The Long line Fishermen of the Wreck Port, Annalong.

The serious side of the fishing industry has been exhaustively dealt with, but the present generation knows little or nothing about the long line fishermen of olden days. They were a gallant band who faced death many a time when they left the shore. They fished from the Wreck Port at Annalong, so called because of a boat called the "Troubador", which was wrecked off there long ago.

Hugh talked about them and mentioned that there was one of the old hands left, Mr. Arthur Cunningham, of The Rocky Hill, near Annalong. So we went along and contacted Arthur who is aged 77 and got a lot of information from him. The fleets consisted of about 14 small boats. The boats were twelve to sixteen feet in length and from four to six feet beam. The fishing generally started in January, so you can imagine these men pushing their wee boats down to the sea at midnight on a dark winter's night not knowing if they ever would see their homes again. They very often had to pull their craft with the oars to the fishing ground three or four miles out. Some times a storm would break before they got their lines shot and they had to run before the wind to shelter, often as far as Newcastle or Killough, or the Bar of Carlingford. Nothing these hardy men dreaded as much as a snowstorm. About 100 fishermen were lost in a snowstorm off the Mourne coast about the year 1826 and 75 were lost in 1865, and there were different disasters in later years, one very bad one in the year 1904.

So you see what danger these men risked for very small rewards. From half-a-crown to five shillings a man would be their average return when they got a decent catch of fish. Why did they call it long line fishing? Because they used lines baited with mussels; the lines were 400 fathoms long and there was a fathom between each hook. Every man of the crew of seven in each boat had a line and there were seven bags of sand in the weather side of every boat for ballast. There was a mussel to every hook and if the mussels were small, two were used for a bait. The mussels were drawn by horses and carts from Narrow Water, Warrenpoint, and from Dundrum Strand.
 

Here are the names of some of the fishermen who operated from the Wreck Port:

Harry Burden, Longstone and his sons Hugh, Tom and John (all dead); Henry Young, Longstone and his sons Charlie and James and Sammy Young, a cousin (all dead); Robert Burden and his three sons and his brother Harry Burden, Ballyvea (dead); Johnnie Pat and Willie Cunnningham, Rocky Hill (dead); Arthur Cunningham, a brother (happily still alive); Eddie Harrison (Ballyvea), Pat Trimble (Rocky Hill), Joe Moore, Back Brae (dead); Johnnie and Willie McCartan (Tom's), Longstone (dead); Richard McCartan (Wee Dick), Valley Road and his sons, James Johnny and Arthur (all dead); John Heaney and his two sons Willie and Johnny, Ballyvea (all dead); James Heaney, Annalong (dead); Willie Purdy, Annalong (dead); James Quinn, Leestone (still alive and well); Johnny McGlue, Torlis Hill (dead); Jim Rogers (Den.), Ballyvea (dead); Ned Quinn, Ballyvea (dead); James McConnell, Ballyvea (dead); Dominick McAlinden, Moneydarraghbeg (dead); Bob Cousins, do. (dead); Robert Young, Ballyvea (dead) and his sons (three sons still alive), Francis Doran, Ballyvea (dead); George Nugent and John Nugent, Ballyvea (dead); James Clugson, Wreck Port (dead).

Here are the names of some of the old long line boats and their skippers:

"The Star of the Sea" (Johnny McCartan) (Dick), "The Bonny Jane" (Jamey Heaney), "The Molly" (Johnny Gibson and Jamey Heaney), "The St. Bridget" (Pat Trimble), "The Dingy" (Hugh McStay and his brother Barney), "The Mary Alice" (Johnny Cunningham-Tommy's) "The Star of Bethlehem" Johnny Carr and W. Heaney, (Ballymartin), "The Morning Star" (Pat Trimble), "The Lizzie J. Bell" (J. Boyd), "The Eliza Jane" (Richard McCartan), "The Ellen Jane" (George Nugent), "The Annie Annett" (James McCartan and Johnny McCormick, Ballymartin), "The Valley Boat" (Johnny O'Reilly and Ned Rodgers), "The Jane Moore (Joe Moore), "The Mary Ellen" (James McCartan) (Dick).

Below we reproduce some verses about The Wreck Port fishermen, composed by the late Mr. Henry Purdy, N.T., Newcastle, about 30 years ago. Mr. Purdy was a native of Annalong. "The Bengullion" foundered about 40 years ago coming from Birkenhead to Annalong with a cargo of coal for Mr. Bob Cousins, Annalong. The crew of three were lost, viz., skipper James Campbell and his son James, and a man from Skerries named Hughes.

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Annalong Schooners and their Captains.

Annalong may well feel proud of the great tradition of its sailors and its gallant fleet. The Annalong schooners of a bygone age and their captains were familiar in almost every seaport in the four Kingdoms and indeed in many Continental ports as well,what memories their names arouse,Who has not heard of The Nellie Byewater and her master Capt William McKibben, and "The Volant" and her master Captain W. Purdy; "The Howard" and her master Captain J. McKibben; "The Mabel" under the guidance of patriarchal Captain M. Caren; "The Harmony" and Captain S. Chambers; the "C. S. Parnell" and her master Captain J. McConnell; "The Lough Ranza Castle" and her master, Captain James McKibbin; "The Maid of Irvine," captained by Wm. McCullough; "The Pious" and her captain James Campbell; "The Edith" and Captain Wm. Doran; and "The Excel" (skipper in 1901 Robert Gordon). "The Excel" was dismasted off Wicklow Head about 1900 and the crew of three were drowned: Jack Gordon, Annalong and his son, and Sam McKibben, Annalong, also a young man from Connemara. "The Lily" (Jack Orr), "The Phyllis" (Robert MeCartan, Annalong, aged 86, still alive and well). Robert was cook on "The Phyllis" when he was twelve years old and later became her skipper. He also skippered the "Mary Ann Jane" for years. He was also skipper of "The Four Brothers" for a considerable time. "The Mary Grace" (J. McKibben, "The Goldseeker" (James Caren): "The Princess Louise" (Charlie McBurney), "The Progress" (Hugh Chambers), "The Flora" (Harry McCullough), "The Orion" and The Arrabela," (skipper Billy McCormick), "The Busy Bee" (John Gordon), "The Young Hudson" (Harry Caren), "The Waft" (Charley McBurne), "The Plus IX" (Sam Skillen and Johnny Kearney). "The Ethel May" (Johnny Kearney), "The
Busy Bee" (W. McClelland), "The Hunter" (W. McKibben), "The Christina Shearer" (T. Chambers), "The Useful" (Joe McKibben).

There were others as well which used to call at Annalong, whose skippers were not from the village, such as "The Yacht" (Capt. J.Kerr) ; "The Perseverance" (Capt. J. Rooney); "The Richard Cobden" (Capt. T. Lowe).
These schooners were based at Annalong and Kilkeel and up to about thirty years ago they plied a regular trade between all the main ports of England and Ireland. Their principal cargoes were potatoes, coal and granite. They gave the local granite and potato exporters much better service than they are getting now when the products have to be hauled by road in the U.T.A.. freight lorries to the docks in Belfast and exported from there.

What a lovely sight it was to see that brave little fleet when they "hauled down their riggins and reefed their top-sails," or put out to sea like stately swans moving serenely over a placid lake.

Now, alas, their day is done. The day of sail and square rigged ships has passed. They served their day and generation well and those old schooners' crews were no gingerbread sailor men, but hard-headed horny handed sons of the sea who learned their trade the hard way - the type of men who formed the nucleus of the crews of merchant and battle fleets in peace and war.
The above information was taken from the book "An Old Timer Talking" with kind permission from the Mourne Observer.

Shipwrecks of Carlingford Lough and the Mourne Coast
(by Ian Wilson)

This haven is some three of four miles long, and nigh of the same breadth, being everywhere very deep, so as the biggest ships may come there to anchor; and so inviren'd with high land and mountains on all sides, that the ships do lye defended of all winds; so that this would be one of the best havens of the world, if it were not for the difficulty and danger of the entrance, the mouth being full of rocks, both blind ones and others, betwixt which the passages are very narrow; whereby it cometh that this harbour is very little frequented by any great ships.

This is Carlingford Lough in 1645 as assessed by Gerard Boate in Ireland's National History. Although the ports of the lough have handled ample trade over the centuries, the crucial disadvantages diagnosed above were never overcome sufficiently for this natural harbour to rival such great Irish sea loughs as Lough Swilly or Killary Harbour in accommodating the Royal Navy fleets or massing convoys that might otherwise have been entering. The story of wreck and rescue in the area largely centres around the hazards of the entrance. This article recalls some of the disasters which led up to improvements being made to it in the 1860s. We then follow the coast north to Newcastle, recalling lifeboats, fishermen, granite cargoes - and plunderers

Carlingford Lough Disasters.

The sheer number of shipwrecks in the days of sail is awesome. Of course, a vastly greater number of commercial vessels were at sea in the days before rail- ways and efficient roads. Every few miles around the coasts could be found a creek, safe beach or tiny jetty at which a smack or lugger of perhaps 20 tons capacity would be laboriously working cargo; in the major ports five or six dozen sail per day would be on the move. In 1853 alone, 421 ships were total losses around the British Isles, and in an average year 20 would strand alone on the Co.Down coast. Events that would nowadays draw excited media coverage were then scarcely newsworthy. For example, the Lloyd's List for 4th February 1825 records: Newry 28 January. A sloop was seen to go down about two miles east of Carlingford Bar 26th inst. and it is feared the crew drowned. The mainsail and some spars have come on shore. The former with 'Bristol' stamped on it and the latter with 'Nancy' branded on them.

According to legend, as the night wind blew around their cottages, the children of the Cranfield area used to pray, "God bless mammy and daddy, and send a big ship ashore in the morning". They must have rendered thanks for the pickings wrecks offered on many occasions, for the Hellyhunter shoal to the south-east of the entrance, and the shallow island-studded bar claimed a long list of strandings, far too long to expand on here. Although Haulbowline lighthouse replaced Cranfield lighthouse in 1823, sail-powered vessels could on occasions receive no help - except to know where they were being wrecked! In 1852, for instance, the smack Three Brothers of Carnarvon disintegrated in a blizzard beneath the light house, all her crew being lost.

The majority of wrecks were of small sailing coasters, such as the Factor of Maryport, inward from her home port with coal for Newry, which was lost on the Hellyhunter on Christmas Day, 1866. Occasionally much larger vessels stranded. On 3rd March 1845, the barque Orissa, caught in a fierce easterly gale when outward bound from Liverpool to Bombay with goods worth £20,000, attempted to enter the lough for shelter. Striking heavily on the bar, she unshipped her massive rudder and was helplessly blown on to the sands at Cranfield. When the storm subsided, the cargo was un- loaded and removed to Warrenpoint for safe keeping. The Orissa was repaired, the cargo re-stowed and off she went to Bombay!

The 'Cut' at the Bar

Events like these, the great loss of life and property, and the dislocation of Britain's booming trade, led the Victorians to be the first to seek remedies to the perennial toll of shipwrecks. The Royal Commission on Harbours of Refuge was appointed in 1858 to examine sites where improvements would result in a safe anchorage such as had occurred at the great harbours of Portland and Kingstown. The Commissioners heard from Captain Richard Hoskyn, who was surveying Carlingford Lough, that three ships had been lost with fifteen men at points north and south of the entrance in April 1858. His letter may have influenced their conclusions that access to the natural harbour be made safer by the dredging of a new channel through the bar 600 yds. long and 250 yds. wide, with the minimum depth being increased from 12 to 2lft. This work was undertaken in the 1860s at a cost of £50,000; however, l7ft minimum depth seems to have been the final accomplishment. Although a decided boon to ships trading to the lough ports, the improvements do not seem to have brought many labouring craft into shelter during storms. As sailing ships needed lots of room to manoeuvre, the passage into the lough was probably still too tricky.

