The arrival of Dauntless Courage, Celebrating the History of the RNLI Lifeboats, their crews and the Maritime Heritage of the Dunmore East Community was greeted with a wave of conflicting emotions this week. Joy at seeing the book finally in print, tears of relief after two years of work and pride in the satisfaction of realising a book conceived and raised within a community of volunteers that makes up the RNLI.
Opening the book was a thrill, and the satisfaction of the smell of all those tightly bound hard covered pages only heightened the expectation that comes whenever I open a book. Sometimes the first impressions are let down however, but not in this instance. From the wonderful historic painting on the cover by local marine artist Brian Cleare through to the hundreds of photos and images on the inside, the quality of all are amazing and really bring the book to life.
Running to almost 380 pages author David Carroll takes us on a journey through Dunmore. Quite rightly in my view, David doesn’t start with the first lifeboat, Henry Dodd, in 1884. He starts from the outset of the small little fishing hamlet through to the building of the pier and the coming of the mail packet. Throughout, David continues to ground the lifeboat service in the community of Dunmore and in the life and times of the community which serves to remind the reader that unlike perhaps any other volunteer service, the RNLI relies on the maritime community in which it resides.
David captures some of the more heroic rescues of the past such as the rescue of five fishermen aboard the St Declan in 1952 which saw Paddy Billy Power and Richard Power receive awards for their valour through to the more mundane, but no less important shouts such as the provisioning and repairs to the SS Pauline in Tramore Bay in December 1932. The book is so up to date, it even includes the Lily B rescue carried out off the Hook in October of this year.
Annie Blanch Smith at Dinmore 1958. John Aylward photo.
There are also the first person accounts from personalities in the area, people that are synonymous with the service such as Joefy Murphy, Frances Glody or John Walsh. Sadly one of those recorded died before the book came to print, Stephen Whittle. But this just highlights the importance of the book still further, in capturing and recording the first person accounts of those who have given so much.
It also records the crew, and the photos of those behind the scenes, the station support, the fundraising committee, the less glamorous jobs but without which such a service has no hope of maintaining itself.
The book is a testament to the volunteer committee that established around David to fundraise to bring the book to fruition. It is also a timely boost to the fundraising fortunes of the station in these covid restrictive times. But it is also a testament to the abilities of David Carroll, ably supported by his wife Pauline, and his deep regard for Dunmore and the people of the RNLI that the book has come to print.
David in company with Brendan Dunne; lifeboat volunteer and a driving force behind the project
Dauntless Courage, Celebrating the History of the RNLI Lifeboats, their crews and the Maritime Heritage of the Dunmore East Community is David’s first book, but I hope it won’t be his last. It deserves to be read by anyone with an interest in Dunmore East, anyone who enjoys maritime history, and anyone who supports the work of the RNLI.
The book is currently flying off the shelves. For stockists of the book and online orders check out the project website
On the week that Dauntless Courage arrives from the publishers to local shops, (December 2020) I asked author David Carroll to whet the appetite with a short guest blog about a rescue that is legendary in Dunmore East due to the skill and bravery shown by the lifeboat crew in rescuing local fishermen.
On Thursday, December 14, 1950, the Dunmore East lifeboat Annie Blanche Smith was called out and the Munster Express of the following day, reported as follows:
IN THE NICK OF TIME Dunmore Fishing Crew Saved from Certain Death LIFEBOAT BRAVES SNOW, BLIZZARD AND HIGH SEAS Last night (Thursday) at 8 o’clock, the fishing boats were coming into Dunmore, having been out since 10a.m. that day when it was reported to Mr. Arthur Westcott-Pitt, that flares were seen three miles west of Dunmore, off the dangerous Falskirt Rocks, near Rathmoylan Cove. Immediately Mr. Pitt ordered the lifeboat to go to sea to their assistance. At the time there was a terrific snow blizzard, with visibility practically nil, and it was doubtful if the lifeboat would be able to see the boat in distress.
…a very high south-easterly wind prevailed. The lifeboat left Dunmore at 8pm and nothing more was seen or heard of her for over two hours by watchers on the cliffs. Then the lifeboat appeared towing back McGrath’s fishing boat. What happened in the meantime can only be described as one of the most gallant feats of the Lifeboat Institution, thanks to the bravery of the Dunmore crew, which was as follows: Patrick Power (coxswain), Rd Power (second coxswain), Richard Murphy (chief mechanic) Michael Whittle (second mechanic), Maurice Power (deck hand).
