1880 The Misery in Distressed Durrus, Yellow Meal Arriving by Schooner to O’Donovans Cove, off loaded by men on their bare back through the surf. Hungry Children at Gouladoo Natinal School. Only a Third Able to Give an Offering at the Stations. When a Death Occurs the Corpse is Lashed onto Poles and Carried down Steep Slopes. Cattle overnighting in Houses.
Rev James Bowen P.P. 5 July 1877-1885, there is a tablet in his memory in the church. An article in the Cor Examiner in April 1880 refers to him taking the reporter around the parish which was in widespread distress at the time. In 1880 lived at the former Evanson house at Ardogeena, Coolculaghta now occupied by Peter Gallagher. 1884 living at Blair’s cove. A branch of the Land League was set up in Durrus in January 1881 with Father Bowen in the chair. Also lived at Rawling’s house (Slated) Rossmore, Rawlings went bankrupt and later had a pub in Bantry and was a carman. Probate to brother William, farmer, Ballywilliam, Doneraile, £400.
A few comments. The presence of the schooner would suggest that the pier at Sea Lodge about 3km towards Durrus and the stores were build after this time probably by the Bandon Estate.
Intermittent distress and crop failures occured into the mid 1890s.
Thee is a referne to a woman spinning, there was a lot of spinning and weaving in the area from the mid 18th century.
The traditional West Cork farm house 2 storesy three windows upstairs on of each side of the door only come in from the late 1880s. Even prospereous farmers lived in thatched houses, the Ordnance Survey field books in the 1830 note the almost complete absence of slated roofs.
Surviving accounts of visitors into the early 1900s note even in prosperous farms livestock and poulty being in houses.
Mr. Regan has come back from America. It was common enough for people to spend a few years away and come back. Some of the Swantons from Ballydehob wee going back an forwad to New York in the 1790s. Young wmen often spent years working in Boston or New York and returned with enough to pick a spouse and he was then enabled to buy a fam or busisness.
Denis Shanahan, Curaheen, Rosscarbery, Self Taught Engineer on Blue Ridge Tunnel, USA, 1850s and Other Major Projects
Denis Shanahan, a first generation Irish immigrant whose largely self-taught engineering skills brought him recognition as a keen problem solver during construction of the Blue Ridge Tunnel and other tunnels throughout the Albemarle County region.
The races still continue but on New Years Day and the course has changed to from the old creamery to Ballycomne. One of the last road raes in West cork.
Always a day of great reelry.
The former Bandon Arms Hotel owned by Dick Philips only opened on the day to preserve its licence. That licence was one of those which went to open the West Lodge Hotel in Bantry in the early 1970s.
Dr. Levis, Durrus.
Dr. Wood Levis MD Doctor, Durrus. Wood Levis M.D. Father of Violet Elizabeth Levis b 1889, qualified Edinburgh surgeon and physician “Dr John Wood Levis (trained Edinburgh) 1901, died 1913 after 26 years service in Durrus. In 1894 he was submitting reports to the Bantry Union warning of the danger of fever in Durrus the village pump had been sent to Perrots in Cork for repair and five months later w The village was taking its water form the river which was polluted with the sewage of the village and dead dogs and cats. He applied for a salary increase in 1904, he had been receiving £100 with £10 as of Health, at the time the nurse’s salary was £30. In 1910 together with T Shannon, Brahalish he was an assentor to James Gilhooley MP. 1895 Durrus The Steeplechase was over Philip’s land in Rusheenaniska and included Dr Levis as a rider, he was noted horseman. Durrus Regatta was advertised in August 1893 and 1894 and in 1902 the regatta was held on Wednesday the 27th August. The committee consisted of the Catholic clergy and the Minister together with Dr Levis, to the flag boat where Dr Levis was the judge.
