PRESENTMENTS BANTRY AREA, CO. CORK, 1846 and Background Data on Some of the Recipients.

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One of the areas mentioned:

https://www.google.ie/maps/place/Upper+Sheskin,+Co.+Cork/@51.6705325,-9.4498062,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x48450a5bd08f6365:0xeb41e39b8dd59c2!8m2!3d51.6705191!4d-9.4410297?hl=en

The presentments were list of works, ‘presented’, by land owners to the Grand Jury in the hope that financial assistance would be forthcoming to enable them to be carried out.  This is from the Cork Examiner of the 8th November 1846.  For Cheskin read Seskin.

It is not clear if the money was paid directly by the Grand Jury adn later reimbursed centrally.  Some later drainage schemes were financed from Dublin.

Samuel Hutchins, listed 1835 at Ballylickey, 1838.  1835 in Bantry paying £5 toward Catholic Rent, frequently praised as a Liberal Protestant. 1840 petition on Catholic Equality. Attending address Ardnagashel 1840 Great Meeting Bantry re Poor Law. Listed 1843, Ardnagashel, Bantry.   Estate passed to him on death of younger brother Emanuel in 1839,  Brother of botanic artist Ellen Hutchins.  1820 Member Cork Library. 1837 donated £5 to Justice (Catholic Repeal) Rent.  Set up a soup kitchen during Famine.  Extensive property throughout Co. Cork, sitting Bantry, and Castletown North Cork, 1835, Castletownbere 1839, Buttevant 1846 succeeded by his son Emanuel later by another son Samuel Newburgh.  1846 Grand Jury grant drainage 25 acres  Ardnagashel.

William O’Sullivan Esq., Carriganass Castle.

Gave evidence to 1844 Commission Law and practice in respect to the occupation of land in Ireland. Lease of Ahiel where he was born and in the family for 100 years from Lord Kenmare not renewed in 1840.  Has 500 to 600 acres employs a great number of men.

William O’Sullivan, Esq., Carriganass Castle, native Ahill.  Game Certificate 1802. Purchased Carriganass from David Mellifont, Donemark in 1817 for £250 and £50 rent previously had been tenant with Maurice Flynn. Hamilton White had left, in his will, cash sums to Richard Blair Esq., Galway (nephew from Blair’s Cove, Durrus), who had received various lands in lieu. By this deed Blair  assigned these lands to William O’Sullivan, Carriganass in 1822.  Has 500-600 acres from Kenmare Estate. Subscriber 1832 Bantry poor Relief. Decried by Assistant Magistrate for rapacious behaviour toward tenants ‘God help the tenants of the Country with Such landlords’. Enduring bad feeling with McCarthy Downing Skibbereen Solicitor.  Accused of being agent to Sir William Draper.  Son William called to the Bar 1844.  Signed Testimonial to Resident Magistrate, John Gore Jones, Bantry, 1844.  In 1848 seizing cattle at Scart, Bantry for alleged overdue rent to his father with Daniel, John and Cornelius Manning and Eugene and Stephen Sullivan he was imprisoned for 3 months and fined £20 for assault.  Son, William, Barrister,  made a Magistrate 1850 on recommendation of Earl of Bandon superceded after two days.  Prosecuted in Cork for criminal libel.   Daughter married Barrett who took over estate.  According to John Windle he contemplated the restoration of Carriganass Castle.  Brother Jeremiah in Brennymore, Kealkil his daughter married Portuguese Captain Jose Biaia later resident in Kealkil. 1854 large farm at Kilcrea with quarry to let apply William O’Sullivan of Daniel O’Sullivan, Church St., Cork.  Complained that in 1840 his lease of Ards (2 very large farms 3 miles inland) was not renewed by Lord Kenmare. This lease commence in 1756 between William Sullivan, an attorney who married the daughter of Rec. Schofield who had the lands.  The lives in a lease for three lives of Richard Cox, son of the Archbishop of Cashel, and Richard and George sons of Sir Richard Cox of Dunmanway at a rent of £52.  Grandson  QUILL, Albert William, in occupation pre 1908

John Warren Payne, Bantry, Agent Lord Bantry.  Member provisional Committee projected Bandon to Bantry Railway 1845.  Member election committee McCarthy Downing, Skibbereen, 1868.