Annie Blanch Smith and her crew at Dunmore East 1958. A John Aylward photo.
The lifeboat crew searched the sea for the boat, and at first were unable to locate it and then to their amazement, found her a ship’s length of going on the Falskirt Rocks. To the utmost risk of the lifeboat and crew, the members went in amongst the rocks.
The distressed boat had previously dropped an anchor and sent out flares, but owing to the big seas, the anchor chain was smashed. To slow up the boat from making towards the cliffs-and their doom-the fishing crew threw out the herring nets, and this formed a brake slowing their relentless momentum towards the rocks and subsequent drowning.
Falskirt on a calm day. Photo Neville Murphy
Just in the nick of time, the lifeboat crew threw them a line and saved them. In only a matter of moments, the fishing boat would have been smashed to atoms, with the loss of five men. It appears that the engine of the fishing boat had failed a few hours previously when they sent up flares and threw out the anchor. But for great fortune and the bravery of the lifeboatmen, the fishermen would likely to have been lost in a night of terrible conditions. Mr Westcott-Pitt wrote the following at the end of the Service Report:
I would particularly like to bring to your notice the bravery of the Coxswain and 2nd Coxswain who successfully carried out a wonderful rescue. The 2nd Coxswain at the wheel took the lifeboat into the half submerged Falskirt Rocks in a snow blizzard during a full SE gale with the full knowledge that herring nets were drifting all around so as to enable the Coxswain to get a line on board the St Declan thus to rescue the five men- who were certainly doomed but for the brave and cool courage of the Cox, 2nd Cox and crew.
*John (Rocky) Power was listed in the official Service Report as a member of the crew. His name was omitted from the newspaper account. Skipper of the Saint Declan was Paddy Matty Power. Also, aboard was John Dunne of Coxtown, a stalwart of the lifeboat crew for many years, Jack Whittle, Dick Bulligan Power and Davy O’Rourke.
The Munster Express dated February 16, 1951 carried the following report:
GALLANTRY OF DUNMORE EAST LIFEBOAT MEN R.N.L.I. Awards for Rescue in Gale The R.N.L.I. has awarded to Coxswain Patrick Power of its lifeboat at Dunmore East, Co. Waterford, a clasp to the bronze medal for gallantry which he won in 1941; the bronze medal to Second-Coxswain Richard Power and £3 10s. to them and each other member of the crew, for the rescue on the night of December 14 of the fishing boat, “St. Declan” and her crew in a gale with blizzards of snow. The lifeboat found the fishing boat close to the dangerous Falskirt Rocks. She was riding to her nets. In a few minutes she would have struck the rocks, the nets would have closed round her, and a rescue been impossible. The lifeboat went close to her, a line was thrown, and using 80 fathoms anchor cable, the lifeboat towed the fishing boat clear. This was done in extreme darkness in the teeth of the gale, with the tide running against the wind and a high sea breaking fiercely on the rocks. The lifeboat was handled with great courage and superb seamanship.
The awards took place in London on March 13, 1951 at a RNLI ceremony, where presentation was made by the Duchess of Kent. Coxswain Paddy Billy Power was awarded a bar to the bronze medal which he won in 1941 and Second Coxswain Richard Power a bronze medal. Coxswain Edward Kavanagh of Wicklow was also a recipient at the same ceremony.
Paddy Billy Power with The Duchess of Kent , London, March 13, 1951. Photo: John Aylward
After the presentation, a spray of shamrock was given to the Duchess of Kent by the three men from Ireland. In her speech, the Duchess said “it was with great pleasure that she had an opportunity of acknowledging the bravery and courage of men from lifeboat stations in Ireland”. She said: “No praise is too high for the 2,000 men who, year after year, carry out their work of rescue with a cheerful disregard of the dangers of every kind which attend this work.”
Get David Carrolls new book on the history of the Dunmore East RNLI, Dauntless Courage now!
Thank you, David, what a stirring account of a dramatic rescue. I first heard of it while drifting for herring as a boy myself and the description of the lifeboat managing to get alongside a fishing boat in such conditions and with the driftnets all around, filled me with awe. There are many such daring accounts in David’s by-now classic account of the Dunmore East Lifeboat – Dauntless Courage, which was published in December 2020.