Durrus Races
Held on New Year’s Day, cancelled due to the outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease in England in 1967. The Races are advertised as the ‘Durrus Races and Athletic Sports’ from the early 1890s. The 1895 races featured trotting matches, athletic sports, a steeplechase and a bicycle race and were held on Stephen’s Day. The Steeplechase was over Philip’s land in Rusheenaniska and included Dr Levis as a rider, he was noted horseman. The road race was from the Sand Quay to Mr Dulelow’s gate in Brahalish (Red Cliff) and back a distance of 6 miles. William Dukelow died returning from Durrus Races 26th December 1896. He had been walking around Coísín, near the bridge in Bahalish when he was struck by a man with a horse. At that time there was no wall and he fell into the sea. The family were searching for him. jack Dukelow, Brahalish He had a sidecar which the family did not use after his death. In earlier years he would have a horse racing at Durrus Races on Stephen’s Day. The same year in a case in Bantry in January 1926 it was stated that the Gardai in Durrus had drawn batons in an altercation after the Races and an action for assault against the gardai was thrown out by the Court and the offending persons were convicted of being drunk and disorderly. Political excitement was provided by a new political party ‘Clann Na Poblachta’. They campaigned for the 1948 election with an address after the Races on Stephens Day 1947. Shaun Dillon of Clashadoo had inherited licensed premises and house property from his aunts near the railway station in Bantry and for a period this was a centre of political gathering for the new party. Fine Gael started a branch in Durrus in 1947 under Timothy Hurley. Fianna Fail used the opportunity afforded by losing the election of February 1948 to regroup and Sean Lemass addressed an after Mass meeting in Durrus on the 29th May 1949.
1950 Durrus Races
Photo tall man 2nd from left a Coughlan of Schull descendant on leave from US Forces in Germany.
Athletics
Athletics
In the post famine era there was despondency and mass emigration. By the 1870s athletics became very popular and the school’s folklore project has many references to races, weight throwing and events in Kilcrohane and Ahakista. It was common for people to cross Dunmanus Bay for events on the other side or to meet half-way in Carbery Island. From Kilcrohane there was also traffic across Bantry Bay to Bere Island to dances. The older people have stories of weight throwing of the half-hundred in the village in the 20s and 30s of the last century, with relations of Danno Mahony, Eugene Sullivan, Crotees and Jack Burke Coomkeen involved. John (Jack) McSweeney DMG, Moulivard, was in the War of Independence later in the Free State Army in the Gardai where he was a well known detective in Dublin. In earlier days he a runner-up in the hammer throwing contests in the British Empire Games. Ireland was represented as one country in these games which started in 1930. Michael Hurley, Ballycomane organised athletics in the 30s, and there was the odd meeting in Ahakista for inter parish games. Jim Roycroft, The Gap Mount Gabriel, later a County Councillor and grand father in law of the former Ceann Comháirle, John O’Donoghue was a noted athlete in the late 1930s. Another noted athlete was Dan Dinneen.
Noel Hickey, whose father Pat had a pub in the village was a champion athlete and often competed on behalf of Presentation College which he attended against Finbarr O’Sullivan Gearhameen who was in Farranferris (the Diocesan college) at the time, he had earlier attended Mr. J.P. Harte’s Academy in Dunmanway 1940 staying with a relation and working on the bog for the summer. He was later attached to the Cork Drapers Athletic Club and competed in Kilcrohane in 1947 when Danno Mahony and his brothers Florrie and Dermot were present. Kilcrohane saw the start of Danno’s career in 1930. Noel was offered a sports scholarship to Villa Nova University in the US. Finbarr O’Sullivan’s father Denis was a noted athlete and was known as ‘Dinny the Runner’. Sean O’Donnell from the village and his brother Larry (later National School Teacher, Bishopstown Cork) were noted athletes as was George Shanahan, Dunbeacon.
1843, Meetings for Protestant Orphan Society held by Reverend Edward Spring (Agressive Proselytiser) at Bandon, Clonakilty, Rosscarbery, Castletownsend, Glandore, Skibbereen, Ballydehob, Schull, Castletownbere, Dunmnway, Ballineen, Sermons at Durrus, Bantry. At Bandon Meeting Lord Bandon Sentiment ‘Deserved to be Recorded, Their Estates had Been Conferred by God upon the Protestant Proprietors of This Kingdom in Trust for The Advancement of His Cause
The Rev. Spring was part of a band of agresive proselytisers including the Rev. Crosthwaite of Durrus, Fishe of Teampall na mBocht (Altar), Charles Doonovan, Ballydehob and others. Most were Irish speaking.
Like the Chinese Rice Christiasn when condition improved most of their flock reverted to theri original faith.
The local Protestant Gentry probably regarded their coming as a visitation of the plague with the consequential heightening of community tensions. An exception was Lord Bandon and his wife substantial donors to various Protestant fundementil societies.
The local Protestant Gentry in the late 18th and early 19th century especially in the more remote areas and on the smaller estate were probaby at least partially bilngual.
Google Books have made available the reports of the Coast and Island Society for the period 1854-1861
The Society was a Protestant Evangelical organisation dedicated to outlining the ‘errors’ of ‘Romanism’ and seeking converts through missionary work and the education of the young.
It operated a mission station of Cape Clear the remains of which are still present. This was headed by the Rev. Daniel Spring also the Professor of Irish at Trinity College Dublin. There is reference to a publication by him of a journey in the South in 1840. His brother the Rev. Edward Spring also ministered there.
Edward James Alcock 1805-1842, son of Rev. Mason Alcock. May have lived at Sea Lodge, built old rectory (Glebe House) in 1831. 1822 involved in famine relief with Father Quinn. He sat on a committee in Bantry in 1824 to petition against the withdrawal of the bounty on linen production as had been agreed in the Act of Union. Magistrate. Involved in prosylesytisong. His proctors, 1833, attempted to seize Father Quin’s bed while mass was being said in is house to secure tithe payment only the intervention of Protestant neighbours stopped it. Most of the tithes were the property of Nathaniel Evanson so it may be he who sent the proctors otherwise all outstanding tithes collected in one day.
William Moore Crosthwaite 1842-1854. He was fluent in Irish which was remarked upon at the time as making his suitable for the parish. His family said that his death was brought on by a fever contacted in the famine when he was doing relief work. In London in 1847 seeking to raise funds for relief and wrote to London Times. He attended the opening of the new Church of Ireland Church on Cape Clear in October 1849 when the Vicar, the Rev. Edward Spring preached in Irish. The itinerant preacher Rev. Daniel Foley, accompanied by Rev. Fisher of Altar and Toormore, visited his parish in early 1849. He had a Curate, paid for by the Irish Society in London. It is probable that he was involved as a minor figure in the ‘Second Reformation’ being associated with controversial figures in West Cork and Kerry, Seamus Ó Suilleabháin, the Irish poet employed in the area as a scripture teacher was associated with the Rev Joseph Baylee who ministered in the Rev Nagle’s mission in Achill and later in Liverpool.
Curate Bell, 5th February 1851, paid for by Irish Society London, had a church for a period in Kilcrohane, withdrawn 1853
View of Tempol na mBocht, (The Church of the Poor, Crookhaven), Mizen Peninsula, West Cork, with Parsonage and Sandboat in Foreground on Pamphlet from Rev. William Fisher 1851, setting out History of St. Brendan’s Church, Built 1714, by Bishop Brown, original Protestants gone over as Romanists their descendant ‘Bitter Romanists’ until lately few Protestants left on ‘Protestant Hill’, Plea for Funds, list of Subscribers.
Right Honourable Honourable James 2nd Earl of Bandon, Custos Rotorum, (1785-1856), Castlebernard, FRANCIS (1st EARL of BANDON) and HARRIET (Boyle) had James (heir and 2nd Earl born 14th June 1785 in Bandon and died 31st October 1856 at Castle Bernard) m 13th March, 1809 in Cashel Mary Susan Brodrick eldest daughter of Charles, Archbishop of Cashel and sister of Charles, 6th Viscount Midleton. Mary was born 9th October 1787 and died 23rd April 1870, buried in Bandon. Due to rising war related prices land rents estimated 1811 at £30,000. Succeeded to title and estate after his father’s death in 1830. Following a large Protestant meeting 1834 at Castlebenard nominated to prepare a petition to the British King and Parliament with the Rev. Somers Payne, Councillor Mannix, Lords Berehaven and Bandon. Subscriber Lewis Richard Dowden papers: 1837. 1842 Subscriber Jacksons Co. and City Directory. 1844 Printed handbill/notice , ‘Cork Art Union for the promotion of the fine arts in the South of Ireland’, annual subscription appeal. President is Lord Viscount Bernard MP (Lord Bandon). Printed by W Scraggs, 102 Patricks Street. (1p) Subscriber John Ryan, 1845 ’20 Years of Popish Persecution’. Made huge efforts during the Famine to secure relief. Co. Grand Master Orange Order. Fellow Royal Society 1845. Member Commission on Magistrates 1838 subscriber, 2 copies, 1861 to Smith’s History of Cork. Bandon 1869.
