In Durrus Tom Dukelow originally from Clashadoo spent some time in Tyrone. He had sold his Clashadoo farm and on his return in the 1930s bought Sea lodge a house and a few acres across the disused pier built by Lord Bandon at Gearhameen, Durrus on Dunmanus Bay. I was told he was one of the last persons to hold a licence to grow tobacco. He also operated as a merchant. In the long hot summer of 1940 tuna and pilchards returned to Dunmanus Bay. He bought the pilchards from local fishermen and pressed them for their oil. He ran a scoraiochting/rambling house where in the winter all the neighbours gathered. Neither the Parish Priest nor the Minister were happy as they did not like the religions mixing but nonetheless it was always a lively venue.
Tobacco growing Co. Meath:
https://www.navanhistory.ie/tobacco/
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The Times, 7 July 1904 ~ House of Commons
Mr. Wyndham- In 1900, 1901 and 1902 experiments under the supervision of the Department were undertaken at a number of selected centres in Ireland, the result of which have satisfied the Department that the tobacco plant can be successfully cultivated in that country. In order, however, to determine the possible commercial value to the country of tobacco cultivation, arrangements were made for the growing of the crop on about 20 acres in the vicinity of Navan during the present year…
The Times, 29 June 1905 ~ Tobacco. House of Commons. Irish Tobacco.
The Departments advisory committee on tobacco recommended that the experiment in 1904 should be confined to one centre – namely Navan – and that at least 20 acres should be grown there. Others in the district having declined to offer land for the purpose Colonel Everard undertook to plant the entire 20 acres, and consequently he was the only approved grower entitled to the rebate.
The Times, 9 Oct 1905 ~
At a special meeting of the Irish Industrial Development Association Mr. R.E. Goodbody made an interesting statement about the Irish tobacco crop for 1905. In company with an American expert, he had just visited Randlestown, Navan, where Colonel Everard had ten acres under process of saving. He had never seen so good a yield in any country, and the expert was of the same opinion. The yield of the ten acres was three times as great as that from a twenty plot last year. The tobacco was a little slow in saving but smoked very well. More than 3,000 hands were employed in Irish tobacco factories.
The Times, 9 July 1906 ~
The experiments in tobacco growing in Ireland, which have now been carried out for several years by Colonel Nugent T. Everard, of Randlestown, Navan, County Meath, appear to have been brought to a successful termination and to have emerged from the experimental stage into an actual industry. The following particulars have been forwarded to us: – In 1904 Colonel Everard, grew 20 acres of tobacco, which yielded 9,000 lbs. of cured leaf. It was favourably reported on by experts and sold freely at ½ per lb. above the same class of American tobacco. In 1905 13 ½ acres were grown by Colonel Everard which yielded 15,500 lb… This year Colonel Everard is experimenting upon 25 varieties, including high class cigar wrappers, and judging from the characteristics developed in the tobacco previously grown the experiment is likely to prove a “With our present experience” writes Captain R. W. Everard “the cost of labour on one acre of tobacco is about £20 per acre, about half of which can be earned by women and boys during the winter, when in this country, there is no other employment for them”.
West Cork History 