We Hope We May Never See Carbery Without A Pack of Hounds,
Skibbereen & West Carbery Eagle; or, South Western Advertiser 14 March 1863
Henry Jones Hungerford, TCD, 1856, Cahermore House, Rosscarbery, Resident, £454, 1870 return 3,532 acres. Henry Jones Hungerford, the last effective owner and resident landlord of the Cahirmore Estate. He qualified as a Barrister and had little interest in the Estate. His income from rental was foolishly spent and on his death the Land Commission took it over. Mary Boone Cowper Hungerford. Wife of Henry Jones Hungerford. (1870)..They had nine children most of whom emigrated. 1884, signed a protest against the dismissal of Lord Rossmore, head of Orange Order, Monaghan. At the time of its destruction in 1921 Cahermore was owned by a merchant named Regan, who had purchased the property from representatives of the Hungerford family “some years” after the death of Henry J. Hungerford, J.P. Probably father 1863. We Hope We May Never See Carbery Without A Pack of Hounds. Dinner to Henry Jones Hungerford Esq., Cahermore, Rosscarbery, West Cork. 1861 executor, £13,000. Thomas Hungerford Esq, TCD, Island House, Clonakilty
Launcelot Hungerford, 1865-1939 Resident Magistrate, Busselton, Western Australia. Born Cahermore, Rosscarbery. Doctor went to Australia. For two years he was district medical officer at Dongara, and was then transferred to Busselton, where, in addition to being a resident medical officer, he was also the resident magistrate. Cahermore, Rosscarbery, parents Henry Jones Hungerford, Mary Boon Cooper. Died 2 February 1939; buried at the Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth, Western Australia, Anglican
Richard Beecher Hungerford (1801-1894), probably son of, 1793 19 July Morning Herald “Married on Monday 8th Inst at St James, Bath, Richard Hungerford of the Island to Miss (Frances Eyre) Becher, dau of Richard Becher, Esq of Hollybrook, Co Cork”, Presentment sessions Ballydehob 1845, listed 1875-6, Ballyrisode House, Goleen. 1870 return 638 acres. Daughter Frances married Matthew Sweetnam, Leamcon House, Schull, Magistrate. listed 1875, Skibbereen, subscriber Dr. Daniel Donovan ‘History of Carbery, 1876. Probate £52 to Winispeare Hungerford, Cork, Estates at Ballyrizard, Goleen, Island in Dunmanus Bay, Cremona violin, picture of John O’Donovan, brother of General O’Donovan and their mother, to be given to their relative ‘The O’Donovan’, Lissard, other pictures and books to his daughter Frances Sweetnam.
Thomas Hungerford Esq., 1767, Union Hall. Ancestor Captain Thomas Hungerford, of Farley, Somerset, settled in Cork where he was married in 1640. A Thomas Hungerford Senior was buried in Rosscarbery in 1710. The Census of 1659 shows him as owner of Croaghna and Gortngrenane (Rathbarry area) with a population of 2 English and 13 Irish. He purchased considerable estates in the Rosscarbery area and on 28th October 1674 purchased Rathbarry Castle from Edward Williams. Died 1680-81, buried in Rosscarbery Cathedral where there is a monument to him. His son Richard left Rathbarry in 1691 and occupied the Island of Inchydoney, Clonakilty. (Tuckey’s Cork Remembrancer) – AD 1772 – Feb. 24 – About three o clock this morning, the house of Thomas Hungerford, esquire, and the King’s stores at Glandore, were attacked by a great number of armed men, in order to rescue a cargo of tobacco; they were however beaten off by Mr. Hungerford, assisted by a party from the Thunderbolt cutter. Several of the persons who made the attack were wounded. Shown 1788 as owner of adjoining lands estate map of Sir John Freke, Bart. 1809 subscriber of revised edition of Meredith Hanmer, Chronicles of Ireland. 1800 in a group including Hungerfords of The Island and Cahermore, William Allen of Ring, James Sadlier of Shannonvale, Rev. William Stewart, Wellfield signing Pre Union Manifesto.
Thomas Hungerford Esq, TCD, Island House, Clonakilty. Thomas Hungerford (1789-1861). He established the present day estate of Cahirmore and married Alicia Jones, the daughter of a landed family from Glandore. 1817 Freemason Skibbereen. Thomas Hungerford, Cahirmore, County Cork, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, 7 August 1823, enclosing petition of Hungerford, Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, Dublin Castle, referring to the distress of the peasantry in his district, and emphasising his belief in the benefits of establishing the linen trade on a permanent basis in the area. Requests a government loan of £3,000 to reclaim 300 acres of his own unimproved land for the cultivation of flax, and to establish a linen manufactory for weavers and spinners, 7 August 1823. Cholera 1832. Lewis, 1837, Kilcoe: Two manorial courts are held here monthly by the seneschals of the bishop of Ross and Thos. Hungerford Esq. respectively. In 1851 the Cahirmore estate covered the townlands of Cahirmore, Freehanes, Maulyregan, Maulantanavally and Gounbrack with total acreage of 2780 acres and a valuation of £962. Hungerford let the estate at a yearly rent of £4.0.0 an acre. This was usually increased depending on the quality of the land in some areas. Despite the huge income the estate was practically bankrupt by 1900. (c.1850)1822 local fishery committee. Vice president Bandon Brunswick Constitutional Club 1828. County Freeman of Cork City voting in Cork City Election 1837. Listed 1835, 1838, 1842, 1843, sitting Rosscarbery, 1835. Gave evidence 1835 to enquiry to Poor Law Commission. 1861 Supporting Alexander O’Driscoll, J.P. suspended, Bandon 1841. Subscriber Lewis Topographical Dictionary of Ireland 1837, subscriber 1861 to Smith’s History of Cork. Attended 18, Grand Jury Presentments. 1861 probate to Henry Jones Hungerford, Millfield, £13,000.