As any blog regular will know, the lifeboats and their actions are a feature of so many of the stories on Tides and Tales. So it is with great anticipation that we look forward to the forthcoming Dauntless Courage, a history of the Dunmore East Lifeboat Station in the coming weeks. And even more so, as it is one of our own, a regular guest blogger on the page, David Carroll who is the author. Some further details below.
Radio presenter Damien Tiernan will lead an online panel discussion (Wednesday 25 November at 8 pm) with ‘Dauntless Courage’ author David Carroll and Dunmore East RNLI volunteer crew members.
WLR FM radio presenter, former South East correspondent for RTE and author of ‘Souls of the Sea’ Damien Tiernan will lead the panel discussion with the author of ‘Dauntless Courage’ David Carroll who will also be joined by Dunmore East RNLI volunteer crew members Brendan Dunne and Neville Murphy. The launch is coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Glenmalure Tragedy which is featured in the book.
‘Dauntless Courage’: Celebrating the History of the Dunmore East RNLI, their crews and the Maritime Heritage of the Local Community. All proceeds from the book will be going to the local Dunmore East Lifeboat Fundraising Branch to support the saving of lives on our seas.
After several years researching and writing of the book, the public unveiling will take place online with an in-depth panel discussion of the research involved in writing the book, the characters behind the lifejackets, the many acts of courage that took place far from shore, and a look at the local community that was so often the backbone of every crew that took to sea to save those whose lives were in peril.
L-R Damien Tiernan, David Carroll, Brendan Dunne and Neville Murphy
The online event will take place on Wednesday 25 November at 8 pm for approximately forty minutes, with a live Q&A session for attendees afterwards. Registration for the event can be made by clicking here
David Carroll, author of Dauntless Courage said: ‘What has really struck me about writing this book has been the amazing goodwill and generosity of so many people who have helped to make this book possible, especially all the interesting and historic photographs and paintings that we have been given access to for inclusion in the book’.
David in company with Brendan Dunne on a research trip (pre covid) to Poole
Damian Tiernan, WLR FM radio presenter said: ‘I am honoured and delighted to be hosting this discussion, I have a long association with members of the RNLI in Dunmore and I worked closely with them over the years. The publication is a wonderful record of all that has happened complete with superb pen portraits and descriptions of events and superbly written and produced’.
Here’s what Dr Pat McCarthy has to say about the book
I must admit I am really looking forward to the book. I’m hoping that if time allows David may do a guest blog featuring one of the rescues that the lifeboat and her crew were involved with in the coming weeks. You can preorder the book now. All proceeds go to the local Dunmore East Lifeboat Fundraising Branch to support the saving of lives on our seas. If you have any questions or need further information on the book you can email dunmorelifeboatbook@gmail.com
Shanoon, Sean Uaimh – “Old Cave” Canon Patrick Power, Place names of the Decies
Pedantic people might tell you that Shanoon, the rugged stretch of high cliff that overlooks the harbour at Dunmore East is strictly not within the ‘Three Sisters Family’ of Rivers, Suir, Barrow, and Nore. I would beg to differ. One Royal Charter afforded to the merchants of Waterford enhanced the role of the Mayor, by adding the title Admiral of the Port of Waterford, whose outer limits were specified as a line linking Hook Head in County Wexford with Red Head, just west of what is now Dunmore East. So ‘Shanoon’ gets in by the skin of its teeth as it is close to Red Head[1]
A chart from 1787 (Before the harbour at Dunmore East was built) showing Shanoon Point in relation to Red Point (Red Head) and Hook Point..[2]
But Shanoon was famous an exceptionally long time before 1356. Long before recorded history, people lived close to the area. Prehistoric artefacts collected over a forty-year period by the late Noel McDonagh, a former Dunmore East fisherman in the area close to Creadan Head, having been examined by eminent archaeologists, concluded that some of these finds were over 10,000 years old. This indicates that the area would have been one of the oldest settlements in Ireland.[3]
For protection from enemies or wild animals, small communities would erect their huts on narrow strips of cliff-top which projected out into the sea. On the inland side of this projection an embankment would be erected as a defensive measure. These habitations were known as promontory forts and Iron Age people established a promontory fort overlooking the sea at Shanoon. [4]
The name Dunmore derives from Dún Mór – the Great Fort [5], which was a promontory fort built close to Black Knob on Shanoon near the old Pilot Station. This should not be confused with a large castle, believed by Julian Walton to have been built by Lord Power of Curraghmore around the late 15th century, probably in the 1470s, of which only one tower remains today, close to Ladies’ Cove.[6]
Nowadays, a well-appointed car park has been constructed on Shanoon, which gives motorists a splendid view of the entrance to Waterford Harbour, and the Hook Peninsula. It also the starting point for a delightful walk along the cliffs-tops out and back to Portally of four kilometers. Learn more about this walk from Ray McGrath’s Gaultier Heritage Rambles:
When I was growing up in the 1950’s, the Shanoon played a big part in my life. It was a larger area then, before the 1960’s when part of it was blasted away to provide the material to construct the new fishing harbour.