Robert Hedges Eyre White, Glengariff Castle.  Attended Great Meeting in Bantry 1840 re Poor Laws.  Grand Jury grant for drainage of 140 acres at Boultenagh.

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.  1822 seeking support from Lord Lieutenant for Bridewell and market House in Bantry.  Notified as Magistrate of Catholic Meeting on Loyalty to King 1825.  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.

Incident Land War, Durrus, West Cork, 7th January 1886

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On the 8th  January 1886 it was reported in the Shields Daily Gazette and Shipping Telegraph that ‘moonlighters’ savagely beat Mr. David Burley (Burleigh), the Petty Session Clerk, in search of arms the previous day and no arrests were made.

At that time the Petty Sessions were held in Carrigboy (Durrus), the courthouse is still extant next to Ó Suilleabhaín’s pub.  Mr Burley (or Burleigh) lived in Beech House, the large house between the West Lodge Hotel and the cemetery in Bantry.

Daughter to Kildare Place Training College he may have originated from around Innishannon, possibly lived at Beach House, Bantry at one stage.

Adm to widow Elizabeth Durrus effects £193 3s 5d

Tithe Applotments 3, Durrus, Co. Cork, 1830.


Pate Crone.5a   1
John Cleary 8a   9
Pate Donovan 8a   9
Conls Cleary Jnr 10a   10
Conls Cleary Snr  8a   9
James Vickery 23a   20
William Vickery 21a   19
John Driscoll 1a   1
James Nail (O’Neill) 20a   15
Widow Lynch 8a   6
Andrew Nail 8a   6
Daniel Wholy 2a   2
John Sullivan 1a   1
Denis Sullivan 8a   6
Philip Nail 1a   1
Conls Driscoll 10a   8
Daniel Sullivan 4a   4
Michael Lucy? 10a   8
John Hurly 10a   8
Michael Hurly 10a   9
Timothy Hurly 10a   11
Dailey or Darby Burke 2a   3
James May 11a   1
Jerh Coughlane 11a   1
Daniel Sullivan –   1
John Hurly 3a   2
James Crowly 3a   3
Thomas Bryon  –   1
Timothy Hurly 7a   7

Robert Lavers 1a West Cloney 1
John Loury ? 17a   15
Pate Conner 7a   9
James Swanton (also has 8a) and George Swanton (has also 4a)  7a   9+James 8+ George 4
James Conner 22a   22
Samuel Swanton 15a   14
Michael Sullivan Tedagh 8a   15
Conls Driscoll 5a Part of Mureagh 4
Walter Coppinger 5a   4
Thomas Roycroft Mount Gabriel 24 joint

 

The Tithe Applotments of Durrus, Kilcrohane, were sealed on 13th February 1831, having been conducted by William Symms, of Newtown Bantry, Gentleman, who swore that he had a clear and personal   estate and property in the amount of £1,000 over and above all my just debts and encumbrances of one thousand Pounds, and William Pearson.

 

Number of acres in the parish of Durrus Kilcrohane 10,610 value £3,014.6.6.  The survey is dated 16th November 1830

Note there were 383 lots for this exercise only prime acreage is included, mountain and commonage is excluded and valuations are rounded up or down to the nearest pound.

