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About Us Belmullet Boat Charters

Belmullet Boat Charters is run by the Lavelles of Inishkea. Having originally come from Inishkea North our family have been transporting people & cargo to the Inishkea Islands since 1851.

Today, Belmullet Boat Charters offers a range of award-winning boat tours and marine service in Blacksod, Co. Mayo, our most popular trip being the Inishkea Island Tour.

Guests waving from the Inishkea Ferry as they make their way into the Inishkea Island from Blacksod Pier, Co. Mayo.

Our Story ... Our Company's History

Belmullet Boat Charters founder, Sean Lavelle, worked as crew on his fathers fishing boat ‘Lios Inn’. They fished for lobster and crayfish off Inishkea and Blackrock.

It could take 2 hours (in good weather!) to reach the islands so they would often stay overnight in their family home on Inishkea for a week and then return to Blacksod.

Historic black-and-white photograph of the Lavelle family's ancestral home on Inishkea North, home to the family who run Belmullet Boat Charters.

Three Generations

Sean’s grandfather, John Tom lived on Inishkea North. He fished all his life for crayfish on a French 50ft Boat ‘St. Bernadette’ and later on his son’s boat the ‘Lios Inn’.

He also brought coal into the lighthouse on Blackrock Island and transported cattle and sheep in and out of Inishkea North.

A historic black-and-white photograph of Inishkea islanders loading cattle onto a yawl sailing boat at Port Mór ahead of their journey into the Inishkea Islands. Inishkea Islanders transporting cattle to Blacksod by yawl from Inishkea North.

Family Business

In 1967, John Tom’s son, John bought the ‘Lios Inn’, a 31ft clinker boat with a 36hp engine! He and his father continued fishing for crayfish on this boat but they also brought cargo and tourists into Inishkea during the summertime.

Sean followed the tradition of his forefathers and bought his own boat, the ‘Doloree’ and later the ‘Kea Josh’. Thankfully, travel time to Inishkea has shortened greatly from 2 hours, our vessel MV ‘Kea Josh’ with a total of 900hp can comfortably reach Inishkea in 35 minutes.

Fast forward to the present day, Sean and his children, Kea and Josh, run the business, expanding ferry capacity and variety of tours throughout the years to offer a safe, enjoyable and comfortable experience on the water for everyone.

Inishkea fisherman holding up two large crayfish aboard the MVF Lios Inn.
Belmullet Boat Charter's crew - father, mother son and daughter smiling aboard their boat, with the idyllic coastline of Inishkea North behind them.

The Lavelle's of Inishkea Meet Our Crew

We are a family run and a family friendly business. Join Sean, Kea, Josh, Dolores and John for an amazing adventure on the water!

Sean Lavelle

Skipper

"Sean grew up fishing for lobster and crayfish in Blacksod Bay on his father's boat, the MVF....."

Sean Lavelle

Skipper

Sean grew up fishing for lobster and crayfish in Blacksod Bay on his father’s boat, the MVF Lios Inn. His grandparents lived on Inishkea North up until 1935 when all the islanders began to leave Inishkea. However, from time to time Sean and his father would bring in tourists and locals into visit the Inishkea Islands. His love of the sea led him to become a certified CMAS and PADI diving instructor and continue offering tours to the Inishkea Islands today.

Kea Lavelle

Skipper, Tour Guide

"Named after Inishkea, Kea has a great love for the island and spent her summer holidays helping..."

Kea Lavelle

Skipper, Tour Guide

From a very young age, Kea spent her summer holidays helping her family in bringing tourists to Inishkea by boat. Named after the island, Kea has a great love for Inishkea and its rich history. She is a natural at giving guided tours of Inishkea, where her great grandparents came from. Kea recently earned her skipper’s ticket and now works as a certified skipper and tour guide onboard.

Josh Lavelle

Crew

"Fishing and driving boats came naturally to Josh from a very young age. He has a huge interest in..."

Josh Lavelle

Crew

Fishing and driving boats came naturally to Josh from a very young age. In the summer months you could find Josh hauling lobster pots, mending fishing nets, spear fishing and driving boats alongside his father into Inishkea. Josh has a huge interest in the sea and is also a very talented angler. Having completed all his skipper training, he will soon be working as a skipper onboard!

John Lavelle

Skipper

"John is a very talented and experienced skipper who grew up fishing with his father."

John Lavelle

Skipper

John is a very talented and experienced skipper who grew up fishing firstly with his father on the MV ‘St. Bernadette’ and later on his own boat the ‘Lios Inn’ and the ‘Girl Angela’. In the 1970s, Westport House asked John to get seals for their newly built zoo so John brought three seals from Inishkea all the way to Westport House Zoo! John is currently one of our skippers.

Dolores Eccles

Crew, Onshore Manager

"Dolores is our onshore manager and also a qualified crew member...."

Dolores Eccles

Crew, Onshore Manager

Dolores is our onshore manager and also a qualified crew member.