1841, Case at Carrigboy (Durrus ) Petty Session Court, Rev Simon Murphy, Curate, Rosnacaheragh, Daniel Donovan, Clerk Petty Session, Alleged that a Party of Donovan friends called to Father Murphys House late at Night to get Donovan’s sister, Married he refused. The Saga Continued…
Magistrates
Rev. Alleyn Evanson TCD AB, (1790-1853) Pre 1828, Four-Mile-Water Court, Durrus, sitting Bantry, 1835. 1819 Member of the Association Incorporated for Discontinuancy Vice and Promoting the Knowledge and Practise of The Christian Religion Son of Nathaniel (Generosus) and Mary Townsend Baldwin (1764-1827). Ed Dr. Sullivan, Bandon, TCD aged 16. Middle Man, Land Agent. Voted for Hutchinson 1826 election. Signed petition 1827 against Catholic Emancipation. While a curate in Schull 1829 he stated that there were 1,200 Protestants in the Parish. Grand Jury Presentment Sessions Schull,18ajor Grand Jury road contractor with cousin Charles Evanson.. 35 subscriber to Father Quin’s church building fund, Durrus. Signed public declaration to Alexander O’Driscoll on his removal as Magistrate 1835 with Lord Bantry, Simon White, John Puxley, Arthur Hutchins, Thomas Baldwin, Samuel Townsend Junior and Senior, Hugh Lawton, Thomas Somerville, Richard Townsend Senior, Rev. Alleyn Evanson, Timothy O’Donovan, Richard Townsend, Lyttleton Lyster. Freeman Bandon, 1841 election voted Longfield/Leader. Apart from Bandon estate he was renting Church lands in West Carbery including Crookhaven and Kilcrohane from Robert Delacour who was made bankrupt in 1839. Attending 1840 Great Meeting Bantry re Poor Law. Probate 1853, £5 (may be nominal for conveyancing). Presentment sessions Ballydehob 1845. Friendly with Father Ryan, Drimoleague features in an account 1836 of journey from Drimoleague written by John Windle in Dublin Penny Journal. After death wife Harriet Alleyn, 2nd daughter of Henry Hardy Esq., moved to Mespil Estate, Dublin his brothers Dr. Hungerford and Dr. Henry Baldwin Evanson (1795-1867) of Cork guardians of young children. Subscriber Lewis Topographical Dictionary of Ireland 1837. In 1835 his rent charge over lands at Brahalish Durrus was granted to Henry Baldwin Evanson, his brother entitling him to vote. Assisting 1848 Henry J. Fawcett, Practical Instructor on Husbandry of visit to Bantry Either his sister or cousin Martha Evanson married Rev. John Madras, their grand daughter m 1867 Ann Marie (Millie) Curtis, Magourney she descended from Huguenot Rev. John Madras and married Daniel O’Connell’s grandson, his father was Charles O’Connell, Resident Magistrate, Bantry.
