Biography

Clew Bay on the west coast of Ireland is home to its only female skipper, Mary Gavin Hughes. Of the 365 islands in the bay Mary was born and reared on Clynish Island and from a tender young age Mary learned the skills and techniques involved in boat navigation as it was the only means of transport to and from her home.

She began fishing at the age of three under the watchful eye of both her father and grandfather. Through their invaluable experience Marys' expertise of sea faring and weather reading which is imperative to her angling career today.

When Mary was ten she took up sporting events at the neighboring Newport and Westport Sea Angling Clubs. Her numerous medals and trophies at junior level proved to be an inevitable foundation for her future in the sporting field. Mary has not only won Connaught Championships and All Ireland finals; she too managed the Irish Team who represented its native country at national events held in Ireland and indeed Europe.

Mary has been compared to as the modern day Pirate Queen Grace O’ Malley (Grainneuaile) of Clew Bay.  Her expert knowledge of the bay, from every small shoal of fish to the tricky reef currents, and best angling practices for catching the required catch establishes Mary as one of the most prestigious skippers in the west of Europe. People have often joked that Mary has the ability to pre-order your dream catch

Mary takes great pride in been a woman of the sea & Europe’s only female Charter Skipper a legendary woman of the sea.

Clew Bay is riddled with hidden reefs, rocks an dotted with 365 islands .It can be said Mary knows it like the back of her hand as she grew up on Clynish Island one of these 365 islands ...”Mary would always say the sea always has the upper hand so we got to treat it with respect and safety is a must”

Mary has on her C.V featured on many TV programmes such as

• Discovery Channel featured with Paul Young;.

• Sky Sports ..European Championship ......

• Screaming reels featuring with Nick Fisher;

• RTE Calor Housewife of the Year ;

• Nationwide ;..

• “The Big Six” On the day she caught 2 common skate which were tagged & released;

• Masters Apprentice.

Contact Information

Mary Gavin Hughes

Phone / FAX : +353 (0)98 41562
Mobile : +353 (0)86 8062282

Email : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it