 

 

 

Valuations £10 or over

 

 

Name/Acres Townland Valuation in Pounds rounded up/down
Jehr Kelly?   21 a Gurteen 23
Widow Hall 21 a   23
Corns Donovan Fonka? 20a   19
Widow Pattyson 48 a Lismuramag 50
James Vickery 30a Mullogh 42
Thomas Barry 155 a   130
Widow Shannon 40a Droumriag 40
James Ferguson 23a   20
Michael Sullivan 51a Teadagh 33
Jehr Sullivan 21a   20
James Sullivan 21a   20
Widow Hayes and Hayes 21a Boultinagh 17

 

Richard Roycroft  21a and also Curraghavadra below   18
Widow Sullivan and – Sullivan 20a   17
Richard Roycroft  24a Curraghavadra 20
Elias Roycroft 21a   20
William Roycroft 21a   20
Richard Roycroft 11a   10
William Roycroft 11a   10
Richard Lavers 55a and 19a Rooska 50+22
Denis Donovan 20a   10
Tim Hurly 20a   10
William Vickery 31a   25
Tim Carty 13a and 10a   16 and 6
Richard Dwire 20a   11
Tim Driscoll Mackintosh 7a Keelovenouge 9
Patrick Driscoll Mackintosh 13a and 44   19 and 46
Batt Driscoll 2   11
James Power 102a   20
Widow Dwire 13a   10
Richard O’Donovan Esq. 21a Tullig 20
  Kealties None  
William Tobin 9a Esknabreena (part of Kealties) 1
Denis Sullivan 8a

Conrs Regan 20a

  7

18

Richard Evans 20a   23
Owen Sullivan 20a   32
  Brahalish  
Richard Williamson 18a   16
Richard Shannon 26a   32
William Grady 12a   19
Richard Shannon 26a   32
William and John Shannon 29a   39
John Shannon 30a Cummer (East of Brahalish) 31
John King 18a Rossmore 21
Arthur Attridge 18a   21
John Baker 9a   11
Richard Williamson 9a   11
Jerh Mahony 8a   10
Richard Dukelow 9a   10
Daniel Wholy 9a   10
  Coolnahorna (Upper Clashadoo)  
Tim Wholihane and Michael Wholihane 20a   19
John Spillane 8a Gearhameen 10
Richard Caverly? 8a   10
Daniel Mahony 8a   10
Nathaniel Evanson Snr Esq. 31a   53
Nathaniel Evanson Jnr Esq 10a   18
John Hartigan 8a   10
  Coomkeen  
Daniel Wholihane 16a   11
Tim Sullivan 8a   12
Jehr Sullivan 16a   12
Thomas Ferguson 12a   14 (probably an extension of Clashadoo)
James Sullivan 12a   14 (probably the later Dukelow holdings)
John Sullivan 42a Rushinisky 46
  Carrigbue  
Andrew Caverly 12a   16
Tim Monihane 16a   20
Richard Dukelow 8a Droumatinahine 10
William Ward 30a   26
Thomas Connell 20a   18
  Croties  
Jerh Minehane 17a   18
James Dukelow 16a   14
Thomas Sweeny 16a   23
Robert Dukelow15a   12
Charles Dukelow 15a   12
Peter Dukelow 20a   20
Tim Dillon 10a Classadoo 12
Thomas Dillon 15a   19
Jehr Cronin 10a   13
Thomas Dukelow 18a   24
Thomas Ferguson 12   15
Rev Richard Quinn PP 10a   16
Thomas Sullivan 10a Droumderawn 11
Jerh Sullivan 10a   11
Tim Linihane? 9a Droumreagh 11
John Skuce 10a   13
Richard Evanson Esq 11a   11
Nathaniel Evanson Esq 12a   14
Charles Lavers 12a   14
William Miller 8a Ardogeena 14
Richard Evanson 41a   42
John Miller 8a Murriagh 12
Denis Driscoll 6a   10
Nathaniel Evanson Esq 35a   31
Thomas Elliott

serv no 382d38918

20a

  18
Richard L Blair esq 30a Coolcoulaght 47
Thomas Foley and John Whitley 20a   20
Daniel Donovan and Pate Donovan 10a   10
Daniel Harrington 10a   10
Tim Donovan 10a Ballycomane 16
Conls Cleary Jnr 10a   10
James Vickery 23a   20
William Vickery 21a   19
James Nail (O’Neill) 20a   15
Timothy Hurly 10a   11
  West Cloney  
John Loury ? 17a   15
James Swanton (also has 8a) and George Swanton (has also 4a)  7a   9+James 8+ George 4
James Conner 22a   22
Samuel Swanton 15a   14
Michael Sullivan Tedagh 8a   15

 

 

 

Tithe Applotments 2, Durrus, Co. Cork, 1830.