This aerial photograph taken before WW2 shows Shanoon very much like it was during the 1950s. Anecdotally, the photo was taken by the RAF who were carrying out reconnaissance of the Irish coastline.
The three abiding memories that I had of Shanoon, growing up were: Pilots, cows, and ‘Black Knob’.
When I was a boy, the Waterford Harbour Pilots were based in the look-out station perched strategically on top of Shanoon. From here, in a time before modern navigational aids, they were able to observe all shipping arriving at the entrance to Waterford Harbour bound for the ports of Waterford and New Ross. As Ray McGrath has written “Waterford Harbour Pilots have come from a small number of Dunmore and Passage families, including the Glodys, the Fitzgeralds, the Walshs, the Bastons, Whittys, and Dohertys. Mariners owe much to their knowledge, skill and dedication”. [7]
At the time, a myth abounded that the pilots had been based on Shanoon for more than a century but in recent years, I have learned that this was not true. What happened was that when a new pilot cutter Betty Breen arrived in 1951 to replace the Lily Doreen, the pilots found the accommodation onboard to be very cramped and decided to move to the station on Shanoon, which was lying vacant at the time.[8]
To get from the station to the pilot boat, the pilots took a short cut down a steep path in the cliff closest to the harbour. This was not a path for the faint-hearted as a slip could end in tragedy. Needless, to say, I was under strict instructions from my parents never to attempt to take that path to gain access to Shanoon.
Also, during the 1950s, William Power of Powers Bar, who has had a butcher’s shop beside the pub, rented the Shanoon from the Office of Public Works (OPW) for the purpose of grazing some of his cattle. The nuns teaching in the nearby Convent School often became alarmed when they looked out and saw cows dangerously grazing right at the very edge of the cliff on the harbour side of Shanoon. As a pupil in school, until I was aged eight years old, I can still recall the nuns despatching a senior girl up the village to raise the alarm and witness Andy Taylor, the butcher, still in his butchers apron, and a young Billy Power running down the road with sticks to hunt the cows back from the edge of the cliff.
A more recent aerial photo of Shanoon, reduced in size. The arch that joined Black Knob with Shanoon is now missing. It was a victim of a severe 1960s gale. The remains of a gun-post used during the ‘Emergency’ are still visible. Photo: Neville Murphy
‘Black Knob’ was the rock at the end of Shanoon, where the cliff took a 90˚ turn towards the start of the pier at Dunmore East. It was probably during a severe gale in the 1960s that the arch that joined it to Shanoon collapsed into the sea. The landmark had great significance for me as I was strictly forbidden from going past it alone in a boat as at that point you would be away from sight in the harbour, where my father kept a vigilant watch. For a brief period, I used to set a lobster pot close to Black Knob behind the pier but fishing for shellfish was not my strongest forte.
One thing that I still regret is that I never had to explore or even view from close-up the cave that runs under Shanoon. It is called ‘Merlin’s Cave or Cove’ on charts. Access from the cliff is impossible and even trying to get close in a small rowing boat would be dangerous and probably not recommended.
