Bumboat women...

This is an old photograph of a "Bumboat Woman".  These were hardy women who used to sail out to the liners moored at the mouth of Cobh Harbour and climb ropes to the top decks in order to sell their wares, such as lace, linen and local goods.   A tradition that only ended in the 1960's.  

Cobh is my home town and I only came across this piece of local history recently.