Níl aon Leabhairín mar do mheabhair-chinn fhéin.

New by Eilís Uí Bhriain in Bantry Bookshop, with old Durrus photographs.

Workbook in Irish of William Smith O’Brien 1803-1864, Young Irelander, London with Transcriptions of Poems by Dermot O’Mulqueeney, and other Munster Poets, Sean Fhocals (Wise Sayings) Newspaper extracts

Seanfocal ‘Is Fearr Focal sa Chúirt ná Punt sa Sporrán’ (a word/friend in court is better then a pound in the purse).

Fileann an Feall ar an Feallaire; Deceit haunts the Fraudster, Seanfocal

Updated

Jeremiah Wholey, 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.

In the era of horses on farms there was an ongoing demand for oats so many farmers grew oats. After harvesting they were piled in a stack awaiting threshing which from the late 19th century was do by a steam threshing machine. This continued to the 1960s, in the Durrus area there was a threshing on the Shannon farm in Rossmore in 1965 and thereafter the use of the threshing machine petered out. By the mid 1960 the combine harvester had arrived in the area with the O’Donovan brothers from Kealties followed by Phil Shanahan.

The Wholey brothers from the Mealagh Valley threshed in the Bantry area and traditionally the last was carried on around the 11th October on the farm of Barnaby Deane, . That had been a Vickery farm since 1785 and is now owned by the O’Sullivan family. Barnaby had a particular requirement to mix light and heavy hay with the straw which involved a day long process. On occasion he was helped by the Reverend Doherty who was also adept as the use of the scythe in cutting corn while his wife Mrs. Doherty helped the women to cater in the kitchen. Oats was the crop generally threshed sometime barley or wheat. If wheat was used it involved a thorough cleaning of the machine to remove all traces of oats.

When Jeremiah Wholey was finished he would proceed with a three man crew to West Waterford. Progress with the steam engine was slow, the machine travelled through the night. The two crew members not driving would sleep in hammocks on the travelling machine. He was thorough on one occasion one of the crew had to cycle and back to Cork to get a machine part.

There was a long tradition of spailpíns going seasonally from the poor congested area of West Cork to West Waterford from the later 18th century.

In West Waterford an area of large farms the harvest was kept in large sheds out of the weather. Despite the use of reeks in the Bantry area the corn could deteriorate over a few weeks. On some farms the threshing could take week. This continued until almost Christmas.

Another of the Wholeys also had a machine which went to Waterford as did the Kearney family and Peter (Pete) O’Neill from Ballycomane.  Pete was helped by among others Eugene Crowley, Ahagouna, Sonny Hosford, Kealties adn members of the Ballycommane Kelly family.  Later in life he was a shopkeeper in Goleen adn ran a taxi he died in 1983 adn is buried in Moulivard.

McCartys of the White House in Kilcrohane did the western end of the Muintervara Peninsula..In the Scart area the McCarthy Sowneys had machines.

The Crowleys in Colomane, Parish of Caheragh, also threshed around their home area and then went to Waterford also until near Christmas. Their father was Jim ( Jim Peg) and mother was Margaret Mc Carthy. Names: Mary (Geaney), John, Joe, Jimmy, Madgie, Denis. They are all dead now.

They did threshing all around there and then went to Waterford, in the ’40s.

John Crowley still working at it around the Scart area in the 50s and into the 60s.

Threshing contractors included:

Michael McCarthy (White House), Kilcrohane.
Donal McCarthy (Sowney), Scart Bawn.
Jerome & Paddy Sweeney, Beach.
Jerome Whooley, Mealagh Valley.
Pete O’Neill, Ballycomane

Recollections of Peter O’Driscoll, San Francisco, of Aughaville in the 1950s:

My interest in the Threshing photos are when I was young I remember a George Ahern a farmer in the townland of Mullaghmore often visiting (Scoraiocting) at our home with others and my father Jeremiah O’Driscoll. This George Ahern often spoke of his sister who was married to a Dukelow west some area near Durrus. George was possible a couple of years younger than my father (who was born in 1893 George was born some time in the later 1890s) George’s parents were George & Hetty Ahern. George’s brother Johnnie Ahern about the same age as my father, Johnnie did work or help or work on his sister’s farm in the early 1950s.