Shanoon has witnessed and withstood a lot of bad weather over the years. It is particularly vulnerable to severe weather coming from a south-easterly direction. A poet, who only described him or herself as ‘MH’ submitted a seventeen-verse poem to the Munster Express in 1895. It tells of the dreadful storm took place in 1888 when the Alfred D Snow was lost on the County Wexford side of Waterford Harbour. The ‘cone’ raised on Shanoon would have been a signal hoisted by the Coastguards to warn of an impending storm. Here are the first three verses:
A GALE AS ONCE WITNESSNED IN DUNMORE EAST All early in the bleak forenoon The cone is raised on the Shanoon; And every sign on sea and land Denotes a gale is at hand.
The sky is of a sable hue, Which almost hides the Hook from view, And from the strands and coves below White bubbles around the village blow.
As if disporting in the sky, In all directions, seagulls fly. While by the cliffs and darksome caves, Black divers stem the curling waves.
Submitted as a contribution to Heritage Week 2020
[1] Brophy, Anthony Port of Waterford: Extracts from the Records of the Waterford Harbour Commissioners from their Establishment in 1816 to the Report of the Ports and Harbours Tribunal, 1930. Decies No 60, 2004.
Over a three-day period of January 22nd, 23rd and
24th 1862, a large number of shipwrecks and loss of life took
place in Waterford Harbour and along the County Waterford coastline, making it
probably one of the most catastrophic events in the maritime history of
Waterford.
The ferocity of the weather was best demonstrated from a report that the Coningbeg light-ship dragging her anchor for a distance of four and a half miles, when it had held firm in other recent storms*.
The Daily Express of Monday January 27th 1862 reported that “at Dunmore, the sea rolled clear over the Pier Head, and rushed with great violence up a considerable part of the town.”
Meanwhile the Waterford Mail on the same day reported: “We have had a succession of storms such as we have not had to record for many years. “Old Ocean” has been in one of his rough moods, and has strewn our coast with shipwrecks. The gale of Wednesday was sufficient to alarm the heart of every one who had a single relative or connection with the water. A lull took place on Thursday, but it was followed, on Friday morning, by one of the most terrific hurricanes we remember, and the casualties have been terrible to record….”
A sense of the scene. SS Royal Charter lost at Angelsea 1859. source: Wikipedia (Public Domain)
What follows is a full account of the local losses over those three terrible days
1 ‘Active’
“The storm of Wednesday caught the little schooner Active of
Cork, supposed to have been laden with coals, off the coast of Annestown, and
the captain evidently finding that he could not weather the gale, tried to
beach the ship in Annestown bay, and in doing so a tremendous sea caught her,
and dashed her to pieces against the rock. Five persons were seen on her deck,
none of whom were saved, and it supposed that her crew consisted of nine
persons – None of the bodies have been washed ashore. While the coastguards
were engaged in watching the goods washed ashore from the Active, they were alarmed to hear of
the loss of another, a large vessel, in the same locality.” (1)
2‘Indian Ocean’ was the
large vessel, the story of which has an interesting twist.
“Supposed Loss of an Emigrant Ship and all on board, – At five o’clock on
yesterday (Friday) morning a large emigrant ship was beat to pieces at
Annestown. Her deck was crowded with crew and passengers. It is much to be
apprehended every one of them perished. From a paper washed ashore the vessel
is believed to be the ‘Indian Ocean’, which sailed from Liverpool for
Sydney, New South Wales, last Monday. She was laden with a valuable
cargo, of general assortment, with which the coast is strewn. The paper is a
printed form, signed for W.Nichol and Co., dated 2nd January
1861, at Bombay, directing the commanding officer of the ‘Indian Ocean’ to
receive fifty bales of cotton, and give a bill of lading.” (2)
“Wreck on the Coast of Ireland.- The large vessel lost off the coast
of Ireland on Friday, is now fully ascertained, was the Indian Ocean of
Liverpool. With the confirmation of the fact of her loss, comes the welcome
intelligence that the captain and crew of twenty-five persons, supposed to have
gone down with the wreck, were all saved by the timely arrival of the ‘Europa’,
which took them off the vessel before she drifted ashore. The ‘Europa’ was on
her voyage from St. John’s to Liverpool, and landed the whole of the rescued
men at the latter port on Saturday. (3)
3 ‘Queen of Commerce’
“A little to the west of Dunmore lies a little bay called Ballymacaw, and into was driven a very fine vessel bound from Antwerp to Liverpool, where she was chartered as a passenger ship. The captain availed himself of the idea of which had been put out respecting wind kites. He tied a line to a hencoop, and flung it overboard; it was found to be too light and did not float ashore as could be wished, and was drawn on board, and the line attached to a lifebuoy, which was washed ashore and gladly secured by the coast-guard. A rope of sufficient strength was then sent ashore, and taken up from the beach to the cliff where it was made fast and thus the entire crew, 23 in number were rescued from the waves.” (4)
Post publication, Olivia Murray commented on this piece to state that as part of her Ballymacaw Coastguard research, that the Chief Boatman in Charge at Ballymacaw Coastguard Station at the time was John Donovan – he and local fisherman James Gough received RNLI Medals for their part in rescuing the crew of 2.
