River Lore

River Blackwater of South Kilkenny

In 2024 I undertook a major piece of research on behalf of Regina Fitzpatrick. Heritage Officer. Kilkenny Co Council on the River Blackwater of Kilkenny. The Blackwater River might be considered a backwater to the modern reader. Although in a navigable waterway sense...

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Tales of the Estuary

Tales of the Estuary

Our local drama group in East County Waterford has just completed four sold-out shows of a play that highlighted our fishing traditions and heritage of our locality, Tales of the Estuary. Performed to warm and attentive audiences, the play was a one-hour piece that...

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Mudboats

Introduction In the late 19th Century, James Otway, harbour engineer, wrote a paper for the Institution of Civil Engineers of Ireland. His topic was the development of the Port and Harbour of Waterford. The entire paper is a fascinating glimpse into Waterford Port...

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Freney the River Pirate

Many of you will have heard of Freney the Highwayman, but Freney the river pirate?  That's certainly a new one for me. Freney the Highwayman, Freney the Robber, James Freney the noblest highwayman in Ireland. These are just three of the titles I have encountered that...

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Passing of the PS Ida

On Saturday 1st July 1902 the Paddle Steamer Ida ceased operation on the New Ross to Waterford run. The paddle steamers had commenced from the town in 1836 when the newly formed Waterford Steamship Company saw a means of getting agricultural produce to the city...

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Slí Sails – The Suir as a Social Entity

On Tuesday 30th April 2024 I was invited to speak at a gathering aboard the Cailin Deise river cruiser. My brief was to give a sense of the social aspect of the River Suir, and the people who resided upon it. Much of what others had to present was on the environmental...

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Ann – The Lady Smuggler of New Ross

In November 1842 the New Ross barque Ann, arrived at Passage East.  An obligatory inspection by customs officials passed without difficulty and the ship anchored at Cheekpoint to await pilotage to her home port.  However, once in New Ross another customs inspection...

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Flanagans Fish Shop Closure -end of an era

Last week Flanagans closed after a remarkable history of almost 116 years. In fact, a week shy of that, for Martin J Flanagan opened on Friday 28th February 1908. Ironically that was a leap year too. Waterford Standard - Wednesday 26 February 1908; page 2The original...

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An Irish record in cargo handling

Earlier this week Dave O'Hallorahan contacted me via Twitter - yes I know it's got a new name, but it's bad enough to use the platform knowing the new owner, without embracing the change- to say that an interesting ship was off Dunmore. A quick search on Vessel Finder...

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River women

I was delighted to recently present to the Éigse Sliabh Rua on the topic of 19th Century lives along the local South Kilkenny riverbank.  One of the themes I touched on was women’s work. Women played a vital role in the local fishery and seafaring communities...

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The Duncannon Lighthouses

A guest Blog by Pete Goulding. Last month I mentioned in the story about 1790 navigation into Waterford that my good blogging buddy Pete was working on a story of the lighthouses at Duncannon. It's one of those stories I always wanted to tell, but let's face it, when...

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