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Legends of the sea – 1926

Posted on by The Burren and Beyond

Fermanagh Herald 9th January, 1926 p6

Aran Islands, West of Ireland Photo: Fabio Grasso Creative Commons
Aran Islands, West of Ireland
Photo: Fabio Grasso
Creative Commons

Fishermen have legends all their own. They say that the reason why the flounder has one side white is that the Blessed Virgin once placed her hand upon it, and that the spot where her lily hand rested has been the colour of the snow ever since.
An eminent tradition is to the effect that it was the haddock in whose mouth St. Peter discovered the tribute money; that the spots upon its body near the gills was caused by the pressure of the Apostle’s fingers.
The pike, like the passion flower, carries upon it the marks of the Crucifixion such as the cross, nails and sword. This, sailors will tell you, is because the pike remained above the water when all the other fish fled to the bottom of the sea in panic when they found that the Saviour was to be put to death.
The Blessed Virgin has always been considered the especial patroness of those “going down to the sea in ships.” To her they appealed when in danger of shipwreck and ships sailing past any of her sanctuaries used to salute her by striking their topsails or chewing up the topsail sheets. Most of the ships in the Royal Navy of England were in Catholic days given one of her own sweet names. The fishing fleets of all continental countries have always honour her in a similar manner.

Eight different species of fish, including cod, haddock, halibut and mackerel, are lying on a beach. Coloured etching by J. Miller after J. Stewart. Wellcome Images; Creative Commons
Eight different species of fish, including cod, haddock, halibut and mackerel, are lying on a beach. Coloured etching by J. Miller after J. Stewart.
Wellcome Images; Creative Commons

While Our Lady as Star of the Sea has ever been the protectress of all sailors, St. Nicholas has in a special sense been the patron of fishing towns. Many caves along the coast of France have been used as chapels in which both the Blessed Virgin and St. Nicholas have had especial honour.

Formerly it was considered a token of great good fortune when mackerel fleets could arrange to start out on May day; and the sailors took delight in decorating May day garlands. When the mackerel nets, with floats attached, were thrown into the water the sailors would sing;
Watch, barrel, watch, mackerel for to catch!
White may they be like a blossom on a tree!
God send thousands, one, two and three!
Some by their heads, some by their tails
God sends thousands, and never fails.
Then the captain would cry “Seas all!” and over the nets would go.

Ships of olden time often bore an image of Our Lady as a figure head. With her leading them they never lacked courage to fare out into the wide waste of waters.
“Catholic Bulletin

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County Clare – 1898

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Kildare Observer 22nd January, 1898 p10

Cliffs of Moher Photo: Norma Scheibe
Cliffs of Moher
Photo: Norma Scheibe

Acrostic on County Clare by Mrs Maunsell – Christmas 1897

Can we fitly sing the praises of our native Clare
Ocean washed, and verdure coated, hills and lakes and valleys fair,
Under trees whose spreading branches ferns flourish, flowers blow;
Now we see wild rocky stretches, Shannon ripple, Fergus flow.
Time has left his track in ruins, noble halls and castles grand,
Yet their stately, silent presence lends a glory to the land.

Cliffs of Moher, proud, majestic, rise unrivalled on the coast
Lovely sands, and snowy billows, lost in wonderment we boast;
And it cannot pass unnoticed, by all lovers of the sea,
Reigning o’er our pleasant homeland, queenly watering place Kilkee
Erin’s sons may well be proud and sing her praises long and loud

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Burren Barracks protest – 1929

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Connacht Tribune 1909-current, 02.03.1929, page 7

New Quay, County Clare
New Quay, County Clare

Poteen running

Over one hundred and fifty signatures, headed by that of the parish priest, have been appended to a petition of protest against the proposed removal of the civic guards’ barracks from New Quay, County Clare. The petition has been forwarded to the Chief Commissioner and is as follows …

read more on In the news at theburrenandbeyond.com

 

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Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh – 2015

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Irish Examiner 8th December 1894 p10

Slemish mountain, County Antrim where, it is told, St Patrick worked as a shepherd while a slave Photo: Man vyi Wikimedia Commons
Slemish mountain, County Antrim where, it is told, St Patrick worked as a shepherd while a slave
Photo: Man vyi
Wikimedia Commons

We wake the echoes by that storied lake
Where sainted Patrick in days of old
Prisoned the wily serpent, which, ’tis told
Still cries unto the saint his bonds to break

Excerpt from A summer night on the Galtees
by T McG

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The legend of the Shamrock – 1921

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Freemans Journal 17th March 1921 P4

Trifolium Photo: Supportstorm Wikimedia Commons
Trifolium
Photo: Supportstorm
Wikimedia Commons

The Legend of the Shamrock
In the news

on theburrenandbeyond.com

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Cruinniú na mBád – New Quay – 1835

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Freeman’s Journal 14th December, 1835 P4

Galway Hooker Photo: Anne Burgess. Wikimedia Commons
Galway Hooker
Photo: Anne Burgess.
Wikimedia Commons

A few days ago a regatta took place at New Quay. Mr O’Connell Esq., M.P. acted as commodore, and he and John Scott, of Cahercon, Esq., both subscribed 10/s towards the amusements. The sailing and rowing matches were excellent.
The chief race for hookers was won by a Connemara boat, in consequence of Flaherty’s boat from the Claddagh having stranded. There was a private match between Mr Scott and Mr J. Hynes with their canoes, which was won by Mr Hynes. Mr O’Connell and Mr Scott remained a week and enjoyed the hospitality of Mr J. Hynes.

