From the Archives

Edited By Ted Creedon

Dingle Bay Rescue

From – Longford Journal, 13 January 1877

Last Wednesday a ship bound for Cork from Prince Edward Island, Canada, was rescued in Dingle Bay by local pilots John and Joseph O’Flaherty. The name of the vessel is James Duncan and she was carrying a cargo of oats. She was crippled in a storm off the Skelligs a few days earlier when her rigging was torn away and her foremast had to be cut down by the crew. The ship was spotted by a person on lookout who raised the alarm. The pilots immediately set off in their smack and came up to the vessel. She was brought safely into Dingle harbour much to the relief of the captain, his wife and their children.

The Age of the Goat

From – Tralee Chronicle, 6 May 1862

Dingle solicitor Arthur Benner had a goat that wandered off his property. Mr. Benner believed his two year-old goat was being kept by Daniel Collins and summonsed him. Collins protested his innocence and stated he had bought the goat from an uncle and that the goat was at least seven years old. The court ordered that a man be dispatched to examine the animal to determine its age. This he did and on returning to the court he declared the goat to be around seven years old. The hearing dismissed the summons. West Kerry was lashed by powerful gales and heavy seas at the weekend forcing six vessels to run for shelter in Ventry harbour. Coincidentally, all six were bound for Cork from various parts of the world. The John and Henry, an American ship, was en route from New York with a cargo of flour and wheat.

A British ship named Priam had sailed from the Isle of France [Mauritius] with a cargo of sugar. Another British vessel, Susan, was en route from Athens with a cargo of Indian corn. A third British brig, Maryanne, was carrying a cargo of mahogany from Demerara [now Guyana, in South America]. A French schooner, Siria, had arrived from Athens, also with a cargo of Indian corn. The sixth vessel was a Portuguese schooner, Hiate Fiel, with a cargo of fruit. The local Coast Guards under Chief Boatman Garrett Cotter undertook the dangerous task, in heavy seas, to board one of the ships. [Probably to search for smuggled goods or signs of disease such as cholera]. The weather became so violent they had to remain on the vessel all night. During the night, and at the height of the storm, the Hiate Fiel dragged her anchors and by morning was driven on the rocks in the harbour’s eastern shore where she was smashed to pieces. Fortunately, the crew managed to board one of the other ships and there was no loss of life. Her cargo of fruit, mainly oranges and lemons, was battered beyond recovery and scattered around the shore and rocks. A few days earlier local pilot Joseph Flahery and some fishermen went to the assistance of two other vessels that were anchored in a dangerous location in Dingle Bay and brought them safely into Dingle harbour.

Black ’47

From – Kerry Evening Post, 29 December 1847

Last Monday several destitute people from the west of Dingle arrived in the town seeking to have the Relieving Officer put their names on the relief list. Shortly after their arrival seven of them collapsed in the street from hunger and it was feared they would die. Doctor Hickson attended to them and gradually restored them to awareness. However, they were in such poor condition that a priest was summoned to give them the last rites. It was decided not to place them in the fever hospital and accommodation was found for them elsewhere. It is believed that the Relieving Officers, Mr. Moriarty and Mr. Kennedy are unable to cope with the demand for relief that is so badly needed at present. It should be noted that the fishermen of Dingle are also in a state of destitution and severe want and are exhausted from trying to work their fishing boats during this very stormy period. The only boats involved in limited fishing are canoes which don’t demand the same level of physical strength as the larger vessels.

Horsemen at the Gallop

From – Kerry Evening Post, 29 April 1893

Two young men were fined at Dingle court this week for galloping their horses through the streets of the town. Constable Sullivan stated that the men, John Curran of Dingle and Daniel Devane of Murreigh had recently ridden their horses at a dangerous gallop through the streets of the town including up Main Street and down Green Street. The court was told by District Inspector Lowndes that such dangerous activity by young horsemen was becoming more and more common. It was also reported that a man was almost killed in Aunascaul in recent days in a similar incident. Captain Keogh stated that such behaviour put the lives of children and elderly people at risk. Curran and Devane were each fined five shillings.

