Sea Lodge:

https://www.google.ie/maps/place/Sea+Lodge+Bed+and+Breakfast/@51.5888057,-9.6016769,13z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0000000000000000:0xb8ae982071583dfd

Sand Boat Landing Sand from Carbery Island, Dunmanus Bay, West Cork and Threshing Machines.

Before the advent of chemical fertilisers in the late 1950s the poor soils of West Cork benefited from sea coral and beach sand rom ares such as Barley Cove which added lime to the soil. In the early 20th century the Arundel family of Ahakista operated a large sand boat. The sand was dredged from a large bank in shallow waters off Carbery Island with a crew of 3-4. Typically 14-15 horse cart loads would be landed. The sand was landed at the Sea Lodge Pier.

Sand was landed at the Abbey in Bantry up to about 1960.

Jack Attridge, Gearhameen, Durrus, West Cork, c 1920-50 with Skeleton of his Boat on Dunmanus Bay and Home Made Threshing Machine.

Courtesy St. James History.

The boat was built with timbers felled from around the Grain Store at Friendly Cove across the bay. They were then floated across the bay to the Priest’s Gate, Gearhameen. The boat was probably a sand boat. The winch was installed but not the engine so it never went into service but would be representative of that type of craft.

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Caesar Otway, Publisher Dublin Penny Journal, Skull to Bantry, 1822.

Lease of 1836, Reenvanagh, Whiddy Island, ‘Covenant to lay out by Lessee (Tobin) Ten Boat Loads (each containing thirty horse loads) of Best Coral Sea Sand Annually of Premises under a penalty of £10.

Among the threshing machines in the Bantry area was one operated by Peter O’Neill (Peter Neal), he was also a cattle dealer of Ballycomane. It was jointly owned by Jacky Cronin a local businessman but Peter worked it with his crew who included Eugene Crowley, Ahagouna, Jack Connolly, Gearhameenn, Bernie Kelly Ballycomane, later Sonny Hosford, Kealties. Like the Whellys of Mealagh the machine went to Waterford when the local threshing was done. The machine ended up rusting in Pete’s yard after the combine harvester came in.

Jeremiah Wholey, Pete Neil (Peter O’Neill, Ballycomane), Bringing the Iron Wheeled Threshing Machine from The Mealagh Valley, West Cork from the 12th October to West Waterford in the 1940s and others in the area, 1910 Threshing Photographs, Coomkeen, Durrus, Jack Attridge’s home built Threshing Machine. Gashes Threshing Machine of Tracton 1950s: