Charles Connors, of Castleconnell, cot builder, has been committed to Killaloe bridewell, for violating the person of a servant girl on Monday morning, at the Doonass side. He crossed the river in a boat, upon the pretence of ferrying her over, and then committed the offence.
Tipperary Vindicator 9 December 1859
From the British Newspaper Archive run by Findmypast Newspaper Archive Limited, in partnership with the British Library.
Posted in Ashore, Extant waterways, Historical matters, Ireland, Irish inland waterways vessels, People, Shannon, waterways
Tagged boat, bridewell, Castleconnell, Connors, cot, Doonass, ferry, Killaloe, Shannon, violating the person
By a Letter received at our Office, from Doonas, County Limerick, we regret to announce a melancholy accident having happened on Sunday the 9th inst in that neighbourhood. Mrs Massey, the wife of the Hon William Massy accompanied by her butler and two boatmen were attempting to cross the Shannon to Sir Hugh Masseys, where Mrs Massey was to dine. The evening was dark, accompanied by a dense fog, the boatmen lost their way, the boat was carried down by the current, and precipitated over the Leap, and melancholy to relate the entire party in the boat were drowned. During the entire of yesterday, the boatmen at Castleconnell were dragging for the bodies, but without success.
So dense was the fog that on the road between Kilmastulla, and Sallymount, the guard of the Coach was obliged to walk for upwards of 3 miles of the road, at the heads of the leading horses, and the coach agent was obliged to send a man on horseback with a lantern in his hand before the coach as far as Newcastle.
Dublin Mercantile Advertiser, and Weekly Price Current 17 January 1831
From the British Newspaper Archive run by Findmypast Newspaper Archive Limited, in partnership with the British Library.
Posted in Extant waterways, Historical matters, Ireland, Irish inland waterways vessels, Operations, Passenger traffic, People, Scenery, Shannon, Sources, waterways, Weather
Tagged Castleconnell, coach, cot, Doonas, Doonass, falls, Kilmastulla, Leap, Limerick, Massey, Massy, Sallymount, Shannon
Some folk have been sailing on the Thames in a boat made of cardboard.
Over two hundred years ago, Isaac Weld navigated the lakes of Killarney in a boat made of brown paper:
Whilst engaged in illustrating the scenery of that beautiful locality, Mr Weld derived additional pleasure from the occupation, in introducing a young and amiable wife to scenes so familiar to himself. To facilitate their rambles, and profiting by his Canadian adventures and his skill as a “voyageur“, he constructed with his own hands the model of an Indian canoe. In the absence, however, of birch bark, he had recourse to successive layers of stout brown paper, creating a sort of papier-maché boat, sufficiently roomy for two. In this paper skiff he actually had the hardihood to intrust himself and fair companion in sundry adventurous voyages on the Lakes.
That is from “Mr Foot’s Memoir of the late Isaac Weld, Esq” in The Journal of the Royal Dublin Society Volume I 1856–57 Hodges, Smith & Co, Dublin 1858. Wikipedia offers a shorter account of the life of the remarkable Mr Weld. His Statistical Survey of the County of Roscommon, Royal Dublin Society 1832, is an invaluable source of information about the Shannon and the Royal Canal, but Mr Weld is also notable for his voyage, along with his equally adventurous wife, on the steamer Thames [originally Argyle] from Dublin to London in 1815. There are brief accounts of the journey here and here; the captain, George Dodd, wrote a book An Historical and Explanatory Dissertation on Steam-Engines and Steam-Packets; with the evidence in full given by the most eminent engineers, mechanists, and manufacturers, to the Select Committees of the House of Commons; togerther with the Committees’ reports, distinguishing and defining safe and unsafe steam-engines, and their proper management: comprising particulars of the fatal explosions of boilers at Norwich, Northumberland, Wells-street, and in America: concluding with a narrative, by Isaac Weld Esq, of the interesting voyage of the Thames steam-yacht, from Glasgow, in Scotland, to Dublin and London [published for the author, London 1818] available here, and Isaac Weld’s account is available here. Mrs Weld may have been the first woman to take an extended sea voyage in a steam vessel.
