New Quay – 1907

Nenagh News 17th August, 1907p3 (abridged)

New Quay is encircled on the south side by the rugged range of the Burren Mountains showing the ancient ruins of Corcumroe Abbey, Aughmama Abbey, Mucknish castle, and other castellated ruins along Bellharbour Bay, with the villages of Curranroe, Kinvara, Bellharbour, Ballyvaughan and Finavara, in the immediate vicinity. The air at this district and its surrounds, filled with the ozone and saline of the salt sea of the Atlantic Ocean infuses new life and vigour into one accustomed to living in inland places where the air is entirely devoid of those health giving properties and less embracing.

There are two bathing centres in New Quay supplied with bathing boxes, and a splendid range of sanded strand, one at New Quay and the other at Old Quay, a short distance away towards the Flaggy Shore. The circle of sea surrounding New Quay extends from Curranroe, at the boundary of Clare and Galway, by Munna and Carton, along one of the northern peaks of the Burrin Mountains and continuing on by Old Quay, the Flaggy Shore, Finavarra, Martello Tower and Scanlan’s Island. At this point the entrance is to Bellharbour Bay by a narrow strait dividing Finavarra from Mucknish castle and Ballyvaughan and continuing inland by the southern slopes of Finavarra demesne, and Corcumroe Abbey to Bellharbour Quay and circling outward in the opposite direction by Muckinish Castle, Oughmama Abbey and Ballyvaughan, under the shade of the Burren Mountains.

In fine weather the open sea from the mountain heights and verdant plains of this district, presents one crystal sheet of sparkling surface, with ships, steamers, trawlers, and every style of sailing boat strewn here and there along the surface of the water, from the coast to the circle of the horizon, touching the Atlantic Ocean in the West where the top rigging of the largest barque afloat is seen as a speck above the curvature of the sea, until the full sails and hull of the vessel are exposed to view as it approaches nearer along the surface of the sea.

In stormy weather this open expanse of sea presents an entirely different appearance form what it is in fine weather. To residents of the district the disturbed and placid surfaces of the sea are as familiar as the rising and setting of the sun, but to the visitor or tourist unaccustomed to the fury of the tempest, a short sojourn at New Quay brings the extreme changes caused by the elements into view.

There are intermediate phases in the elements and surface of the sea which only add to the enjoyment of a sail in open boats, but woe betide the boats or even larger vessels, tossed about like shells on the surface of the mountain waves, rolling in silvery breakers from the Atlantic ocean against the cliffs and rock-bound coast.