The author David Carroll on rt, his wife Pauline and Michael Farrell chair Barony of Gaultier Historical Society on a recent trip to Brownstown Brownstown head, in more settled weather.
4 ‘Nairne’
“The Nairne, Captain Ness, of
Leith, and bound for Havannah with coals, was caught by the storm off
Brownstown Head at the western shore of Tramore bay. The haze and rain
prevented the captain or crew from thinking they were so near the coast;
suddenly the mist cleared and they saw the ominous towers on Brownstown Head,
just at the same moment a sea struck the vessel and washed the man at the wheel
overboard, and almost instantaneously the vessel struck with such violence that
the masts went by the board. Fortunately, they fell towards the land, and
formed a bridge from the vessel to the cliff. The captain and crew immediately
clambered up the perilous ascent, some of them almost without clothes, and just
as the last man reached terra firma the ship was engulphed in the waves, and
masts and spars were floating in the ocean. The captain and crew were immediately taken charge of by Mr. Thomas
Walsh, who acts as sub-agent for Mr. Barnes, the representative of the
Shipwrecked Mariner’s Society, and they were provided with the necessaries
which they required. Some of them have reached Waterford, but others have been
unable to be removed from Brownstown. (5)
5 ‘Tiger’
The Tiger, of Bath, N.S., bound from Liverpool for Boston, with
a general cargo, was on Wednesday, driven near Creden Head. Two of the sailors
tried to get ashore with a line, but the boat swamped, and they were thrown
into the foaming surge. The captain and those on board, tried to aid them, by
flinging ropes, life bouys etc., to them, but they drifted away, and the men
were both lost. The vessel held together until the weather moderated, when the
rest of the crew- 23 in number-were brought by Mr. Boyse, sub-agent to Josiah
Williams, Esq. Lloyd’s agent of this port. They reached this on Friday morning
in the Tintern. The Tiger has since become a total wreck”. (6)
Loss of the SS Central America. source: National Maritime Museum London (Public Domain) Although again not a local depiction I thought it gave an accurate if frightening sense of the scenes depicted by David
6 ‘Loss of a Schooner, and all hands’
“A very fine schooner was also seen running for this harbour. She made her
way most gallantly until, when in the act of cutting a sea, she was struck with
violence on her quarter; she was seen to stagger from the force of the blow,
and before she could recover, another large wave struck her and capsized her.
She went down with all hands. “ (7)
From my reading of the books written by Edward J. Bourke, this
schooner was lost at Red Head, close to Dunmore.
7 ‘The Sarah Anne’
“This fine schooner, the property of Capt. Curran, was lost on Wednesday in
Dungarvan bay. She was laden with coals, and bound from Cardiff for Waterford.
She was blown past our harbour and lost near Ballynacourty on 22nd inst.
Her master, John McCarthy, her mate, Thomas Connery, and also Thos. Dowse,
seaman, and Maurice Connery, boy, were natives of this city.” (8)
8 ‘Loss of an Austrian Ship,
and all hands.’
“A fine vessel supposed to have been an Austrian, which was seen from Dunmore
on Friday, inside Hook Tower, was struck by an awful surge, and went down, and
not a soul has been saved.” (9)
9 ‘The Sophia’
“The vessel, belonging to Mr.
