Month: August 2014

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Gort – 1912

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Freeman’s Journal 2nd May, 1912 p7 (abridged)

"Rosgall" Wikipedia.org
“Rosgall”
Wikipedia.org

Thomas Higgins, Patrick Hughes, John Daly, Fergus Kilcooley, and Tim Reilly from Kilbeacanty served one month’s imprisonment for playing a band in the private grounds of Mr Baggott’s tenants while Mr Baggott was having a shooting party. On their release from Galway Gaol they returned to Gort where they were met by a large crowd of about 300 people who marched in procession playing the same band. The tenants on the Baggott. estate are demanding a sale through the Congested Districts Board, but Mr. Baggott has so far refused to deal with the matter.

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The Great Skellig – 1826

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DEPLORABLE CIRCUMSTANCE.

Skellig Michael Photo: Jerzy Strzelecki -Wikimedia Commons
Skellig Michael
Photo: Jerzy Strzelecki -Wikimedia Commons

The Monitor (Sydney) 17th November, 1826 (abridged)

The Great Skellig Rock is situated in the Atlantic, near Valentia Island, and is over 300 feet in height. The Ballast Board are erecting a Light-house there and the Board are exceedingly censurable in not having provided against such a dreadful casualty as our Correspondent describes:-

“There are about forty workmen now on the Skellig Rock nearly a month without victuals or firing, and the weather is so bad that no relief can be given them. The signal of death is constantly flying from the Rock.
Two men escaped about a fortnight ago by jumping off, and were most miraculously saved by the relief boat, though she could not approach the Rock. The account the men give of their fellow sufferers’ privations is melancholy.”
Lim. Eve. Post.

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Gort – 1848

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THE POTATO ROT

"Late blight on potato leaf 2" by Howard F. Schwartz, Colorado State University, United States - Wikimedia Commons -
“Late blight on potato leaf 2” by Howard F. Schwartz, Colorado State University, United States – Wikimedia Commons –

THE Argus 26th December 1848 p4

From Gort, in Galway, about July 29, the reports were favourable, but recent returns show that on the 6th August a general failure of the crop was anticipated, the fields were black, but at that time it had not generally destroyed the Potato; on the 10th, however, matters were much worse, and opinions were entertained that it would be desirable to consume what Potatoes were sound, while they remained so, “for the blight was extending.”

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Kinvarra to Penzance – 1893

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Schooner rigging: 1) Bowsprit; 2) Jib, followed by fore staysail; 3) (Fore) gaff topsail; 4) Foresail; 5) Main gaff topsail; 6) Mainsail; 7) End of boom Wikimedia.org
Schooner rigging: 1) Bowsprit; 2) Jib, followed by fore staysail; 3) (Fore) gaff topsail; 4) Foresail; 5) Main gaff topsail; 6) Mainsail; 7) End of boom
Wikimedia.org
THE TEESDALE MERCURY 1ST MARCH, 1893 P3

SAD FATALITY AT SEA

The schooner Jeffery, of Jersey. Captain Davey arrived in Penzance Harbour on Sunday afternoon from Kinvarra, Galway Bay and reported having experienced terrific weather on the voyage.

In her voyage from Ireland the Jeffery has been out between four and five weeks, and some anxiety had been felt respecting her safety. On Wednesday last E—- C—-, one of the seamen, was washed overboard. Captain Davey threw a lifebuoy to him and he succeeded in getting inside it. An attempt was then made to get a boat out, but there was such a tremendous sea running that on getting over the side of the ship the bottom of the boat was stove in, thus rendering it useless.

The crew then tried to get the vessel down to the man by wearing round, but they were unable to reach him.