Killybegs is a town built on salt, sweat, and the Atlantic tide, and right at the heart of it all stands Mooney Boats Ltd — a family-run boatyard that has been shaping the story of Irish fishing for over four decades. To call it a boatyard almost feels bashful, because it is so much more. It’s a place where engineering meets tradition, where fishing fleets are born and mended, and where you can pop in for a new wetsuit or fishing rod just as easily as a captain calls in for a refit.

Founded by the late Micheal Mooney, a local boatbuilder with sawdust in his veins and saltwater in his imagination, the company began humbly — in the front garden of his Killybegs home in the 1960s. From punts to fishing trawlers, his craft grew alongside Ireland’s fishing industry. By 1982, Micheal had built an 8,000 sq/ft workshop by Blackrock Pier and officially set sail as Mooney Boats Ltd. Today, that workshop has become one of Ireland’s most respected marine contractors and one of the largest marine employers in the area, still proudly family-run.

What do they do? Well, perhaps it’s easier to ask what they don’t do. Boatbuilding, engineering, refurbishment, fabrication, repair, hydraulics, electronics, pneumatics — if it floats, they’ll fix it, if it leaks, they’ll seal it, and if it’s looking a bit shabby, they’ll paint it back to glory. But Mooney Boats doesn’t stop at the big jobs. The onsite shop and online store are a treasure trove, described by one customer (with more delight than surprise) as “jam-packed full of goodies.” From buoyancy aids, safety gear, and fishing tackle to wetsuits, kayaks, hardware, and even the odd stylish jacket, it’s the sort of place where you go in for a spare part and come out with half your Christmas shopping sorted.

Customer stories flow in like the tide: one from Cork recalls how Ronan in the shop personally sorted out custom kayak ID stickers and even popped them in the post. Others gush over the generous time the staff take to help, the fair value, and the sense that, in true Donegal style, no question is ever too small.

Opening hours may be practical (8am–1pm, 1:30–5pm most weekdays, with Saturdays for the early risers and Sundays a firm day of rest), but the spirit of Mooney Boats never seems to switch off. Whether it’s building the backbone of Ireland’s fishing fleet, repairing a trawler battered by storms, or simply helping a sea swimmer find the right wetsuit, their legacy is one of service, skill, and heart.

Mooney Boats Ltd isn’t just a marine contractor; it’s a cornerstone of Killybegs itself — proof that when tradition, innovation, and community pull together, you can keep entire fleets, and indeed an entire town, afloat