Thomas Hungerford, (1795-1870), pre 1831, voted 1850 for William Hungerford as High Constable for Ibane and Ballyroe (Clonakilty).
.
Portrait of Alicia Jone Hungerford (c.1814)
Present not certain which Thomas at enquiry Skibbereen 1823 into enquiry into fatal affray at Castlehaven caused by Rev. Morritt’s tithe extraction. Cork Summer Assizes 1828. Involved in attempts to amicably resolve tithes 1838. Attending Protestant Conservative Society meeting 1832. Protestant protest meeting Cork 1834. Subscriber as The Island Lewis Topographical Dictionary of Ireland 1837, subscriber 1861 to Smith’s History of Cork. Freedom of Cork 1830 described as radical and a very great one in politics. County Freeman of Cork City voting in Cork City Election 1837. Attended 11, Grand Jury Presentments. Died 1870 probate £3,000, to widow Caroline nee Sandes. Will recites complex marriage settlement 1842.
William Hungerford (1837-1908), 1881, Sun Mount, Ballyvackey and Castle Ventry, Clonakilty. Farmer. 1884, signed a protest against the dismissal of Lord Rossmore, head of Orange Order, Monaghan. George Beamish was leasing Sunmount to Rev. W. John Day at the time of Griffith’s Valuation, when it was valued at £20 5s. Lewis refers to Ballyvackey as the seat of G. Beamish in 1837. In 1906 it was owned by William Hungerford and valued at £23. It is no longer extant. Probate £1,738 to widow Ellen Lucinda nee Hedges Becher.
In the summer following no particular phenomena occurred; the elements were in their usual state, so far as my information extends; and in general the country enjoyed good health. A malignant fever prevailed, in some degree, in New-York, but excited no great alarm.
One year after this influenza in America, the same disease pervaded the eastern hemisphere. Its progress was from Siberia and Tartary westward; and it reached Europe in April and May 1782: I have no account of its course in America, but it seems to be probable, that it took its direction from America westward, and passing the Pacific in high northern latitudes, invaded Asia and Europe from the east. This must have been the case, if the epidemic in Europe was a continuation of that in America. For an account of this epidemic, see the publications of that year.
In 1782 happened considerable earthquakes in Calabria, du|ring which the mercury in the barometer in Scotland sunk within the tenth of an inch of the bottom of the scale, and the waters in many locks in the highlands were greatly agitated.
Obituary July 1878. Dr. David Hadden, Skibbereen, First Apothecary to Qualify in Ireland 1839 under New Regulations. , Dispensary Doctor, Castletownsend, Drimoleague, Contacted Famine Fever, On Retirement 1871 People of Drimoleague presented him with a Silver Bread Basket Containing 75 Sovereigns. A large Gift for a poor District. Leading Methodist, Extended Family.
In many ways the dispensary doctors were the unsung heroes of 19th century Ireland. Their efforts in the 1830s largely freed Ireland from smallpox, perhaps the first in Western Europe. Time and time again they promoted vaccination, clean water, hygiene often agains ignorance not always confined to the poorer classes. Their pay was poor, 1874 Guardians of Skibbereen Poor Law Union revised salaries of Medical officers to £120 per annum. Comparable salaries fro Resident Magistrates (roughly corresponding the District Justice) who were being recruited from the 1850s were in the order of £400 plus various allowances and a pension.
David Hadden M.D., Glasgow Apothecary, first in Ireland to be licensed 1839 under new regulations. Physician and Surgeon. Dispensary Doctor Castletownsend during Famine. Retired 1871 after 19 year as Dispensary Doctor Dwimoleague. 1876 Hadden David, Main street Born 1817, Son of Rev. John Hadden, Abbeyleix. leading Methodist, Freemason Treasurer 15th Lodge. Testimonial to Mr. Fitzgerald manager Provincial Bank 1863. Window to him Abeystrewey Church. CC 21/12/1843) – ADDRESS TO ALEXANDER O’DRISCOLL, J.P., SKIBBEREEN 1843 [following his dismissal as a Magistrate] John Jagoe Welply M.D. named in will During famine caught fever, pneumonia 1850 after is recovery people of Drimoleague presented him with a silver bread basket containing 75 sovereigns. Born in Abbeyleix his was his brother William Henry possibly Wexford who trained as an apothecary and later practised medicine in Walhalla, Australia. 1859, Thomas Burke, M.D., Skibbereen. Estate £1,500. Named Daniel Donovan, M.D., David Hadden, M.D., Daniel McCartie, brewer. 1877 Testimonial 1877 to Dr.Maunsell Memorial Fund. He married one of the Evans sisters, Lissangle, James Crowley, North St and probably Ballyourane Caheragh, married Rebecca Evans. Dr. David Hadden MD, Skibbereen 1878 probate £2,000. Sons also doctors. Skellig List 1840s Ellen Hadden: daughter of Dr David Hadden who did much good work with the poor during the Famine (along with Dr Daniel Donovan). She married George Vickery in 1872 and they lived in Ballymartle (near Cork) and then Kinsale where George was the medical officer.
