A touch of Spike Milligan’s ‘Puckoon”. life as a young RIC recruit (one of 80,000), collecting the Tillage Census in 1910 rounding up the chickens and avoid half acres, keeping an eye on ‘Returned Yanks’, searching for Poteen on Innismurray island, over policing in Cooloney, Co. Sligo from the Memoir of Jeremiah Mee.

Interestingly he describes the career prospects as superior to that of a National Teacher or Bank Clerk. It was attractive to those liking the outdoor life. The pay in 1910 started at £39 per annum to £70.4s 0. for twenty years service. Clothing and footwear were provided and married men (allowed to marry after 7 years service) got a lodging allowance.

He describes the overpoliceing in Cooloney Co. Sligo 1913, District Inspector with Clerk, Head Constable, two Sergeants, ten Constables. He says the work could be done by two. The regulations were stultifying but in country areas a fantasy world existed of adhering to them. There was at the time little or no crime in country areas.

Mee was one of over 80,000 Irishmen, 90% Catholic who served in the RIC from the early 19th century to 1921. After the Treaty all 80,00 personnel files containing family details, health, wife’s details and posting were removed to Ealing in West London and shredded in 1938, only 4 surviving according to Jim Herlihy RIC historian.

Mee’s memoir has been a big hit among retired Gardaí where they have been able to get a copy.

Jeremiah Mee Memoir RIC

Progress of Island and Coast Society Proselytising Education activities in West Cork, 1853, Bere Island, Capaneel, (Muintervarra; Doonore, Roskeera, Rooska, Geahies), Dunmanus Bay then Irish speaking, Here Island, Sherkin Island, Cape Clear, Kilcoe.

https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=BXwDAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&authuser=0&hl=en&pg=GBS.PA2

The Society had its roots in the Religious Controversies within the Church of Ireland in the 1820s and 30s and a reaction against Catholic Emancipation.

Among the figure involved in those times was the Rev. Caesar Otway, a somewhat exotic character combing the role of vigorous Orangeman as well as Antiquarian, Celtic Scholar and editor of the Dublin Penny Journal. He was a patron of William Carleton.  He travelled in the 1830s from Schull to Durrus and remarked at the industry of local farmer carrying creels of seaweed up the hill in Dunbeacon before the present Mine Road was built.

https://durrushistory.wordpress.com/2011/10/11/caesar-otway-journey-mount-gabriel-1822/

https://durrushistory.wordpress.com/2012/02/19/caesar-otway-skull-to-bantry-1822/

The Societies activities in Cork involved the Rev. Nagle and probably the Rev. Crosthwaite in Durrus. The Rev. Crosthwaithe was a vigorous Protestant associated with like minded clergy.More generally the Rev. Sullivan brothers were involved.

Ireland and the Centenary of American Methodism 1866

Ireland and the Centenary of American Methodism 1866.

Wood Pavement and Construction and Company Limited of Skibbereen, at the Cork International Exhibition 1902-3.

The firm exhibited their patent wood flooring throughout the Exhibition Buildings.   They also deployed their ‘granolithic’ concrete used on the steps off the Industrial Hall.    This material had been invented by Mr. Wood and was made from ‘a superior hard whinstone’ like whin or basalt.

it is not known how the firm fared afterwards.

Incidents from Land War, Durrus, West Cork, 1881-1887.

