Importance of Lough Corrib in the early 1900s

Transcription

1 Importance of Lough Corrib in the early 1900s Michael J. Hynes REACH for hynes Inland Waterways Association of Ireland, Corrib Cumann Uiscebhealaigh Intíre na héireann 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 1

2 Maam Cornamona Cong Inishdooras Inchagoill Inishmicatreer Inchiquin Rabbit Island Kilbeg Oughterard Carrowmoreknock Collinamuck) Aughnacurra Friars Cut Galway 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 2

3 Corrib has played a key role in transport since early times The 2,500-year-old Annaghkeen log-boat (radio carbon dated) Early bronze age 12 m long (39 ) It is well preserved To date 4 log-boats located Dividers (4 in total) Central spine (hog) 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 3

4 Iron spearheads from a Rabbit Island Boat 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 4

5 State of the art Viking Battleaxes from the Corrib Carrowmoreknock Viking Boat (11 th Century) 6 m long 4 Rowers 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 5

6 The Rinnaknock boat (only one actually raised) 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 6

7 Why travel the lake in 1900? The potential of the Corrib as a transport means was recognised in 1800s and by 1850 there were ca. 110 boats of from 5 to 8 tons capacity plying the Corrib 5 tons would be ca. 25 ; 8 tons would be ca. 30 Friars cut was made navigable in 1845 Lake was surveyed in 1846 Eglinton Canal was constructed between 1848 and 1852 Plans to link Mask and Corrib to enable navigation from Galway to Ballina. Roads around the Corrib were dire A cart took 1 day to carry 1 ton from Galway to Cong A boat could carry 10 tons + 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 7

8 Lots of traffic on lake by beginning of 20 th century Large piers at Woodquay, Kilbeg, Oughterard and Cong Smaller piers at Annaghdown, Keelkyle (Keekill), Knockferry, Annaghkeen, Ballynalty, Ballymagibbon and Maam. Coal Quay catered for Clonbur area Pier at Doon catered for Doon house, Carragarew and Drumsnamh. 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 8

9 Some of the Corrib Steamers O Connell (a small paddle steamer) Enterprise (owned by a man named Hodgson)(Tigress??) Father Daly - a very famous boat The Lioness (owned by Hodgson for ore transport) The Lady Eglinton (paddle steamer of 94 tons, 115 long with a beam of 16 and a draft of 7 6 ) Largest on Corrib Saint Patrick Widgeon (renamed Cliodhna) (Capt Pat O Walsh) Fairy Queen (capacity of >150 passengers) Fairy Queen went to Scotland in 1913 and was replaced by the S.S. Cadogan (came from the Shannon) Corrib Advance (captain Walsh)(engine was a French Advance) Marina for carrying wood sank near the hill of Doon in Feb /06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 9

10 Countess Cardogan 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 10

11 Fairy Queen at Hill of Doon 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 11

12 Pat O Walsh and crew at Woodquay Ship is the Widgeon renamed Cliodhna 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 12

13 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 13

14 Turf Boat at Inchagoill 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 14

15 Sackboat under Sail off Portacarron 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 15

16 1907 Tourism and Employment Fishing gave employment to 50 men in Oughterard Got 11/6 ( 0.57) a day if they had a boat Typically caught 8 trout per day Sold at 1/8 ( 0.08)a pound Four hotels in Oughterard at that time Currarevagh had run as a sporting lodge since 1890 Still have a brochure dated 1900 with travel instructions from Euston to Currarevagh Euston to Oughterard by train! 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 16

17 Guinness Family and the Corrib A very positive impact on both the infrastructure and the quality of life enjoyed by people around the Corrib, especially in Cong. Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness purchased Ashford House (Castle) in 1852 Worked tirelessly to improve the estate and the quality of life of the tenants until his death in 1868 (read Henry Coulter s book) Employed over 300 people at a time when there was little alternative employment Reclaimed lands, built bridges, planted many trees Sir Benjamin succeeded by his son Lord Ardilaun Continued the work of his father Planted over one million trees on the estate 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 17

18 Ashford Castle today 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 18

19 Lord Ardilaun continues the work Constructed 40 km of pathways on the estate still there In early 1900s, spent one million pounds extending Ashford Castle This gave lots of employment Died in 1915 before work was complete Sponsored the steamer Lady Eglinton which plied between Galway, Oughterard and Cong for 20 years Other steamers could not cope with traffic He contributed to the establishment of Oughterard hatchery in /06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 19

20 Many visitors came to Ashford Visitors came to fish and shoot Ashford was famous for its wookcock shoots Six guns shot 587 woodcock over 5 days from 28 th Jan to 2 nd Feb in 1910 These activities created significant employment The man who was to become George V visited Ashford in 1905 and a dining room was named in his honour The George V dining room still exists today 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 20

21 Mining & Poitín making Mines in Maam (the Clements mine reworked in 1908) Ore shipped to Galway by steamer Curraun Glengowla (now a mining museum) Poitín making was practised on both west and eastern shores See An Stilléara in Cumhacht na Cinneamhna by Tomás Bairéad (a Moycullen man) 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 21