Jones might be a special Magistrate
Timothy O’Donovan (1790-1874), 1818, O’Donovan’s Cove, in ruins 1875, Durrus, listed 1823, son of Richard Esq. and Jane d Alexander O’Donovan, Squince. 1820. Memorial to Lord Lieutenant by William Swanton, Gortnagrough, Ballydehob, West Cork. High Constable (Rate and Tax Collector), Barony of West Carbery For Relief on Losses Caused to Him in Banking Collapse when He had transmitted Due Amount to Co. Treasurer, Leslies, Stephen and Roches Bank, Supported by Lord Bantry and Magistrates Timothy O’Donovan (Durrus), William Hull (Schull), Richard Townsend (Skibbereen), Rev. Edward Jones Alcock (Durrus), Nathaniel Evanson (Durrus), Robert Kenny (Bantry). In 1823 he applied for relief of the poor of Ballydehob, which he had founded. Present at enquiry Skibbereen 1823 into enquiry into fatal affray at Castlehaven caused by Rev. Morritt’s tithe extraction. Correspondent with Antiquarian Dr. John O’Donovan re O’Donovans of Carbery. Brother of Dr O’Donovan and Richard O’Donovan J.P. and uncle of Richard O’Donovan J.P.. His son’s wife is the granddaughter of Daniel O’Connell, the mother of his wife was Miss Lavellan, Co. Limerick, a daughter of Philip Lavellin of Water Park in the Co. of Cork. Her sister was married to Mr. Puxley of Dunboy Branch. The grandson the present (1860) Mr. Puxley is a man of immense wealth the principal owner of the famous Allihies Mines in the Barony of Bere. Signed public declaration in Skibbereen to Alexander O’Driscoll on his removal as Magistrate 1835 with Lord Bantry, Simon White, John Puxley, Arthur Hutchins, Thomas Baldwin, Samuel Townsend Junior and Senior, Thomas Somerville, Richard Townsend Senior, Rev. Alleyn Evanson, Richard Townsend, Lyttleton Lyster. 1835 Subscriber Lewis Topographical Dictionary of Ireland 1837. In 1838 in the Liberal interest where at Bantry voter registration 15 were registered as opposed to 6 ‘Orangemen’ the tenants of Timothy O’Donovan J.P. were chiefly among those who registered. Among these were probably McCarthys of Tulig later prominent in Nationalist politics of whom John McCarthy (1859-1931) became a leading politician in Nebraska and wrote a poem in praise of Timothy O’Donovan. Attended Great Meeting in Bantry 1840 re Poor Laws. Chaired 1846 distress meeting Bantry on the proposition of Father Michael Barry PP Bantry. Landlord and political organiser. Member Election Committee, Rickard Deasy, Clonakilty (later Attorney General) 1855 Member election committee McCarthy Downing, Skibbereen. Juror Cork Spring Assizes 1863. Land record, 1870, Kate O’Donovan, O’Donovan’s Cove, 1,940 acres and Reps Timothy O’Donovan 1,940 acres. 1874, Death at 85 of Timothy O’Donovan, J.P., Esq, O’Donovan Cove, Durrus, West Cork, The Last Survivor of the Ancient House of O’Donovan Bawn or Clann Cahill, Justice of the Peace since 1818 Probate to daughter Mrs Anne Barry, widow, effects £2,000, attended 8, Grand Jury Presentments
1814. 36 lb. (16 Kg.) cabbage from the Vegetable Ground of Alderman Charles Evanson, Ronaynes Court, Douglas, Durrus Born. Former Lord Mayor of Cork. Interest in Durrus and Kilcrohane Lands.
Alderman Charles Evanson Senior, 1793. Listed supporter of Act of Union, 1799. Died 1828 Charlemont, Douglas, son of Nathaniel Evanson, Durrus. Married Harriett Allen 1782, renting Ronaynes Court, Douglas from Christopher 1805. Sheriff 1793. Admitted his brother Nathaniel J.P., as Freeman of Cork on St. Valentine’s Day, 1794. Alderman, Sheriff and Mayor of Cork 1804. Named c 1800 in Quaker records as Church Warden, Christ Church Cork re extracting tithes. 1810 Alderman (Charles) Evanson, Trustee of fund to pay out to reduced Freemen, widows, orphans. His eldest son in 1811 Rev. William Alleyn married the sister of the Provost of TCD, Lyndon MacDonnell. Listed in tree register as having planted 1,100 trees in Durrus/Kilcrohane likely his 5 gneeves at Gurteneas Ahakista. Voted for Hutchinson 1826 election. 1824. Member Hanover Association meeting Cork 1791 re Whiteboys. Funded personally, Douglas in 1820 petitioned the Chief Secretary for more resources. Donor to two Catholic Churches 1826 including building of Rosnacaheragh Catholic Church, Durrus, died Ronaynes Court, August 1828. 1824. Letter from Charles Evanson, Cork, Co. Cork, to Sir Nicholas Colthurst, MP for Cork city, seeking to avail of his influence with the government to secure for his son, Reverend William S Evanson, preferment in the established church ‘either in London, Dublin, or elsewhere’. Emphasises his son’s talents and notes as a resident of the city of London at present, he has attracted the attention of ‘several distinguished Characters’. Continues ‘He is a zealous and hard working Labourer in the Vineyard of our Protestant Constitution’ and in the popular press has actively opposed the propaganda of the Catholic Association. Also alludes to the loss of employment of another son Charles Evanson Jr, who was removed from his office with the public coal yards [Dublin or Cork]. He also stresses his own very considerable financial commitments due to the presence of 9 children and a large extended family. [See also description CSO/RP/1824/1081].