Bellord, of this city, laden with coals, from Cardiff, was while running into
this harbour, struck by a sea, near Creden Head, with such violence that her
wheel was broken and she became almost unmanageable. The captain (Barry)
succeeded in getting her inside Creden Head, and beached her in comparatively
still water. The crew was brought off by the pilot cutter Gannet.” (10)
10 ‘The Angelica’
During the gale on Monday, the Angelica, of Genoa, Domina
master, from New York, with grain, which had called into Queenstown for orders
and taken a Cork pilot on board was, while on her voyage to Newcastle, driven
into our harbour. (The wind blowing strong from the south west.) She was unable
to bear up for Passage, and struck on Creden Bay bank, close to the Sophia. The Duncannon and City
of Paris steamers tried yesterday evening to tow her off, but failed
in their attempt, though the vessel was lightened by throwing some of the wheat
overboard. The crew are all safe.” (11)
The inclusion of the Angelica, brings the list of vessels lost
to ten, which is what the main headline in the Waterford Mail stated.
Disaster, was not confined to the County Waterford coastline. Other parts
of the country were also witness to tragic losses and Waterford ships were
casualties of the severe weather elsewhere. Further reading of newspapers of the time record that the stern portion of
the Martha of Wexford was washed ashore near Waterford with no
news of her crew.
The Waterford Mail also reported on January 27th as
follows:
“It is our melancholy duty to report
the total loss of this fine schooner on the south-west coast. Her master
(Thomas) and three of her crew have also been lost. The Prudence (148
tons register) was built of oak at Bedford, and owned by Messrs. White Brothers
of this city. She was laden with oats and bound from Limerick to London. We are
sorry to hear that was uninsured.”
The paper also reported that the S.S. Diana of Waterford
from London for Rotterdam was reported on shore at Brielle. (South Holland.) Amongst all the sad and poignant reports
of vessels and crews being lost, it was pleasing to see recorded that the
steamer Vesta arrived safely to Waterford:
SAFE ARRIVAL OF THE VESTA
“The arrival of the Vesta steamer from Liverpool created quite a sensation in this city on Saturday. She had sailed on Wednesday, and faced both terrific storms of Wednesday night and Friday morning. She had a terrific conflict with the elements; but owing to the good seamanship of Captain Coffey and the crew, she made her voyage with less loss than might have been anticipated. During her passage the storm was so great that the man at the helm was lashed to the wheel to prevent him being washed over-board and the mate was with him to steer the vessel………..” (12)
Both S.S. Diana and S.S. Vesta were part
of the large fleet of ships owned by the Malcomson family. Both vessels
had been built in Govan, Glasgow and not in their own Neptune iron shipyard in
Waterford.
Well thats 2019 off to a great guest blogging start! I am indebted to David Carroll for this excellent report, giving as it does not just an historical record but a clear sense of the danger and difficulties posed to 19th Century sailors. It brings the value of the modern meteorological service into sharp focus. Perhaps those who would like to criticise forecasters for weather warnings and trying to keep people safe should dwell a moment or two on events such as these and how fortunate we now are
If you would like to submit a guest blog I would be delighted to receive it. Its an opportunity for anyone to contribute to telling the story of the area on the last Friday of the month. It needs to be something in relation to the maritime history of the three sister rivers, harbour or our coastline, about 1200 words, word doc format and submitted to tidesntales@gmail.com
In next months guest blog Roy Dooney brings us the story of the building of Dunmore Harbour. And its a beauty.
If you want further information/a different perspective on the events of the day, I published a story previously sourced from the News & Star
References:
(1) Waterford
Mail, Monday January 27, 1862
(2) Dublin
Evening Mail, Monday January 27, 1862
(3) Derbyshire
Courier, February 1, 1862
(4) Waterford
Mail, Monday January 27, 1862
(5) Waterford
Mail, Monday January 27, 1862
(6) Waterford
Mail, Monday January 27, 1862
(7) Waterford
Mail, Monday January 27, 1862
(8) Waterford
Mail, Monday January 27, 1862
(9) Waterford
Mail, Monday January 27, 1862
(10) Waterford
Mail, Monday January 27, 1862
(11) Waterford
Mirror and Tramore Visiter, January 30, 1862
(12) Waterford
Mail, Monday January 27, 1862
See also ‘Shipwreck of the Irish Coast’ Vol. 3
by Edward J. Bourke
*According to John Power “A maritime history of Co Wexford” Vol I, (2011) p 66 what saved the Coningbeg lightship (Seagull) was the hard work of her master and crew, who deployed a standby anchor which fortunately held. A news report I read stated she was back on her station by Sunday that same week.
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Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