In their time the threshing was a memorable occasion as meitheal gathered to help and when all was done there was an evening of entertainment and sometimes song lubricated by stout.

Threshing at Hollybrook, Skibbereen, West Cork with Marshall’s Gainsboro Steam Machine 1930s

Pre 1965 farming practices West Cork, Red Elephant and Epicure potatoes, working with the grufán, threshing with the steam engine, winnowng of wheat and oats, working in the bog.

Irish Words in use 1930s Cork English and list of Irish phrases 19th century possibly Skibbereen/Bantry

Threshing Scene:

Courtesy Kinsale Historical Society:

Gashes of Tracton 1950s:

Click to access 4e5f19772774d6a1126fff6723dd9042.pdf

More Tracton, p.28, 1950s:

Click to access 7e076ce0f0df951c7a19c95110f5849d.pdf

Miss O’Donovan, daughter of Doctor Daniel O’Donovan Esq., of Ahakista, west Cork and of O’Donovan Cove family probable Ancestor of Sir Stanley Harrington, of Harrington Goodglass Wall, Paint Manufacturers, Blackpool, Cork.

Doctor O’Donovan may have been the father of Doctor Daniel O’Donovan the author of the History=y of Carbery, he died young. He was part of the O’Donovan Cove family. They were one of the first Catholic families to purchase an estate in 1750 after the confiscations. Timothy O’Donovan of the family was one of the first Catholic Magistrates in Co. Cork.

The Harrington factory was acquired some years ago by the then ICI.

Correspondence between Doctor John O’Donovan, L.L.D. and Timothy O’Donovan, Magistrate from 1818, O’Donovan’s Cove, Durrus, West Cork, mentioning his grandfather educated at Toulouse, France, in 1754, lands held in trust mid 17th century by Protestant ‘Nominees’ who behaved with honour, recent history concerning Jerry ‘en Dana’ McCarthy and the McCarthys of Glanda, Dunmanway, denies claim of Rev. Morgan O’Donovan, of Douglas, Cork, to be head of the Clan.

Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Fishing Industry, sitting in Bantry April 1836. Evidence of Richard Young gave evidence that his great grandfather had lost £2,000 when a Finance House in Bilbao had collapsed. This may have been the Consulado de Bilbao in 1651

Walls and gate remnant of Estate of Timothy O’Donovan Esquire, O’Donovan’s Cove (Kealties/Tullig) Durrus, West Cork.

A love affair between Samuel Beckett’s father Bill and Eva Murphy frustrated by her father William Martin Murphy

Building of Old Pier, and Stables Cupola and Winged feet Bantry House, 1840-2.

‘Bantry Gang’, Tim Healy, Journalist, King’s Counsel, MP. Governor General Irish Free State, A. M. Sullivan, King’s Counsel, MP, T.D. Sullivan, Father-in-Law of Tim Healy, Composer ‘God Save Ireland’, Richard Swanton, Magistrate, Cobh, Cullinane, Bantry.

William Martin Murphy, Bantry and the Noel Brown connection.

..

..

Sir William Orpens family have strong local links. Part of a network c 1790s of the Durrus Hutchinsons, Ballydehob Swantons and Caheragh family of Eugene O’Sullivan (Protestant).

Graveyard of St. Finbarrs Church, Bantry:

https://www.google.ie/maps/place/Kilcoe,+Co.+Cork/@51.551559,-9.4058231,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x4845a3d36b9ff7fd:0x2600c7a819bb5772

Straw Beehive made by George Copithorne, Kilbarry, Dunmanway, West Cork.