Son
Charles Evanson Junior, 1827 son of Charles J.P., Lord Mayor Cork, Royayne’s Court, Douglas. 1818 late Sheriff, Cork. 1825 Director Cork Coalyard. Member 1832 Cork Friendly Club. Listed 1835. Thanked by Independent Liberal Electors for Impartiality in the 1835 elections. 1840 calling for Testimonial to late William Crawford Cork benefactor. In 1832 he was given a voting entitlement registered at Clonakilty for lands in Dromnea, Kilcrohane, by Nathaniel Evanson valued £20 freeholder at the time of query he was resident in Four Mile Water. In 1835 a rent charge of Durrus lands by Nathaniel Evanson entitling him to vote as £20 freeholder. Attending the 1840 Great Meeting Bantry re Poor Law. 1845 Member and Chairman Co. Assizes, Cork. Attending Famine Relief Meeting Dunmanway 1846. Presentment sessions Ballydehob 1845 address Charlemont. Skibbereen 1847 distress meeting. Assisting 1848 Henry J. Fawcett, Practical Instructor on Husbandry of Visit to Bantry. Cork Quarter Sessions 1856. His son Richard Charles Evanson, RM, Probate 1902 of Mrs. Henrietta Allen Coghlan, widow, Shanagrague, Co. Cork, to Richard retired RM, £624. 1856 passed into Military College Sandhurst, only son of Charles Evanson, J.P., Charlemont, Cork, ed Mr. Moynahan. listed 1842,1843, Son? Charles sitting Douglas 1850, voted 1850 for Denis Galwey as High Constable for Ibane and Ballyroe (Clonakilty). Estates in Douglas and 5 gneeves at Gurteneas, Ahakista sold Landed estates Court in Chancery 1849 and sold 1862. 1856 at the Military College, Sandhurst, four only out of 38 passed. Mr. RICHARD CHARLES EVANSON, of Charlemont, only son of CHARLES EVANSON, Esq., J.P., as one of the successful who passed with distinguished credit. He has been under tuition with Mr. T. Moynihan. Sitting Passage West, 1835,
British Medical Journal Plea for Pension for Dr. Daniel Donovan, Skibbereen, Heroic Doctor During Famine, Utterly Broken Down in Health, Principally from His Arduous Duties in the Famine. In Poor Circumstances
1808-, Edinburgh, died 1877 Dr. Daniel Donovan Senior MD Ed. Mr. Armstrong Classic School Rosscarbery, Dublin, Edinburgh. Doctor, Dispensary Officer Union Hall, Glandore 1830-1839, 1840. Magistrate, Donovan Daniel, sen, North street Retired 1870 succeeded by son. Skibbereen 1847 distress meeting. Seeking equality of endowment in Catholic education 1859. Born at Ross of ‘island’ branch who formerly owned Ross town. Son Henry Solicitor died 1873. Probate to widow Henrietta £800 1877. 1859, Thomas Burke, M.D., Skibbereen. Estate £1,500. Named Daniel Donovan, M.D., David Hadden, M.D., Daniel McCartie, brewer. “In 1835 Dr Dan married Henrietta Flynn and they had a family of six daughters and five sons. In 1839 he was appointed to the Skibbereen Dispensary and he…
West Cork History 