelic for workmen of the sea.

They worked with volunteers and long-term unemployed people to build the seven-man currach as part of a project to celebrate the creation of a new heritage focal point at the bottom of The Avenue in partnership with the nearby West Somerset Railway.

The vessel was paraded from the YMCA Beach Hotel to the slipway, towed by Jon Fairman driving a vintage Massey Ferguson tractor.

She was blessed by the Rev Penny Dobbin before making four outings around the bay crewed by people who had helped to build her.

Padraig said she had been very steady in the water and had steered well.

"When the sail was up, the breeze was in the right direction, Wales seemed very close," he said.

The boat was built using only locally sourced materials and the services of volunteers from the community, the YMCA, Job Centre Plus and Prospects Services Work Programme.

In the final stages of the construction, the hull of the currach was skinned with ballistic nylon fabric sewn by the Leather Workshop in Withycombe.

Proprietor Liz Steadman said: "It was fantastic to be involved and then watch the boat set sail. The covering fitted like a glove and is completely watertight."

George Henly, a volunteer from the YMCA, said he had thought it was impossible to build a boat in just six days.

"No way was it going to happen, but Padraig and Dave were great, they taught us new skills and we pulled together as a team and took everything one step at a time.

"It was an awesome sense of achievement to build the currach. I shall never forget it.

"We even fitted in a day's water safety and sailing course on Wimbleball Lake with Channel Training so we felt prepared for the maiden outing!"

He said rowing the currach across Minehead Bay was a real "buzz" and he was extremely proud to have been part of the project.

Volunteers Sue and Phil Taphouse described the currach as "an amazing bit of kit" and added: "To have a historic craft built in such a short space of time with so many people being involved has been an emotional reconnection with the sea and the roots of the town."

Currachs used to be a familiar sight off the West Somerset coastline as they played a pivotal role in the spread of Christianity from Ireland and South Wales to Somerset during Roman times.

Minehead vision manager Stephen Hooper, who spearheaded the project, said the scheme attracted interest from across the UK and Ireland and had put Minehead on the map.

"We are looking forward to collaborating with local author John Gilman whose book Crossways inspired the currach build.

"The next stage is to start planning and preparing to recreate the sea voyage of St Carantoc from South Wales to West Somerset," Mr Hooper said.