1878 Dr. David Henry Hadden MD Doctor in Bandon 1878 Methodist. Executor of father Dr. David Hadden MD, Skibbereen 1878 probate £2,000. Brothers also doctors. “Hadden, David, M.D., Skibbereen, (2 copies) Hadden, David, Junior, M.D., John Hadden, M.D. Lincolnshire Hadden, Provincial Bank, Cork Subscribers Dr. Daniel Donovan, History of Carbery 1876. ” Probably daughter Rachel Sarah baptised Methodist Church wife daughter of Henry and Rachel Wolfe
c1860-, 1879 Dr. John Hadden Skibbereen and practising Horn castle, Lincolnshire. One of 6 sons of Dr. David Haden of whom 5 became doctors. ” 1879 attending British Medical Association Annual meeting Cork.
1858-1949), Dr William Edward Hadden Worked Liverpool. Mines, Ship Doctor, Portadown “A marine interlude in 1884 for Dr William Edward Hadden (1858-1949), a doctor’s son from Skibbereen in County Cork, before he settled in Portadown, County Armagh – prepared by his grand-daughter Rosalind Hadden from his surviving letters and journals. My grandfather was the youngest of six brothers in a very Methodist and medical family. Five of the six sons became doctors – but there was room for only one to succeed to the practice of their father Dr David Hadden in Skibbereen. Young “”Eddie””, as he was called by the family, started by being apprenticed to his father; then he went to the new Queen’s College in Cork – but had barely begun his formal medical studies there when his father died in February 1878, leaving a complicated will for whose bequests there was unfortunately not enough money. Later that spring Eddie himself was seriously ill with typhus fever – caught from a patient – and in the letters he wrote to his widowed mother he frequently refers to continuing worries about his health as well as his finances. ” In November 1882, still aged only 24, he found his first proper post in England as assistant to a Dr James Marr in Castle Eden, a colliery village near Durham, at an annual salary of £90. He tells his mother that he had help in getting this from his eldest brother John (a doctor in Lincolnshire), and from a Liverpool cousin Harry Atkins (son of Dr David Hadden’s sister Anne, who had married a Methodist minister). WEH was elected to the Dispensary “by a majority of 1 from 17, at £9 per month all found except diet, with bedroom and sitting room”; he started work in the first week of February 1883. Liverpool was a more friendly place for him, with his aunt Anne and family, and his married sister Mary Ellen, living locally. “On 8 April WEH writes to say “”Today I have been offered the Sarnia – the pay is bad only £8 a month & no shore pay but I feel so poorly that I think it is right for me to take a voyage.”” April 18th 1884 South Dispensary Liverpool … “”I am off on Tuesday for Canada…”””
2018 Dr. David Hadden Professor of Endrocrinology, queens University Belfast
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 was elected the first medical officer of the new Skibbereen Workhouse. Famine Diary of Doctor O’Donovan, Dispensary Doctor, Skibbereen, 1https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/164a5605c1527277?projector=1&messagePartId=0.1 “Dr Daniel Donovan – heroic figure of the Famine in Skibbereen By Philip O’Regan, Skibbereen Heritage Centre” “Cholera, Myross, Board of Health. CSO/RP/1832/1813/2. Chairman, Richard Townsend, J.P., Names of persons interested in the Board: Rev. Charles Bushe, Rector, Castlehaven Rev. James Tuckey, curate Rev. P. Crowley, P.P Rev. William Goulding, R.C. curate Rev. ..Bert.., R.C. curate Thomas Somerville, J.P Thomas Townsend, Lieutenant, R.N. Ralph Mansfield, J.P.
From the mid 17th to early 18th century something around 5,000 Huguenots moved to Ireland from religious persecution in France. The bulk arrived after the Revocation of the edict of Nantes in 1685. Dr. Alicia St. Ledger the historian of the Cork Huguenot community puts the number in Cork mid 18th century at around 300. In Cork City where many settled they had a French speaking church and minister. This group tended to be well educated, affluent, and involved as merchants, apothecaries, surgeons and as property developers reclaiming the Cork City marshes. Over time they became English speaking and drifted into the mainstream Church of Ireland and gradually into the wider Catholic community.
No one knows for definite when the various Huguenot families arrived in the Mizen/Durrus areas. In the main they were unlike their co religionists in Cork as they were artisans, small to medium farmers or labourers. Oral tradition has it that they arrived by boat to Dunmanus Bay. They arrived perhaps c 1750s co incident with various attempts throughout West Cork by Landlords to develop weaving, linen and flax. The old village of Carrigbui (Durrus) was sometimes described as a weaver’s colony.