Daniel Mahony Gragh 8a   9
David Hartigan 8a   9
John Spillane 8a Gearhameen 10
Richard Caverly? 8a   10
Denis Sullivan 8a   3
Daniel Mahony 8a   10
Nathaniel Evanson Snr Esq. 31a   53
Nathaniel Evanson Jnr Esq 10a   18
John Hartigan 8a   10
William Hartigan 1a   3
James Sullivan 2a   5
Thomas King and Conl Mahony 2a   6
John King (also in Rossmore) 4a   7
Margaret Mahony 4a   6
John Mahony 4a   3
Denis Wholy 4a Coomkeen 5
Widow Wholy 4a   5
Daniel Wholihane 16a   11
Denis Cronin 4a   4
Daniel Cronin 4a   4
John Cronin 4a   4
Denis Burke Keel 8a   9
Denis Burke 4a   6
John Burke 4a   6
Tim Sullivan 8a   12
Jehr Sullivan 16a   12
Thomas Ferguson 12a   14 (probably an extension of Clashadoo)
James Sullivan 12a   14 (probably the later Dukelow holdings)
John Sullivan 42a Rushinisky 46
John Stanley 4a Carrigbue 5
Denis Sullivan 10a   8
Andrew Caverly 12a   16
William Dealy 8a   8
John Coughlan 7a   7
Jim Sullivan Smith 2a   3
John Sullivan Miller 6a   8
Tim Monihane 16a   20
Richard Dukelow 8a Droumatinahine 10
William Ward 30a   26

Tithe Applotments, Durrus Parish, Co. Cork, 1830.

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Tithe Aplottments 1830 Durrus District-1The tithes were assessed on arable land used for corn production where the acreage is given it is assumed that it does not include land not used for this purpose.  The tithes were used for the maintenance of the Church of Ireland clergy.  They at the time of the applotments  1820s were the religion endowed by the state and the clergy discharged some civic functions apart from religious.  The ones for Durrus were done in 1830.