22 Poteen Makin on Lough Corrib 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 22

23 Boat Building Many boat builders around the Corrib John and Michael Walsh Initially located in Oughterard Family were boat builders for over 300 years Moved to Galway and set up in Woodquay in 1882 Built and sold many types of boats 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 23

24 John Lynch Boat building Worked in a team located where the Bailey Allen hall in NUIG is currently located Built a twin-screw steamer for the Galway-Liverpool run Named The Emerald Went down the Eglinton canal 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 24

25 Kinneavy s (Keneavey) Started building row boats, sail boats and pucans in Inchagoill in 1861 Large workshop on the island Had a steam engine to drive the saws Martin Kinneavy moved to Camp street in Oughterard in 1912 Son Patrick took over business and Kinneavys built boats in Oughterard until 1966 Last boat built by Patrick (Paddy) in 1960 for a Tom Coyne was restored in 1996 Martin Keneavey listed as a boat builder/farmer in House #3 on Inchagoill in the 1911 census. He and Katie had 5 children 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 25

26 Partial restoration of houses in Inchagoill ( ) 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 26

27 Kinneavy s Boiler 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 27

28 Angling Rowing Recreation Sailing/Yachting races were held Off the Friar s Cut Annaghdown Kilbeg Galway Bay (down Eglinton canal on Sat race on Sun) Regattas held at Oughterard and Cong One marathon race from Steamer s Quay to Cong and back The Galway Regatta was so important a social event that workers got a half day off to attend. 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 28

29 Menlo regatta /06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 29

30 Kilbeg Regatta /06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 30

31 Crowd and Steamer at the 1911 Kilbeg Regatta 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 31

32 Yachting at Baurasheen /06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 32

33 A day s catch from the Carrick shore /06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 33

34 Corrib Club Rowing clubs around 1900 (1) Competitive rowing on the Corrib began in 1864 when the Corrib Club was formed (officially called the Corrib Rowing and Yachting Club). The Club opened at Wood Quay for a short time, then moved to adjacent to the Weir and remained there until 1903 when it opened in its current location. Commercial Club The current Commercial Club was formed in 1868 under the name of the Galway Commercial. Relations between the Corrib and Commercial clubs appear to have been cordial and it was proposed to have inter-club races every Monday evening. 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 34

35 Rowing clubs around 1900 (2) The Royal Galway Yacht Club The Royal Galway Yacht Club was founded in 1882 and competition in both rowing and yachting flourished on the river and the lake. Saint Patrick s Rowing Club (The Temperance Club) Saint Patrick s Rowing Club, also know as the Temperance Club was formed between 1875 and 1885 to provide facilities for the members of the Temperance movement in Galway. Hibernian Boat Club/ Celtic Rowing Club/Galway Rowing Club In April 1910, the Ancient Order of Hibernians formed The Hibernian Boat Club with 40 members but later changed its name to the Celtic Rowing Club. This eventually became the Galway Rowing Club. 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 35

36 Rowing clubs around 1900 (3) The Galway Athletic Rowing Club The Galway Athletic Rowing Club opened at the same time as the Saint Patrick s Temperance Club and participated in the local regattas. Citie of the Tribes Rowing Club In 1924 the Citie of the Tribes Rowing Club was formed for the Committees and Members of all the other clubs. The crews were selected from the best oarsmen of these clubs. The Menlo Emmets Rowing Club Having been refused membership of the Hibernian Rowing Club in the city, the men from Menlo formed The Menlo Emmets Rowing Club 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 36

37 Tom Ruane 1916 and the Civil War Captain of the Second Western Division of the Irish Republican Army, from Hid out in Moycullen and had a 1,000 reward on his head Often travelled onto an island in Lough Corrib whenever he was in danger. He was eventually captured as a result of two RIC men in Galway snatching his wife s handbag which contained a letter that included his Moycullen address. 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 37

38 Padraig Ó Máille Kilmilkin Ambush A Sinn Féin member of the first Dáil lived in Mounterown in the Maam Valley and was an avid republican and commanded an active flying column. The column was involved in an action on 23rd April 1921, the Mounterown ambush in which an RIC constable from Oughterard was killed. This action is sometimes referred to as the Kilmilkin ambush. 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 38

39 Tom Maguire ( ) commandant-general of the Western Command of the Irish Republican Army and leader of the South Mayo flying column. [ Lived in Cross On February eighteen volunteers were arrested in Annaghdown, and brought to Galway gaol. It was given out that all were well armed. Even though it was expected that all, or a number of them, would be shot, nothing happened. Feb 1923 The barracks in Headford was one of the targets selected. The attack resulted in the deaths of four men, Volunteers John Higgins and Daniel McCormack (subsequently) and two Free State soldiers. Arising from this attack, Francis Cunnane (Headford ), Michael Monaghan (Headford ), Martin Moylan (Annaghdown ), John Maguire (Galway), James or John Newell (Galway ), and James O Malley (Oughterard ) were arrested and executed on April in Tuam. All these men were part of Tom Maguire s Division. 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 39

40 Acknowledgements Maurice Semple books Trevor Northage Current Archaeology (July 2014) 10/06/2016 Farming and Country Life, Athenry 40