About 1750 around 60 Huguenots arrived in Cork on board the galley ‘Redhead’ destined for Innishannon with their pastor Rev. Peter Cortes.
They may have been being involved in Thomas Addisons failed silk enterprises in Innishannon and left Kilmacsimon Quay for Dunmanus Bay.
1760. Peter Cortez, Licensed to Preach in French for French Congregation at Innishannon Church of Ireland. This is likely in connection with Adderly’s silk enterprise. Reputedly it attracted Huguenot artisans and may explain the later migration west of such families when the enterprise failed.
The late Mary Dukelow the Brahalish historian of the Dukelow family was told by Bernard O’Regan of Aughadown a local historian, that the Bernard family of Bandon had great sympathy for them. The Bernards (later Lord Bandon) were the head landlords of the Durrus and some Mizen townlands.
The Durrus Evanson family came c 1690 and after getting into financial difficulty sold their estate to Francis Bernard, ancestor to Lord Bandon. They later had another estate across Dunmanus Bay centered on Ardgoena House. It seems that on their estate were a number of weaver colonies at Crottees, Durrus, Ahagouna, Brahalish and Droumreagh with possibly Coolculaghta on the Blair estate.
1694-?1761 [Dunlevy; Donleavy; var. 1765; DD; LLD]; b. prob. Sligo; ed. nr. Ballymote, and Irish College, Paris, 1710; studied law; Prefect of the Irish College, where he drew up a new code of rules, making it subject to the University and the the diocese of Paris; Titular Dean of Raphoe, later Dean Raphoe; publ. An Teagasg Críosduidhe do reir ceasada agus freagartha or The Cathecism, or Christian Doctrine (Paris 1742), in Irish and English, being an “abridgement of Christian doctrine ” by Giolla Brighde Ó hEódhasa (or Bonaventura), and with an appendix on “The elements of the Irish Language”, was still in use in Maynooth up to 1848. ODNB DIW DUB OCIL FDA Douglas Hyde (1974) writes of Andrew Donleavy’s Catechism (Paris 1742; Dublin eds., 1822, 1848): the edition includes questions and answers in English and Irish, together with ‘an abridgement of the Christian doctrine in rhymed Irish, composed upwards of an Age ago by the zealous and learned F. Bonaventure Ó hEoghusa of the Order of S. Francis; and also with the elements of the Irish language, in Favour of such as would fain learn to read it; and thereby be useful to their Neighbour.’ The author bewails the fact that Irish is now ‘on the Brink of Utter Decay, to the great dishonour and shame of the Natives, who shall always pass every where for Irish-men, Although Irish-men without Irish is an Incongruity, and a great Bull. Besides, the Irish-Language is undeniably a very Ancient Mother-Language, and one of the smoothest in Europe, no way abounding in Monosyllables, nor clogged with rugged Consonants … And there is still extant a great Number of old valuable Irish Manuscripts, both in publick and private Hands, which would, if translated and published, give great Light into Antiquities of the Country, and furnish some able Pen with Materials enough, to write a compleat history of the Kingdom; What a Discredit then must it be to the whole Nation, to let such a Language go to Wrack …’. (Daly, p.40-41.)
Honourable Simon White (1769-1838), 1789, Glengarriff Castle, Bantry, 1823, 1831. Listed supporter of Act of Union, 1799. 1820 signed Memorial for new road Glengariff to Castletownbere. Goodwin YoungHatter, Cork probably from Banty. Obtained judgement 1807 against Simon White Esq., Glengariff Castle assigned 1825 to William O’Sullivan, Esq., Carriganass Castle, 1822 Customs and Excise Inspector responsible for Excise trials. 1821 wife seeking payment for him Mrs. J D White at Wickcourt St., Cheltenham. Notified as Magistrate of Catholic meeting in Bantry re loyalty to King 1825. Attending Protestant Conservative Society meeting 1832. Grand Jury Presentment Session 1834 Renmeen with John Lavellan Puxley. 1834, New Annual Grand Jury Contract: Patrick O’Sullivan, Earl of Bantry, Simon White, John O’Connell to keep in repair for three years, road from Bantry to Castletown between post office at Castletown and Droumgoulane bridge, £90 annually. Signed public declaration to Alexander O’Driscoll on his removal as Magistrate 1835 with Lord Bantry, Simon White, John Puxley, Arthur Hutchins, Samuel Townsend Junior and Senior, Hugh Lawton, Thomas Somerville, Richard Townsend Senior, Rev.. Alleyn Evanson, Timothy O’Donovan, Richard Townsend, Lyttleton Lyster. 1835 Subscriber Lewis Topographical Dictionary of Ireland 1837. County Freeman of Cork City voting in Cork City Election 1837. Freeman of Cork 1794.