 

Frys (Frieze) Trousers from Copithorns Woolen Mills, Bantry, West Cork. Mrs Clara Ford, wife of Henry in 1912 stayed in Vickerys Hotel bought cloth for suit at Copithorns, visited her aunt Annie near Clonakilty

 

Kilcoe (West of Skibbereen), West Cork, Church of Ireland Graveyard

 

 

Obituary Mr. John Copithorne, KIlcoe, Skibbereen, West Cork, and Mrs Ann Copithorne 1908.

 

 

 

Funeral to family plot Aughadown of John Copithorne aged 24, ill for a number of years, officiated by Rev. A B Sweetnam.  This is from the late Mrs. Mary Dukelow nee Fuller, Brahalish one of West Cork’s foremost genealogical like apparently her father of Liscaha, Schull.

 

Thomas and Willy brothers

Annie, Minnie, Sarah sisters

William Copithorne

Thomas Copithorne

Charles and William Dukelow uncles probably Durrus

Wreaths from

Uncle Tom Aunt Moe? and Leslie

1. Allen
2. Trinder

Johnny Kelly

1. H.. Townsend

1. Beamish and family

 

Buried 12th July 1908.

 

John Copithorne old and respected after an illness of a  number of months buried Aughadown, officiated by Rev. A B Sweetnam.

 

Mrs Copithorne, wife

Sons Thomas James Daughters Annie, Minnie, Sarah

Charles, William, James Dukelow brothers in law

Thomas Copithorne, Bantry.  Owner of Copithorne Woollen Mills makers of frieze cloth.

Thomas Copithorne, Gubbeen

Johnnie Dukelow, nephew

Samuel Copithorne, Thomas Swanton cousins.

 

Wreaths:

Brother Tom and family

Samuel and Jane Copithorne

1. H. Townsend

 

General Public:

 

Rev. J. O’Sullivan, P.P., Aughadown

Captain Nolan

1. McCarthy
2. J. Gallagher R.d.O.
3. O’Regan

C?. Harte

1. Donovan
2. Donovan
3. Daly
4. Kearney
5. Collins
6. McCarthy
7. McDonald
8. O’Driscoll;;
9. McCarthy
10. Coughlan
11. McCarthy
12. Coughlan, Kilcoe
13. Connell
14. McCarthy
15. Gallagher
16. Keohane
17. O’Brien
18. Driscoll
19. Beamish, Corravaley
20. McDonald

William Dowdall?

William Young, T..obeg
J. Twomey

1. Hayes
2. Donovan
3. Connell
4. Milger?
5. Hickey
6. Donovan
7. Driscoll, Ardura
8. Jagoe, Westfield
9. Ferguson
10. O’Regan, Schull
11. Trinder
12. Bird
13. O’Regan
14. Driscoll, Ballybill
15. Caverley
16. Sullivan

1. Courcey

1. Long, Leighcluin
2. Hurley
3. Swanton
4. Howard, Creamery Manger
5. Trinder
6. Trider, Aughadown
7. O’Regan
8. Daly
9. Sullivan, Lisheen
10. Goggin
11. Swanton
12. Crowley, Glounakileena
13. McCarthy
14. McCarthy
15. Sweetnam
16. Sweetnam
17. Jermyn
18. Murphy
19. Sweetnam
20. McCarthy
21. McCarthy, Morahin
22. T. Hickey
23. H. Kelly, M.C.C.
24. Young
25. Kelly, N.T.
26. Kelly
27. Beamish
28. Kelly
29. Beamish, Skehanore
30. H. Wolfe, Steam Mills
31. Swanton
32. Ward, Skibbereen
33. R. Henry
34. Swanton
35. J. Lynch
36. G. O’Connell
37. Attridge
38. Willis
39. O’Brien, R.D.C
40. Skuse, Ballydehob
41. Swanton, Bawnakean

 

Annie Copithorne died June 1922 buried Kilcoe

Thomas Copithorne died January 1946 buried Kilcoe

James Copithorne died 2st March 1972 or 1992 buried Kilcoe

 

Mrs Copithorne, Buried 12th July 1909.

