In this work, maritime and social historian Pat Nolan interviews a wide selection of fishermen, boatbuilders and sailors from across the coastlines of Ireland. What emerges is a picture of a way of life that has changed beyond recognition, and which only lives on in the recollections of these men of the sea.
The book delves into the history of the BIM 56-foot fishing vessels, building on the author's previous work about the BIM 50-footer and its significance in 1950s and '60s coastal Ireland. Through engaging conversations with fishermen from that era, the author uncovers the cultural and historical impact of these iconic boats, offering a heartfelt exploration of maritime heritage and community life during a transformative period in Irish fishing.
Set against the backdrop of the ocean's vastness, this narrative explores the journey of a group of individuals who navigate both physical and emotional waters. The characters, each with their own struggles and aspirations, confront the complexities of life and relationships. Themes of resilience, connection, and the search for belonging are woven throughout, making it a poignant exploration of human experience. The vivid descriptions of the sea and its challenges serve as a powerful metaphor for the characters' inner lives and transformations.
The 1940s saw a particularly low ebb in the fishing industry in Ireland, and so the Irish Sea Fisheries Association and An Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) created initiatives that would grant fishermen more control over their livelihoods, or so it was claimed. And so in 1949 the BIM 50-footer was born, and while opinions of the vessels are now conflicted in some parts, there was a time when they were unquestionably at the centre of people's lives. Construction of the boats continued until 1970, and in the intervening years the 50-footer transformed the fishing industry, laying the foundations for the fleets of today. Pat Nolan has travelled the country interviewing those who owned and worked the boats, and listened to all they had to say about the 50-footers. He has also included fascinating photographs, both new and old, and the histories of every single 50-footer, presented here, for the first time, in meticulous detail. "Sea Change" is a heartfelt and fitting tribute to the BIM 50-footers, and to those who worked and lived through such a major change in perhaps the harshest of professions.