Richard (White) -1851), 1st Earl of Bantry, Bantry House (bought 1730 from Hutchinsons as Blackrock House) Pre 1831, 1822, Created Baron White for his part in alerting British of French landing at Bantry Bay 1797, 1801 advance to Viscount Berehaven 1816 created 1st Earl of Bantry. 1799 married Margaret Hare, daughter of William Hare, Earls of Listowel (they had been Cork provision merchants). Subscriber 1821 Dr Thomas Wood’s ‘Primitive Inhabitants of Ireland. C 1810 Lord Shannon complained of a bill for £2,000 presented to British Government for entertaining French officers captured at attempted invasion. 1822 seeking support from Lord Lieutenant for Bridewell and market House in Bantry. Notified as Magistrate of Catholic Meeting on Loyalty to King 1825. 1834, New Annual Grand Jury Contract: Patrick O’Sullivan, Earl of Bantry, Simon White, John O’Connell to keep in repair for three years, road from Bantry to Castletown between post office at Castletown and Droumgoulane bridge, £90 annually. Correspondence with Chief Secretary promoting road Bantry to Skibbereen, sitting Bantry, 1835, listed 1838, Quarter Sessions, Bantry 1842. Receiver appointed to Estate rents 1837 on a charge of £46,150. Member provisional Committee projected Bandon to Bantry Railway 1845. The Irish House of Lords Journal recorded the introduction of White as Lord Bantry in Cork ‘Richard White, Esq. being by letters patent dated 24th day of March 1799 created Baron Bantry of Bantry on the County of Cork, was this day, the 22nd Jan 1799, in his robes, introduced between Lord Tyrawley, and the Lord Mock also in their robes; the Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod and Ulster King of Arms, in his coat of arms, carrying the said letters patent preceding: his lordship presented the same to the Lord Chancellor.
In the 19th century and up to the 1940s a common method of travelling from the Bear Peninsula to Bantry was by steamers operated by the Bantry Bay Steamship Company. Their schedules ties in wiht the Cork to Bandon railway. When the ports were returned to Ireland by the British in 1937 the naval base on Bere Island closed. This represented a high revenue loss to the company. Over time the road from Bantry to Castletownbere once dubbed the ‘Burma Trail’ was improved. However even with huge improvements around 15 km remains in a pretty poor state.
IN the 19th century the Somers Payne family wee associated with the Company.
Directors:
1910, 1920 Dr. Patrick Joseph Cullinane, M.B, BC.H., B.A. NUI 1910 Doctor 1910 interim Registrar of Births Post mortem of deaths War of Independence Diarmuid Kingston, RIC in West Cork during War of Independence, 2013. Bantry Bay Steamship Company Annual Report 1941, Among directors Dr. P. J. Cullinane. Steamship Princess Beara . Magistrate: Dr. Patrick J. Cullinane M.D,. 1914, The Square, house Sunville (large early 19th century house) Bantry, listed 1916. The dynasty starts with Kate O’Sullivan marrying a Robert Swanton, their daughter was Anne Swanton who marries a Jeremiah Cullinane who was born in 1795. It was he who moved to Skibbereen and really founded Fields and managed it from 1829. They had the family that developed the drapery in Bantry. Bantry Bay Steamship Company Annual Report 1941, Among directors Dr. P. J. Cullinane. Steamship Princess Beara After his death an auction of his effects in the 1960s included the set of Shakespearean B & W prints at his auction early in the 1960s They were purchased by the Vickery family and hung in their hotel front lounge until its closure in 2006.
Thomas Brennan is probably of the prominent Bandon business family of who was the first Secretary of the Department of Finance. Joseph Brennan (18 November 1887 – 19 March 1976) was an Irish economist and senior Irish civil servant who served as the Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland from 1943 to 1953. ” “Brennan was born in Bandon, County Cork. In 1909, he entered Christ Church, Cambridge, where he studied Mathematics and then switched to classics. In successive years he obtained a first in Latin and Greek. In 1911, he entered the Civil Service and was assigned to the Board of Customs and Excise and a year later transferred to the finance division of the Chief Secretary’s office in Dublin Castle. During the July 1921 Truce he was introduced to Michael Collins and later became a financial advisor to the team negotiating the Anglo-Irish Treaty.” “In April 1922, he became the Irish Free State’s first Comptroller and Auditor General and in April of the following year he was appointed Secretary of the Department of Finance, a post he held until his retirement from the Civil Service in 1927.[1] Later that year he was appointed Chairman of the Currency Commission. In 1925, his lengthy note on the Free State’s financial position was helpful in concluding the Irish Boundary Commission negotiations.[2]” “When the Currency Commission was dissolved in 1943, he became the first Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland. From 1928 until his retirement in 1953 his signature appeared on all Irish Banknotes.[3] In 1938, Joseph Brennan was conferred with an Honorary LLD by the National University of Ireland. He died in 1976.”
Pier at Adrigole, Princess of Beara
Glengariff:
CB&SCR is Cork Bandon and South Coast Railway.