Vinum* Vitea Est

Glorious spring sunshine is not conducive to writing articles. However, a weekend out and about and the statement from Michéal Martin that ‘outdoors is the theme for the summer’ informs this weeks’ short and very simple message – Leave No Trace. Leave No Trace Ireland is an outdoor ethics education programme designed to promote responsible outdoor recreation but the concepts can be applied anywhere from town streets and parks to mountain tops and coasts to our own back gardens. For anyone with a conscience or sense of personal responsibility, the need for a programme like this is a little bewildering but as ever greater numbers of people discover the great outdoors, especially over lockdowns, the mark on the environment through littering, disturbance of vegetation, wildlife and worrying of livestock, is increasing. The education programme promotes consideration of both the environment and other people by following seven principles. 1. Plan Ahead and Prepare- Covid regulations saw huge increases in numbers escaping to the outdoors over the past year. This resulted in many fraught tempers due to traffic jams, queues etc. Avoiding peak visiting times to popular destinations and beauty spots, planning ahead with regard parking and knowledge of the route etc. and planning meals whether that be booking a table/take away or packing a picnic/ snacks all help to reduce stress and enhance enjoyment for yourself and other visitors. Knowing what gear, skills and information might be required for a chosen activity (e.g. hiking boots, rain gear, tide times, maps etc.) also help ensure personal safety and reduce pressure on emergency services. 2. Be Considerate of Others- It is sad to acknowledge that people need to be educated on how to be considerate of others and their property.

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The Dingle Bookshop is now open for on-line sales only www.dinglebookshop.com. Please browse our new website for your lockdown best reads and we can post to you. It’s only €3 within Ireland. Thank you to all our customers for their continuing support and please remember to shop local. Aideen, Camilla, Mike and Jill.

Many outdoor activities rely on the goodwill of farmers and landowners to permit access to their lands so it is important to be aware that farms are working environments. Leave gates as you find them, only bring dogs with landowner’s permission, don’t trample crops or damage fencing, avoid all livestock and don’t block entrances to gates or roadways with your vehicle. Public land, beaches and waterways are for the enjoyment of everybody so be aware that your actions can impact the experience of others e.g. don’t block in someone else’s vehicle, be aware of noise pollution, don’t litter etc. 3. Respect Farm Animals and Wildlife- Unfortunately there were many examples of sheep worrying on the hills of West Kerry over the winter months highlighting that a small percentage of dog owners still do not understand the consequences of not managing their pets. Feeding wild animals such as deer not only compromises the animal’s wellness but also compromises the safety of the person feeding them. Staying away from nests, breeding grounds etc. are further examples of how to respect wildlife. 4. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces- This principle is based on the importance of avoiding detrimental impacts on sensitive vegetation and soils. Use established campsites where possible but failing this pitch tents on ground that has been previously compacted or reinforced. Take care of trees in the vicinity of your camp and avoid creating new tracks. 5. Leave What You Find- The idea behind this principal is that you leave what you find as you have found it for others to enjoy. Archaeological and historical artefacts such as holy wells, tombs and cairns should not be disturbed. Carving “Mary woz ‘ere” into a tree or rock is not original and is not appreciated by anybody else. Do not take wild flowers, shells, stones, fossils, tadpoles etc. as souvenirs. Also be aware of what invasive species you may be unwittingly spreading on your travels- clean your boots & camping gear thoroughly; do not bring flowers, weeds to pristine sites etc. 6. Dispose of Waste Properly- In an ideal world all outdoor sites and trails would have well managed litter bins and sanitary facilities but this is not the case and in any event it would be neither practical nor possible in many areas. If you are able to carry a picnic, coffee cup, plastic bottle, sweets, cigarettes etc. on your walk/swim/hike/camping trip, then surely it cannot be that difficult to carry the empty containers/ wrappers home with you? Pack a bag to put your waste into and bring it home. If you own a dog, disposing of its waste properly is part and parcel of being a responsible dog owner. All the details on good sanitation practice can be found on www.leavenotraceireland.org if you are caught short yourself! 7. Minimise the Effects of Fire- Whether deliberate or accidental, the devastation caused by fires in Killarney National Park, the Mourne Mountains and Mayo bogs in the past week highlight how quickly fires can escalate in the dry and windy conditions. In addition to the destructive effects that fires can have on ecosystems, the appearance of many outdoor areas can be compromised by campfires/barbeques etc. Training and support on minimising the effects of fire and adopting the other 6 principals can be sought from www.leavenotraceireland.org