December 1881 National Teachers Leary and Daly coming from chapel shot at sign from “Rory’ proclaimed that school was being boycotted.
February 1882 Shot fired into house of Daniel Burke and son slightly injured notice posted to door not to work for boycotted men. (May be Burke Coomkeen who was a gamekeeper for Lord Bandon)
20th September 1882 District proclaimed, a number of outrages, Daly summons server beaten severely dwelling attacked and crops maliciously destroyed
27th November 1882 reported the Rev. Pratt, Church of Ireland Minister, shot at while Mr. Morris landlord staying with him. (Morris held lands at Morreagh, descendants of Evansons and ancestor of Eldon Potter editor ‘Skibbereen Eagle’)
6th December 1882 Dublin Gazette reported area proclaimed and extra Constables sent.
1882 farmer had ears cut off two sheep and a third strangled cow’s tail cut off
1st – 30th April 1883 extra policing costs £20, warrant in Gazette 30th May 1883. Temporary police shelters were built.
15th April 1884 house of O’Regan raided for arms he was interviewed by Warburton Resident magistrate (formerly Military and RIC Officer from Co. Offaly)and Mr Starkie Criminal Investigation Department re seditious documents and copy of ‘United Ireland’ and letters taken. Question raised in Parliament by Willie Redmond 21st June 1884 stated that O’Regan intended to return to the United States.
10 April 1886 allegations of vote snatching for election of Poor Law Guardians Bantry involving vote of Colonel Somerville Durrus Court. Also Ahakista, Gurtnakilla and Sheepshead.
January 1887 moonlight attack four armed men on house of Mr. Burleigh Petty Session Clerk (also parish Clerk later lived at beach House, Bantry) one mile from Durrus

Doherty Land Agent in Bandon (Messrs Wheller Doherty Solicitors and Lad Agents, took over running ‘Western’ Bandon Estate from Colonel Bernard c 1870) for the Earl of Bandon reported that the Protestant tenants in Durrus were refusing to pay rent ‘no better then animals’.

Original Tithe Ledgers of South Liberties of Cork belonging to St. Finbarrs Cathedral, listing land holders and valuations held in RCB Library, Dublin. Includes listing of small holders names local to areas Catholic and Protestant, very legible.

https://durrushistory.wordpress.com/2013/10/09/st-finbarrs-cathedral-cork-1790-list-of-properties-tenants-cork-city-and-county-list-of-cork-bishops-600-ad-1790-a-d-list-of-clergys-livings/

Dr. John O’Donovan BL, (1805-1861), probably the greatest Irish scholar of all time, selection of letters from The Graves Collection Royal Irish Academy. The letters give a snapshot of his genius depth and breath of knowledge and extraordinary industry before his premature death.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_O’Donovan_(scholar)

Click to access MASTER-Graves-Collection-Catalogue-29-June-2011.pdf

On O’Dalys:
https://durrushistory.wordpress.com/2011/10/08/dr-john-odonovan-the-odaly-family-bards-muintervara-1852-extract/

5th century Irish Manuscript, ‘Codex Usserianius Primus copy of the Four Gospels in Vellum naming thieves crucified with Jesus, Restoration funded by Bank of America Merril Lynch to go on dispay in Trinity College Dublin, Ireland,

By the mid 19th century a large number of Irish landed Estates were hopelessly insolvent. This was caused by a combination of the effects of the Familne falling agricultural prices since the Battle of Waterloo and the availability of easy credit. Many Irish landed estates borrowed heavily to fund children’s education, dowries for daughters jointures for unmarried female children as well as supporting an unsustainable lifestyle.

The solution was the Landed Estates courts which took over the Estates guaranteed title to prospective purchases who took title without the mortgages.

Many of the records of the sales which include legal tenure, tenant details and surveys are available in the National Archives. Better quality reproductions may be obtained there by individually printing from the micro films.

Sale of Durrus/Bantry, West Cork Estate of Arthur Hutchinson Deceased by landed Estate Court, 1854 including to Townlands of Derrivahallow, Killovenogue, Clonee, Ahagoheen, Parkanna, part of Moulivard, Gutheyclona, Middle and West Letterlickey with valuable Lead Deposits with Legal Tenure, Maps, Tenant’s details:

Arthur Hutchinson Cork Examiner 27 January 1851

Sale of Arthur Hutchinson’s Durrus, Bantry estate Landed Estates Court 1854

There is a substantial old farmhouse in Clonee, not on tis estate which was probably used by the Hutchinsons late 18th century. This is now owned by the Swanton family. The families were linked by marriage in the 1840s the children of Hugh Hutchinson Swanton were baptised in Schull east and appear on the register.

It is assumed that the Hutchinson family were the one which previously owned Blackrock House which they White family bought in the early 18th century and expanded o the present Bantry House.