Tadhg Ó Murchadha T.D., I am availing of your permission, Sir, to raise, briefly, the subject of the following question that I addressed to the Minister for Industry and Commerce on Wednesday last:— “To ask the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that the Bantry Bay steamship service, from Bantry to Berehaven, is about to be suspended, following the initiation of a road transport service by Córas Iompair Éireann; that this change will have the effect of cutting off Bere Island from securing supplies directly from Bantry and other trading centres, with consequent hardship to the residents of the island; and whether he will arrange for the retention of the steamship service to Berehaven, calling at Bere Island.” The Minister’s reply is in the following terms:— “I am aware that the Bantry Bay Steamship Company have suspended their weekly sailings and that Córas Iompair Eireann, in response to a demand for direct road transport, are providing a daily lorry service between Bantry and Castletownbere. “The traffic formerly consigned to Bere Island by the steamer service amounted to about 25 tons per month, and I understand that there are small boats available which are capable of dealing with this traffic. In the circumstances, I see no reason to intervene in the matter.” The Minister has had a fairly hard day and I will be as brief as I possibly can. I propose, therefore, to confine the presentation of this case to three main aspects. May I give the House some information about the history of the Bantry Bay Steamship Company that is concerned? The company was originally founded in November, 1883, and since then they have provided a service to this isolated part of the constituency of West Cork, consisting of transport of passengers, goods, live stock, etc. They provided a steamer for that service weekly. I want to give the House some particulars of the traffic carried. Bere Island has figured in this matter because I hope to convince the Minister that the peculiar position that Bere Island will now find itself in is a serious matter for the inhabitants and one that should have his attention as Minister supervising the question of transport changes and similar matters. In the year 1936 there were 500 tons of traffic carried to Bere Island, in 1937, 488 tons; in 1938 485 tons; in 1946, 365 tons. As commodities were rationed and consequently smaller parcels of the various commodities only could be sent, the reduction in the traffic is quite understandable. In the same periods the traffic to Castletownbere was represented by the following figures: In 1936, 3,274 tons; in 1937, 3,200 tons; in 1938, 3,436 tons; in 1946, 3,035 tons. I am also in possession of certain figures with regard to transport of passengers which I do not consider entirely vital to the presentation of this case and I shall not therefore trouble the House by giving the figures. Bere Island is in an extremely unfortunate position as a result of this change. May I quote from a letter which I received from one of the traders there:— “I wish to let you know that after 43 years of hard work to build up a business I find that there will be no alternative for me in a short time but to close it down. This is due to the initiation of a road transport service by Córas Iompair Éireann”. He goes on to say:— “The manager of Córas Iompair Éireann wrote to me to have arrangements made with a trader in Castletownbere to store my goods which would be dumped there by their lorries. I could not do that easily. There are no means now of getting goods into this island and I would also have to pay the trader for storing the goods in Castletownbere”. The suggestion of the Minister that various small boats owned by local people would be capable of handling this traffic seems quite unsatisfactory to the people of the island and to represent a position that cannot be at all satisfactory to the people concerned. When this boat that plied between Bantry and Castletownbere was laid up each year for the annual overhaul required by Board of Trade regulations, the goods coming to Castletownbere could be conveyed to Bere Island by means of military tender. The military tender, which was the main means of communication between the island and Castletownbere, has now gone, because Bere Island, one of the ports which figured so largely in our discussions in recent years, including our election speeches, has been completely abandoned. The entire military personnel in Bere Island has been removed, and I understand that the only military remaining there is a maintenance party consisting of four men. The military tender, therefore, is not available, and there is no means by which goods can be conveyed to the island, except in whatever way it can be done by small row-boats which may be available to residents and some of the merchants living on the island. This man says that it seems to him that a position is rapidly developing in which the island will be completely isolated, and he does not see much point in being compelled to pay taxes in a quarter of the country in which no services are available to the people. The Minister will appreciate the fact that in regard to certain goods, such as paraffin, sugar and commodities of that kind which are on demand as soon as they are available, and, in fact, some days before they are available, it is necessary that there should be some service by which they could be made available speedily. I suggest that the position of these people in Bere Island —some 300 or 400 people live on the island—will be extremely difficult. For one thing, they will have to face higher costs for the goods they receive, and, for another, the service will be irregular, unsatisfactory, inadequate and, I am afraid, infrequent, because it seems that, at certain parts of the year, it would not be possible for small row-boats to convey goods to the island because the passage is not quite easy. I do not think the arrangement would be at all satisfactory. So much for the position of the people there. Let me come now to the position of the employees of this company —not a great number, but, still, all of them bread-winners and the supports of households—who are concerned with this change. There was a crew of seven or eight on the boat and a number of other people were directly employed by the Bantry Bay Steamship Company. I understand that every single one is now out of employment. Furthermore, I am informed that it is very questionable whether, under any existing legislation, they have any pension rights, or any rights to get alternative employment, and though the number of people is not very large, a great deal of hardship is involved for the people concerned, a number of whom have spent the best years of their lives in the service of this company. May I suggest