Name/Acres Townland Valuation in Pounds rounded up/down
Jehr Kelly?   21 a Gurteen 23
Widow Donovan 8a 7
Widow Hall 21 a 23
Corns Donovan Fonka? 20a 19
Widow Pattyson 48 a Lismuramag 50
James Vickery 30a Mullogh 42
Daniel Hurly 13a 2
Thomas Barry 155 a 130
Widow Shannon 40a Droumriag 40
James Ferguson 23a 20
Michael Sullivan 51a Teadagh 33
John Conely 6a 7
Jehr Sullivan 21a 20
James Sullivan 21a 20
Widow Hayes and Hayes 21a Boultinagh 17
John Hayes 5 a   6
Richard Roycroft  21a and also Curraghavadra below   18
Philip Spillane 12a 4
Widow Sullivan and – Sullivan 20a 17
Denis Carty 1 a 1
Tim Sullivan  3a 2
Denis Sullivan 3a 2
Charles Carty 3 2
Richard Roycroft  24a Curraghavadra 20
Elias Roycroft 21a 20
William Roycroft 21a 20
Richard Roycroft 11a 10
William Roycroft 11a 10
Richard Lavers 55a and 19a Rooska 50+22
Thomas Ward 3a 2
Denis Donovan 20a 10
Tim Hurly 20a 10
Francis Roycroft 5a 6
William Vickery 31a 25
John Denis 8
Tim Carty 13a and 10a 16 and 6
Richard Dwire 20a 11
Michael Monihane or Honihane 62a 8
School House 1a 1
Richard Varian 62a and 62a 4+4
George Varian 62a 4
George Baker 4a 3
Thomas Baker 4a 3
Robert Baker 4a 3
Tim Driscoll Mackintosh 7a Keelovenouge 9
Patrick Driscoll Mackintosh 13a and 44 19 and 46
Widow Hurly 5a 7
Tim Driscoll 4 and 4 7 and 3
William Miles? 2a 4
Pate Driscoll 2a 2
Batt Driscoll 2 11
Patrick Husy 10a 1
Joseph Denis 5a 5
John Sullivan 32a 4
Corns Sullivan 32 a 4
Daniel Harrington 1a 1
Jerh Murphy 12a 1
James Power 102a 20
Jerh Murphy 1 1
Jim Sullivan 12a 2
Widow Dwire 13a 10
Richard Baker 9a 6
George Baker 1a 3
John Heazle 2a 2
Daniel Sullivan 2a 2
Jim Neall 3a 5
Daniel Neall 3a 5
John Sullivan Skully 3a 4
Thomas Heazle 6a 9
Corns Houlihane 6a 9
Michael Caverly 6a 9
Thomas Melvin? 2a 4
Richard O’Donovan Esq. 21a Tullig 20
Denis Scully 1a 1
Michael Carty 5a 4
John Murphy 3a 4
Morty Sullivan 2a 1
Jim Kean 12a 1
Daniel Murphy 4a 3
Charles Carty 4a 3
John Carty 1a 1
Charles Crowley 1a 1
Michael Collins? 1 1
Michael Driscoll 2a 1
Denis Lynch .5a 1
Patrick Sullivan 6a Kealties 5
Daniel Martin 4a 3
John Cronin 5a 4
Timothy Sullivan  5a 4
John Sullivan 5a 4
Tim Sullivan 5a 4
Darby Dawly 5a 4
William Bryon 5a 4
Dan Harrington 5a 4
Corns Donovan 2a 2
Marcus? Foley 2a 2
Michael Harrington 3a 3
Pate Cronin 12a 1
Bate Shanahane 3a 3
John Harrington Cope 12a 1
Daily Sullivan 3a 2
Corns Sullivan 12a 1
Patrick Donovan 5a 4
Charles Carty Sen. 4a 4
Daniel Driscoll 4a 4
Dailey Donovan 2a 2
Tim Creed 2a 2
Tim Sullivan Snr 4a 4
John Sullivan 12a 1
Widow Sullivan 3a 2
Daniel Foley 1a 1
Daniel Sullivan 1 2
Hugh Crowley 1a 1
John Sheehane 1 1
Jerh Foley 1a 1
William Tobin 9a Esknabreena (part of Kealties) 1
Willie Tobin 9a 7
Widow Tobin 9a 7
Owen Carty 5a 4
Tim Sullivan 5a 4
Simon Carty 1a 1
Mary Mahony 1 1
Daniel Carty 3a 2
Tim Mahony 3a 2
John Carty 3a 2
John Sullivan 5a 4
Daniel Carty 2a 2
Michl? Carty 2a 2
Stephen Carty 4a 2
Jerh Foley 3a 2
Thomas Baker 2a 2
John Coughlane 2a 2
Jerh Driscoll 1a 1
Denis Drisoll 1a 1
Denis Sullivan 8aConrs Regan 20a 718
Daniel Harrington 5a 4
John Sweeny 3a 4
Charles King 10a 8
Michael Donovan 10a 8
Richard Evans 20a 23
Owen Sullivan 20a 32
Walter Evans 10a Brahalish 9
Richard Williamson 18a 16
Michael Shannon 8a 7
Edward Shannon 9a 7
Richard Shannon 26a 32
William Grady 12a 19
Richard Shannon 26a 32
William and John Shannon 29a 39
John Shannon 30a Cummer (East of Brahalish) 31
John King 18a Rossmore 21
Arthur Attridge 18a 21
John Baker 9a 11
Richard Williamson 9a 11
Jerh Mahony 8a 10
William Sullivan Barnagh 4a 5
John Mahony 5a 7
Richard Dukelow 9a 10
Corn Bryan 4a 5
Daniel Wholy 9a 10
Coolnahorna (Upper Clashadoo)
Tim Wholihane and Michael Wholihane 20a 19

Irish Steel, Verolme, Net Nitrate and the Soviet Rust Belt in Cork Harbour. 1961 Verolme Dockyard, Cobh, British Methods will fail here.