 

Sons Thomas James Daughters Annie, Minnie, Sarah

Charles, William, James Dukelow brothers in law

Mrs. Dukelow, sister

 

Thomas and Wat? Copthorne brother-in-law

Mrs. Young and Mrs. Swanton cousins

 

Public

.. Connell

1. Simpson
2. J. Gallagher, R.D.C.
3. McCarthy
4. O’Regan
5. Collins
6. Beamish
7. McCarthy
8. Barry
9. Moxley
10. Gallagher
11. Keohane
12. Driscoll
13. Coughlin
14. Moxley
15. McCarthy
16. Levis, Kilcoe

William Connell

William Young

..  Donovan

1. Hayes
2. Connell
3. Twomey
4. Young
5. O’Brien
6. Donovan
7. Milner
8. Hickey
9. Driscoll, Ardrara
10. Swanton
11. G. O’Connell
12. KIngston
13. Barry
14. Camier
15. H. Henry
16. Wolfe
17. Young
18. Swanton
19. Shannon
20. J. Welply, Westfield
21. Bird

T .Trinder

1. Keating
2. Caverley
3. Sullivan
4. Long, Hollyhill
5. Morgan
6.  Daly
7. Trinder
8. Swanton
9. Hurley
10. Trinder, Aughadown
11. McCarthy
12. Sweetnam
13. Sweetnam
14. Jermyn
15. McCarthy
16. Swanton
17. Crowley
18. Duggan,  Glounakilleena

Richard Swanton

1. Jemmings
2. Connell
3. S. Wolfe

Captain Nolan

1. McCarthy
2. McCarthy

1. Wolfe

1. Young, Skibbereen

 

Wreaths:

 

Uncle Tom, Aunt Louis, and Lottie

Uncle William and all the family

Am and Jane Copithorne

Mr. and Mrs. J. Connell

Mr. and Mrs. E. Simpson

A .H. Townsend

Mr. and Mrs. D. G. O’Connell

 

Newspaper obits provided an interesting snapshot of local society at the particular time.

Obituaries, Durrus District

The Dairyman, a Vanished 18th and 19th century Occupation, now may make a type of comeback with the ending of Milk Quotas, 1741 reference on Kenmare Estate, Dairy Agreement 1897.

There are references from the early 18th century to Dairymen. This was where a family rented a herd of cows from either a Landlord or a large tenant. The ‘rent’ would usually be high but a good dairyman with his family could make good money. The agreement below sets out the terms which were probably standard for a sizeable letting, done in an attorney’s office. The coming of the Land Acts in the early 20th century effectively finished this line of work.

The ending of milk quotas is again opening up new forms of farm organisation.

The O’Sullivan (Ceohanach/Johnny Owens) family for example originated in the Cousane/Kealkil area and over a number of generations were variously in Molivard, Derrysullivan, Dromreagh, Mulloch (now Jimmy Swantons), Rushkeeninaska (late Jim Dukelows), Friendly Cove (McSweeneys). A sample agreement is set out below. There was enough of a profit for a substantial dowry to be paid for one of the daughter in the late 1890s.

 

Possibly related:

 

From the Carrigboy School records from 1866 the following names appear, Donovan in Crottees 1878, Wards Dromreagh 1886, Goggins in Glenlough 1903, Barrys in Rusheeninaska 1908. The Church of Ireland Chambers family were also active in the period in both the Durrus and Mizen areas..

Kenmare Estate 1740s:

 

1897 Dairy Agreement Philips to Sullivan Rusheeninaska, Durrus.
Dairy Agreement for Rusheeeninaska, Durrus, Phillips:Sullivan 18th January 1897.