The Sunfish Hunt

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My ‘Hunt for the Sunfish’ series of paintings have their origins in a book published in 1976 by the writer Kenneth McNally.

‘The Sunfish Hunt’ was an historical account of the Achill Island fishermen who hunted for basking sharks, known on the West Coast of Ireland as ‘sunfish’ because of their annual arrival in Irish waters at the beginning of summer. The Achill Islanders fished for these massive sharks in lightweight currachs, pitting handheld nets against the world’s second-largest species of shark – an image I found compelling. Through further reading I learned that, from the middle of the 19th century ’til the 1970s, ‘sunfish hunts’ took place all the way up the Atlantic coast, from West Cork to Donegal. With the knowledge that Blasket Islanders with their characteristic wide-brimmed hats and neamhóg fishing boats had also at times fished for basking sharks, I was inspired to create a series of paintings celebrating the tough and often heroic struggle these people endured in such a hostile environment. The Blasket Islanders and their, now long gone, way of life has never ceased to inspire awe and admiration in me, I hope you enjoy the paintings. Stephen Cullen 2024