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I was reading book by Eugene McCague on Kevin McCourt recently and he has an interesting last chapter on McCourt’s tenure as Chairman of Irish Steel in the 1970s onwards.  McCourt was a very talented manager with a great track record at the tobacco company PJ Carrolls, RTE, and Irish Distillers and was asked to become chairman of the State owned company.

The business dated from the late 1930s and was bailed out by Seán Lemass’s Department of Industry and Commerce  in the early 1940s.  By the mid 70s the writing was on the wall and unfortunately instead of shutting it a major redevelopment was embarked upon.  This is documented in the book and the saga of cost overrun, ‘equity injections’, losses and pleas to the then EEC for derogations to continue to make losses makes for grim reading.

 

A toxic combination of politics, Jack Lynch for part of the period was Taoiseach but any local politician wanted to keep it going a stone age union mentality, the financials must have run in the 1980s into hundreds of millions.  In mitigation it was a horrid time for the European steel industry.  The Indian Company Ispat bought the business for a nominal amount and invested some money there they stayed for the minimum 5 years and then shut shop.  This was the only location where they walked away, the bossman said his advisors told him there was no possibility of the plant being turned around.

The cost of remedial work to the site to clean up the toxic residues has been calculated by the Comptroller and Auditor General (September 2013) at €166 million.

Courtesy irish Times 15th december 2018, it reported that due to threatened EU action in 20111 the irish Government approved a clean up plan necessitating the removal of 650,000 cubic metres of slag and waste material.  This accumulated until plant closure in 2001.  IN the interim there is apparently no money to undertake remedial work on  small children’s teeth.

20181215_094443

It brought back to mind other state enterprises in the harbour area engaged in value abstraction on a grand scale.  Verolme dockyard was started by the Dutch in the late 50s and the first ships were built without subsidies.  Their control was relinquished in the mid 60s and thereafter the clients were Irish Shipping, the B&I. the Navy all state owned or foreign orders massively subsidised.

State owned Net Nitrate built at Marino Point, the sole purpose of the plant seemed to be to deplete the Kinsale Gas field as quickly as possible they got the gas for almost nothing and still lost colossal monies.

On the Kinsale Gas I think there was some formula whereby the ESB got the gas cheap and in turn provided cut price electricity to Irish Steel.

It would be an interesting exercise to compute the cost of these ‘enterprises’ from say 1965 to 1990 in present day money terms, to see the drag they imposed on the viable economy, before the property melt down we were well able to shoot ourselves collectively in the foot.  In fairness there is plenty industry in Cork Harbour these days but they are viable businesses able to stand up on their own.

Duke of Wellington (Arthur Wellesley), journey from Bandon to Bantry, 1806

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Arthur Wellesley 1769-1852 journeyed from Bandon to Bantry to inspect defences.  He is credited with the phrase  re nationality  ‘that because a man is born in a stable that does not make him a horse’, in fact this was probably said by Daniel O’Connell.  His paternal grandfather was Richard Colley of an old English or Gaelic family of origin who had conformed to the Established Church.  The grandfather had taken the name of a childless relative Wellesley.

This extract if from the grand Tour of Cork, Cornelius Kelly. Cailleach Books, 2003.

28th (Summer) 1806 set off at half past six and arrived at Bantry and half past four – and very bad road and miserable country after you pass Dunmanna (Dunmanway) – got a boat and went to look at Whiddy Island and the fortification construction there – the island is of greater extent then I had imagined and the formation of it makes it more difficult the I had thought- though the forts are properly placed yet I do not think it has been a wise measure to destroy the battery on Horse Island

Caesar Otway, Publisher Dublin Penny Journal, Skull to Bantry, 1822.

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Caesar Otway 1780-1842 was a Minister and publisher among others of William Carleton  and co-operated with George Petrie in the first edition of  the Dublin Penny Journal.  They published an article about a journey to Durrus:

https://durrushistory.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=373&action=edit

This account is from The Grand Tour of Cork by Cornelius Kelly, Cailleach Books, 2003.