that that aspect of the case, at least, ought to have the earnest and special consideration of the Minister who does not wish, I am sure, to add to the number of people who are deprived of employment and who may be compelled to exist by some other means in the absence of that employment? I suggest further to the Minister that a transport service by road to Castletownbere is a very uncertain undertaking, from the point of view of giving service to the people. The distance from Bantry to Castletownbere is 33 miles and the road is rather perilous and difficult. That is well known to most road-users and I think it a great pity that some alternative cannot be found to putting this old-established company, which, in a modest way, gave a certain amount of employment and which, in a general way, gave good service to the people concerned, completely out of business. May I suggest that he may be able to devise some means by which a restricted road service could be permitted, together with this service for the period for which it is available to the people, that is, one run per week and that, in addition, he should examine the question of whether the alternative service provided is capable of carrying the same amount of traffic and the same bulk of traffic as was carried by the other service? It seems to be rather difficult to understand that live stock can be carried as easily by a road service as they were carried by the service which now goes out of commission, the steamship service. I have been informed, though I cannot personally vouch for it, that on the occasion of the last fair in Castletown, a number of cattle could not be removed by lorries and had to be driven by easy stages along the road between Castletownbere and Bantry. The Minister will have the advantage of certain arguments in this matter— that the people will be getting a daily service and a more up to date service. I feel that, while that may look all right on the surface, it is not at all clear that the service will be either up to date or satisfactory, having regard to the peculiar geographical position of the area concerned and to the adjacent island of Bere which will be in a position of special difficulty. I urge the Minister, not in any spirit of controversy or any spirit of Party advantage, to examine the matter further to see whether there is any possibility of meeting what I believe to be a fairly strong local view that it it a most unfortunate act which deprives them of this service. Seán F. Lemass Minister for Industry and Commerce (Mr. Lemass) The circumstances of this case are easy enough to understand, but it is not quite so easy to devise a remedy for the particular problems which may arise for individuals, by reason of the change which has taken place. In the past, goods were brought by ship from Bantry to various points along the Castletownbere peninsula. The Bantry Bay Steamship Company provided this weekly service by steamer which called at Glengarriff, Adrigole, Castletownbere and Bere Island. Early in this year, Córas Iompair Éireann provided a lorry service and the popularity of that lorry service resulted in a very substantial fall in the amount of goods available for transportation by steamer. It could be said, therefore, that the immediate cause of the steamship company’s difficulties is the operation of a lorry service by Córas Iompair Éireann, but that would be a very inaccurate description of the problem, because Córas Iompair Éireann provided the lorry service when it became clear to it that the goods were going to be moved by lorry anyhow, that the traders concerned with the movement of the goods would provide their own lorry service, if a service by Córas Iompair Éireann were not provided for them, and, consequently, although the decline of the company’s business can be traced to the beginning of the service by Córas Iompair Éireann, it is obvious that it would have lost the business anyhow, if not to the lorries of Córas Iompair Éireann, to lorries operated by private traders. I think there can be no doubt that the lorry service is immensely popular in the area. It began as a tri-weekly service, but so great was the demand for it that it is now operated three times daily. There is a lorry service three times a day from Bantry to Castletownbere, and the advantage of a daily service at lower cost is obviously greatly appreciated by the residents in the peninsula area. There is a problem in relation to Bere Island. The steamer service was of exceptional advantage to the residents on the island, and the manner by which goods can reach the island or be transported from the island now involves the use of this lorry service from Bantry to Castletownbere, and the movement of the goods over the mile of sea between Castletownbere and the island. In that regard, I understand that some small boats are available. Córas Iompair Eireann accept the obligation to provide an alternative service, but they would like to be assured that such a service is needed and that local opinion would prefer the service to be provided by it rather than by the local business people who might find provision of such a service a remunerative occupation to engage in. There are some boats there now and these boats would be adequate to move the inward traffic. There is a problem, and there is likely to be a problem, concerning the movement of cattle from the island, by reason of the unsuitability of the facilities for discharging cattle at Castletownbere, in relation to which I intend to have some further inquiries made. Personally, I cannot see what I can do. It is not practicable to restore the old position merely by persuading Córas Iompair Eireann to withdraw its service of lorries. I feel certain that the withdrawal of the lorries would be unpopular in the locality. In any event, it would not settle the problem. It seems obvious that it would merely mean that goods would travel on the lorries of private traders rather than on the lorries of the Transport Company. The reason for the withdrawal of the steamer service was the fact that there was no business for it. On July 5, the company wrote to my Department that while the usual traffic offered was close on 100 tons weekly, since the lorry services began in June, the traffic offering was on June 6, 25 tons; June 13, 35 tons; June 20, six tons. At that stage, the company decided to suspend the service. On the facts of the case, it appears to me that there is a better transport service being provided at lower cost. It is not merely a cheaper service, but a better service than the area enjoyed through the steamship company. Inquiries I have made indicate that the service is popular, and that there is no local demand for its withdrawal. On the contrary the demand has resulted in its expansion. The problem