Posted in Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Foreign parts, Historical matters, Industrial heritage, Ireland, Irish inland waterways vessels, Passenger traffic, People, Sea, Sources, Steamers, Tourism
Tagged Argyle, brown paper, canoe, Clyde, Dublin, George Dodd, Glasgow, Isaac Weld, Killarney, Lakes of Killarney, London, Roscommon, Royal Dublin Society, steam, Thames, voyageur
The celebrated Chalybeate Spa of Castle-Connell will be open to the visitors this season gratis, by order of Sir Richard de Bourgho, Bart, the youthful proprietor of that beautiful resort.
Clare Journal, and Ennis Advertiser
14 May 1840
From the British Newspaper Archive run by Findmypast Newspaper Archive Limited, in partnership with the British Library.
Posted in Ashore, Built heritage, Economic activities, Historical matters, Ireland, Shannon, Tourism
Tagged Castleconnell, SPA
The Shannon regatta commenced on Tuesday at Kilrush, which is crowded with visitors from Limerick, Tarbert, Ennis, and the sea coast frequenters at Kilkee and Malbay. In respect to the memory of the late Judge Vandeleur, it was supposed the stewards would defer the annual gala for a fortnight, but as several yachts had arrived from distant stations, a majority of the committee decided on proceeding. A stiff breeze from the North West, with occasional squalls, prevailed for the last three days. The prizes on Tuesday for the rival yachts were — Kent cup, a purse of £20, and two purses of £10 each.
The Cork Harbour Regatta will hold four days, 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th August. The highest prize is one of £60 for all yachts.
The Marquis of Waterford’s yacht, Gem, now at Cove, is a beautiful specimen of naval architecture, and it is hard to know which to admire, the beautiful symmetry of her construction, or the perfect seamanlike manner in which she is rigged and fitted up. She is a Polacca schooner, of about 110 tons, carrying 6lb brass guns, and a swivel forward. Capt Lane RN is sailing master.
Dublin Morning Register 26 June 1835
From the British Newspaper Archive run by Findmypast Newspaper Archive Limited, in partnership with the British Library.
Posted in Charles Wye Williams, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Historical matters, Ireland, People, Sea, shannon estuary, Suir, Water sports activities
Tagged Cork, Cove, Ennis, Gem, Kilrush, Lane, Limerick, polacca, schooner, Shannon, Tarbert, Vandeleur, Waterford, yachts
Mr J Ely has now open for inspection at Russell’s Lodge (next the Post-office) a splendid Fancy Bazaar, consisting of Parisian, Geneva, Vienna, and Berlin
which for taste and fashion may safely challenge comparison with the assortment of Paris and London. The splendid Stock of elegant Articles is such as cannot fail to gratify the taste of the most curious; but puffing not being the custom of the Proprietor, he will feel obliged by an early visit — occular demonstration being the best proof.
This elegant Stock comprises Musical Clocks, with Fountains; Alabaster Clocks, Musical Boxes, playing from two to twelve tunes each; Accordians of all sizes; a magnificent collection of Dresden China, with Flemish Paintings; a large assortment of newly invented Dresden Mat Glass; American Glasses; a fashionable assortment of Bracelets, Snaps, and Crosslets; a truly splendid assortment of the very best manufactured London Jewellery, best Sheffield Plate, finest Persian Perfumery, and a great number of other Articles too numerous to mention; also a large quantity of German Silver Plate, which the Proprietor pledges himself are of the very best description, imported by him from the Continent.
NB — The Proprietor begs to state the terms on which he disposes of his Goods will be found to be most inducing and advantageous to the public.
(2p) Kilkee, August 15
The Clare Journal, and Ennis Advertiser
20 August 1838
From the British Newspaper Archive run by Findmypast Newspaper Archive Limited, in partnership with the British Library.
Posted in Ashore, Charles Wye Williams, Economic activities, Historical matters, Ireland, Passenger traffic, People, Shannon, shannon estuary, Sources, Steamers, Tourism, waterways
Tagged bathing, fancy goods, Kilkee, seaside, Shannon esstuary, tat
Irish waterways history 