I proceeded to take my leave of Skull…on my way to Bantry I passed the dark and lofty Mount Gabriel to the left, and took my dreary way over a comfortless tract of country, the peninsula of Ivaugh, the ancient territory of O’Mahony Fune; princes these O’Mahonys were of bogs and rocks enough: here the tribe of the O’Mahonys has contrived to increase and multiply, and has replenished these wastes with Paddies, pigs, and potatoes.  Let no one say after looking at these moors, studded over with cabins, and those cabins crowded with children, pigs, goats, cocks and hens, that a poor Irishman is not an industrious creature.  No; look at that string of men, women, boys and girls, toiling up the mountainside with sea-weed and sea-sand, in baskets on their backs.  See them reclaiming, from amidst bogs, patches of ground on which to cultivate their only food, the potato; and no one witnessing the struggle of human industry against nature, but must acknowledge the Irish can be industrious.

As he comes over the crest and onto Dunmanus Bay he observes ‘a druidical circle comprised of a number of upright rocks and at a short distance from the circle are two upright pillars of stone, somewhat like obelisks, about fifteen feet high’

‘Before we hurry on , let me interest you my Protestant reader, in the condition of the poor Protestants of this south-western district of the county of Cork, planted here originally by the piety of the Boyles and other undertakers in the plantation of Munster.  The encouragement, the increase, the cherishing of this Protestant yeomanry formed the pride and honest boast of a Boyle, a Cox, or a Carew’.

Before the Barytes Mine was built in 1840 with a new road from Dunbeacon to Mount Gabriel the people had to scramble up the hills along gullys with sea sand, this is dealt with here:
https://durrushistory.wordpress.com/2011/10/08/baryte-mines/

Aaron Lansky and the rescue of Yiddish books, the Irish of the Sperrins in Tyrone.

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I reread a book recently I had bought in the Strand Bookshop in New York (supposed to be the world’s largest second hand store atmospheric by the bucket).  It is ‘Outwitting History’ the story by Aaron Lansky of the rescue of books in Yiddish.

He was born 1955 and had done a program in Yiddish studies and found it very difficult to get books in the language.  He was then offered volumes in the language and proceeded to gather books in the language.  At the time it was estimated that there were around 70,000 books in existance.  The truth as set out in the book was that there were in excess of 1.5 million and the story of rescuing the volumes from tumbling house and skips is fascinating.  He now heads the National Yiddish Book centre one of the fastest growing Jewish cultural groups i the world.

In one episode they go to retrieve the books from Altran Houe a New York centre for Yiddish studies now closing down.  On the last day when all the books were almost collected he came across avery olm man behind a roll top desk,  he was 92 and his name was Yud Shin Hertz the author of the history of the Jewish Labour Bund in Europe.  Lansky was amazed, he was aware of the author but assumed he was long dead.

The episode brought to mind the book by the Folklore collector, Michael Murphy Tyrone Folk Quests documenting his time in the Sperrins in 1949.  He describes meeting the last native speakers of Irish about 40, in the Glenhull area most had not met together until Murphy introduced them, mainly elderly all were gone when he returned twelve years later.

When he initially reported back to the Folklore Commission the reports were brought to the attention of Heinrich Wagner, a Swiss based at the Institute of Advanced Studies in Dublin.  He refused to believe there were still native speakers in Tyrone and suggested they were immigrants from Donegal which of course they were not.

 

There are similarities between Yiddish and Irish both languages of wandering races.  I don’t know if Yiddish is still spoken but it probably had about the same number of speakers as Irish in 1840 say 4 million.  Both languages since have continued an inexorable decline.  The Yiddish culture still exists in Russia in the descendants of the Yiddish immigrants to the USA.  The Irish have switched to English and it is hard to say if irish can survive as a spoken language.  I suppose we must remember that the Irish have a habit of ditching languages, Irish displaced the pre Celtic language of Ireland about 2,000 years ago.