1845 Lord Bandon Calling on British Prime Minister, Sir Robert Peel, at Downing St., London to Fix Bantry as Packet Station for America and the West Indies. 1845 Abandonment of Plan to Bring Railway to Berehaven.
1853, Courthouse Meeting Dunmanway to Review Baronial Liabilities from Proposed Railway from Bandon to Drimoleague with a Proposed Branch to Clonakilty.
Th system of building a new railway was broadly similar to a motorway scheme. The promoters would set up a company with a list of those who agreed to subscribe. The subscribers were typically those from a landed interest, businessmen and professionals. The list throw up surprises. Many are wealthy local Catholics. Dr. Burke of Bantry on one list subscribed for £2,500 of share when a dispensary doctor might have been making £80 a year. A specialist firm of engineers would set out the route and canvass local opinion with a series of meetings, then an agreed scheme was completed specialist legal firms in Dublin and London would promote a Parliamentary Bill. If approved the Railway Company would be entitled to compulsory purchase powers with a compensation mechanism in default of agreement.
That still provided the legal basis for compensation for public work schemes.
When the line to Bantry was eventually built tenants on the Bandon Estate in Durrus had to pay a supplement on their rent known as the Baronial Guarantee
1889. Shennanigans on the Skibbereeen to Schull Tramway. Alleged that on First Day of New Engine Operatives Went on the Tear, Leaving the Machinery to Burn out on the Engine. A Bottle of Whiskey at Phillips Pub on Durrus Race Day.
1889. Shennanigans on the Skibbereeen to Schull Tramway. Alleged that on First Day of New Engine Operatives Went on the Tear, Leaving the Machinery to Burn out on the Engine. A Bottle of Whiskey at Phillips Pub on Durrus Race Day.
James Phillips referred to had a substantial farm in Durrus, ran a coaching operation and the Bandon Arms Hotel. He was a pretty forceful character and active electorally as a Conservative Candidate. His grand daughter Kathleen Dukelow donated the ground for the Durrus Community Centre and a very substantial sum to build it about 15 years ago. The Philips probably originate in Bandon and came to Durrus when Lord Bandon recovered the estate ro the Evansons.
Shahanan is Phil Shanahan, Dunbeacon, either he or his father was in charge of gatherng the 1831 census for the West Division of West Cabery. Family intermared to Tobins and O’Mahonys of Kilcrohane. Probably descend partly from a Catholic branch of the Townsend family.
The tramline features a lot in local lore along the lines of Percy French’s West Clare Railway.
1831 Persons Appointed Fit and Proper Persons to Taking a Census, Barones Bere, Bantry, East Division, East Carbery, East Division, West Carbery, West Division, East Carbey, East Division, West Carbery, Courseys, Ibane and Barryroe, Kilmmeaky (Bandon)
Including Phil Shanahan (1796-1892), Dunbeacon, a very prominent local family:
He married Maria Moss of Durrus. One of her sisters married Jeremiah O’Mahony of prominent Kilcrohane family, he later became a Magistrate
Dunbeacon Gravaeyard:
6th March 1867 Mrs. Ann T.(ownsend) Shanahan Probably Dunbeacon Philip probbaly died 1892 aged 96 58 Grave: Erected by Phipip Shanahan ot the memory of hs wife Ann T d 26th March 1867 aged 58 ” Philip Shanahan. was born Abt 1796; d.5 Aug 1892-Dunbeacon, County Cork,Ireland. Philip married Anne TOWNSEND on 14 Nov 1826 in East Schull, County Cork, Ireland . Anne was born about 1812. She died on 26 Mar 1867 in Dunbeacon. County Cork, Ireland. “
1892 Philip Shanahan Probably Dunbeacon Philip 1892 aged 96 96 Grave: Erected by Philip Shanahan ot the memory of is wife Ann T d 26th March 1867 aged 58
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.