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Humour from Aughinish – 1907/1920

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Sunday Independent 29th December 1907 p2 (abridged)

Behind the wall Photo: EO'D
Behind the wall
Photo: EO’D

Four prizes of half a crown each ar awarded every week for the four best jokes received for this column. Below are two prize-winning entries.

Poet to Editor:    “What do you think of this little poem of mine – ‘She would not smile?’

Editor to Poet:   “I think if you had read the poem to her she might have done”

Winner :Miss Nora McInerney
Aughnish, New Quay, Burrin P.O. County Clare

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and from the Sunday independent 17th October 1920 p6

Girl to friend: “I found that astronomer rather dull. He used to talk to me about the stars.”

Friend: “I don’t find him dull,” averred the other girl ecstatically.

“He says he talks to the stars about me.”

Winner: Miss Margaret McInerney,
Aughinish, Kinvarra, Co. Galway.

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The Snowdrop – 1896

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Irish Examiner 30th May, 1896 p12 (abridged)

Photo: V.Kotyak Wikimedia Commons
Photo: V.Kotyak
Wikimedia Commons

A pretty legend is related in connection with the snowdrop;

Eve was weeping because of the dreariness of the earth after she had been driven from Eden. She longed to see a flower once more, but none grew in the place of her banishment. The snow fell steadily.

Eve called to an angel and told him of her woes. The angel came to her, caught a drifting snowflake, breathed upon it, and gave it to her. It transformed, and the Snowdrop was born.

“Summer comes, Eve” said the angel, and he left.  As he did a halo of the little flowers grew from his footprints.

Summer comes.

 

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County Council Elections – 1899

Posted on by The Burren and Beyond

Tuam Herald 11th March, 1899 p4 (abridged)

Photo: Kinvara Stone EO'D
Photo: Kinvara Stone
EO’D

A large and representative meeting of the electors of the parish of Kinvarra was held recently at Kinvarra for the selection of a candidate for the office of County Councillor of the Gort Division and of candidates for the District Councillorship of Kinvarra, Doorus, Killinny and Cahermore.

The Revd John Moloney, P.P. Presided and the attendance included the Revd Father Davoren, C.C. And Messrs J.W. Brady Murray, John Flatley, William Flatley, Fergus O’Dea, John O’Dea (Doorus), John Quinn, PLG; Miko Hynes, Ml O’ Donoghoe, Martin Corless, Patrick Curtin, John Quinn (Kinvarra), Thomas Greene, (Loughcurra), F. Green, P. Hynes PLG; M Brennan, Stephen Leech, Thomas Leech, John Morris, John Fahy, PLG; Thomas O’Halloran, John Finucane, Thomas Fahy, Patrick Hynes, (Corrishooa (sic.)); John Burke, Thomas Burke, Thos Kavanagh, J. O’Connor, Michael Howard, John Tierney, Wm. Whelan, A. Staunton, P. Kennedy, Ml. Kennedy, William Connor, John Davenport, T. Doogan, Ml Grady, E. Holland, F. Fox, Wm. Quinn, Michael Mooney, F. Lally, T. Lally and many others.

Among the ladies present were the Misses Hynes, Mrs Cullinan, Mrs Watson, Mrs Johnston, Mrs O’Halloran, the Misses Joyce and Mrs O’Donnell.

(further details in Kinvara in the news-archives on theburrenandbeyond.com)

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Kinvara Parade – 1910

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Nenagh Guardian 9th July 1910 p6 (abridged)

Photo: Keith Weller/USDA Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Keith Weller/USDA
Wikimedia Commons

There was a striking element of humour on Monday in Kinvara when some stock belonging to Mr Corless, of the Sharpe estate, which were seized as a result of a decree for non-payment of rent, was offered for sale.

The house of Mr Gaffney, another tenant was also taken possession of by the bailiffs as a result of a decree.

The reason assigned by Mr Corless and Mr Gaffney for allowing decrees to be obtained against them is that they wished to make a protest against the attitude of the landlord and the agent.

Before the sale the stock were paraded through the streets of Kinvara. A milch cow was decorated with green ribbons and had a card of membership of the Town Tenants’ League attached to her horns and a card underneath bore the militant motto of “No surrender.”

A calf followed bearing another card with the inscription “Mother’s motto is mine.” Then came a little boy dressed in green, seated on a donkey, with the words “No surrender” printed on his coat.

The animals were purchased for £11 14s the amount of the decree, by Mr Colgan, a U.I.L. organiser. The sheriff’s bailiff then proceeded to Mr Gaffney’s premises and auctioned a pianoforte for £12 16s, Mr Colgan again being the purchaser.

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