of the islands and the provision of boats for the transportation of goods to the islands will be considered by Córas Iompair Éireann, if that is desirable. If the local service is capable of handling the business Córas Iompair Éireann would prefer that. They do not deny that they have obligations to provide a service if it is not provided by other people. As regards the crew, Córas Iompair Eireann informed me that they would consider sympathetically other alternative employment for the men concerned. The captain of the ship has already been employed by the company, but they explained that it is not very easy to find employment suitable for the men in the locality. They cannot, therefore, say definitely that they will be able to provide employment for all the men concerned, but they are prepared to consider their applications as sympathetically as possible, and to make every effort to get them into some suitable employment in the locality. Personally I do not see that there is anything I can do about it. Some years ago there was a number of these coastal services from Sligo to Ballina, and Limerick to Westport, all of which have ended. They could not compete with road transport. While the Bantry Bay Steamer Company lasted longer, it looks as if the time has come when the business it formerly obtained has passed to the roads. In some cases it might be necessary, for reasons of public safety, for the State to take special measures to ensure that coastal shipping services are maintained, and following some disasters on the west coast, a committee was set up to examine the law and the obligations of the Government in regard to shipping services to islands off our coast. That committee has not reported. They dealt primarily with shipping to Tory Island, and to other islands where there is a much more definite problem involved than in the case of Bere Island. It is only one mile from the mainland, and there is no reason to expect exceptional danger in making the passage as in other cases. It seems to me that the problem of the transportation of goods to Bere Island is a matter for organisation in Castletownbere with some sort of store accommodation for goods. I think it would be better, from every point of view, that services between Castletownbere and Bere Island should be provided locally. Córas Iompair Éireann state that if they are not provided they will see what they can do. Personally, I do not see that anything else can be done. The Dáil adjourned at 7.47 p.m. until 3 p.m. on Tuesday, 23rd July, 1946. Industrial Relations
Report …: With Correspondence of the Agents, Tables, &c., and a List of … By British Association for the Relief of the Extreme Distress in Ireland and Scotland
During the autumn and winter of 1846-1847 the disaster of the great famine came to Ireland. In January 1847, a group of English banking leaders combined to raise funds for famine relief via a private charity named the “British Relief Association” and entrusted Strzelecki to dispense them ( £500,000) Strzelecki was appointed the main agent of the Association to superintend the distribution of supplies in County Sligo, County Mayo and County Donegal. In order to alleviate the critical situation of famished Irish families and especially children, Strzelecki developed a visionary and exceptionally effective mode of assistance: feeding starving children directly through the schools. He extended daily food rations to schoolchildren across the most famine-stricken western part of Ireland, while also distributing clothing and promoting basic hygiene. At its peak in 1848, around 200,000 children from all denominations were being fed through the efforts of the B.R.A., many of whom would have otherwise perished from hunger and disease. Despite suffering from the effects of typhoid fever he contracted in Ireland, Strzelecki dedicated himself tirelessly to hunger relief. His commitment was widely recognized and praised by his contemporaries. In recognition of his services, he was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in November 1848.
The Kenmare (Brown) estate in Bantry extended from around the present Bantry Tyre property around Bantry Bay over into Kenmare. In the early to mid 19th century it was managed by Christopher Galwey of Kilarney. The Galweys were one extensive and opulent land owners and merchants in Bantry.
Newtown:
Michael Murphy, died in Australia
Michael Murphy, Newtown and Donemark. Pigot lists 1824 at Newtown. Gave evidence to 1845 Commission Law and practice in respect to the occupation of land in Ireland (Devon Commission), Protestant. Farmer formerly on Lord Kenmare’s estate family held for 200 years, and hugely improved with tenants having hundreds of pounds worth of trees unregistered due to confidence in earlier Lords Kenmare now possessed without compensation. County Freeman of Cork City voting in Cork City Election 1837. Holds mills and purchases corn. Extensive ruins of mills still there at Donemark Bridge towards sea. His vote sought by Christopher Galwey Lord Kenmare agent for liberal candidates Roche and Barry Cork election 1859, declined due to imposition of Corn Laws. Died in Australia.
1837, Christopher Galwey, Lord Kenmare’s Agent writing to him at Newtown, ‘I am pleased to report by your messenger’s report that the flour from your Donemark Mill is in such good demand that you re kept at full work
1829 Michael Murphy with Lord Bantry funds from Dublin Castle. Murphy may have later difficulties as he may have had a personal liability for this advance. Michael Murphy was a workhouse Guardian up to October 1847 when the Board of Guardians was dissolved by the Poor Law Commissioners. Then he was a Guardian again beginning in November 1849. He married Jane Besnard and they had four daughters. One of them (Charlotte Murphy) married Rev. Pratt of Enniskeane. After the famine she died and Pratt became rector in Durrus. Jane Murphy wrote some letters to Charlotte during the 1840s that have survived.
Michael Murphy’s brother John Murphy was rector of Bantry from about 1842 and during the famine. He was dutiful but his curate Alexander Hallowell was much more active in working for the poor. Michael Murphy was a prominent figure in Bantry. He traveled to England to try to get food for Bantry district and was also on various Cork boards and committees. He had been very active in the Donemark mills but had to move from Donemark House to Newtown house because of the row with Lord Kenmare. The mill was inactive by 1847 according to Griffiths valuation. In 1850 Michael Murphy volunteered its use for housing workhouse boys.
.
He sold the Donemark mill which was operating as a mill and brewery to William Tisdall. He ground flour and corn there and he had an accident there in 1872 and had to have his hand amputated.