Wrecks inside the Lough

Very few wrecks are recorded within the confines of the lough ("ships do lye de fended off all winds"). The only one occasioning loss of life is, to my knowledge, the schooner Margaret Anne of Preston which foundered off Killowen Point on 21st January 1873. Of 63 tons, built at Tarleton in Lancashire in 1858 and owned by J. Whiteside of Hesketh Bank in the same county, she entered the lough safely in a severe easterly gale. Unfortunately she was then seen to sink suddenly, the three crew members drowning. The sole. steamship casualty of this late 19th century period was the collier Strathesk, Glasgow for Newry, which piled up on rocks below Haulbowline light house on 21st November 1889, later slipping off and sinking. The little smack Frances of Carnarvon was wrecked off Greenore in September 1902. There then followed a long uneventful period in the story of Carlingford Lough wrecks, but the next incident was a disaster of such magnitude that it dwarfs any thing before or since in the area.

The Connemara - Retreiver Disaster

On the stormy night of Friday 3rd November 1916, the London & North Western Railway Steamer Connemara pulled away from her berth at Greenore to begin her regular five-hour trip to Holyhead. Its complement of 51 passengers, cattle and cargo was safely aboard. One of the few people ashore who noticed her departure that evening was Gilbert Chalk, a coastguard on duty at the Greenore station, who logged her departure at 8.l0pm and watched her routine passage towards the mouth of the lough. Chalk then spent a quiet night in the watchroom, neither hear ing nor seeing anything of interest. On the balcony of Haulbowline lighthouse, Assistant Keepers Gillespie, Armstrong and Donovan also watched the ship's departure. John Gillespie was on duty, and logged the passing of the ship at 8.28pm. At 8.30pm the Connemara was struck on the port side by the inward bound collier Retriever causing a hole seven feet in width. Within ten minutes, both ships had sunk. Of the 91 people aboard the two vessels, only one man, 21 year-old James Boyle of the Retriever, survived.

The Inquiry

What had happened? In his evidence to the Board of Trade Inquiry, Gillespie re-called that the Connemara appeared to slow down as usual on entering the channel and when he first saw the Retriever, she was yawing from side to side. He recalled that "there was nothing out of the ordinary in heavily laden vessels at that point", and both vessels appeared about to pass port side to port side. Questioning then ensued between Gillespie and the Board of Trade's representative, Mr Swayne:

S: "Did one or both vessels make an alteration in her course then?"
G: "Yes".
S: "Which was that?"
G: "The Retriever
S: "What did you see her do?"
G: "Well, she swung away to port right across the cut".

The inquiry found that there were no regulations for two steamers passing in the narrow channel. Two pilots were asked to appear. First was Patrick Rodgers, who asserted that it was "thoroughly seamanlike" for the Retriever to enter the channel while the Connemara was approaching. However, when pressed, he admitted that there would have been less risk had the master (Capt. Patrick O'Neill) waited. The other pilot, James Coffey, stated that he had on occasions waited outside the cut until the Greenore boat passed before bringing in a vessel.

A further witness was Capt. Thomas Chambers, a prominent sailmaker in Kilkeel, who before settling ashore in 1907, had skippered and owned the schooners Edith and Harmony: "If I had been in charge of that coaster I would have tried to get in out of the storm. The Retriever might have been able to stay out, but I think any man would have wanted to get in out of danger that night". The verdict of the court was as follows:" ... the collision and the resultant large loss of life was primarily due to the Retriever not complying with Article 23 of the regulations for preventing collisions at sea. On such a stormy night, with a heavy sea running, she should have avoided meeting another vessel in a narrow and ' dangerous channel".

In addition, the Inquiry heavily criticised the almost total lack of co-ordination in the local life-saving services. It is certainly possible that no-one but Boyle was washed ashore alive (alone in a lifeboat, he was tipped out of it but dragged to safety by farmers William Hanna and Hugh Doyle). Nevertheless the lack of response by the services was astonishing. Greenore lifeboat was not launched - explosive signals from Haulbowline lighthouse were inaudible to Gilbert Chalk and the other coastguards - and the coastguards at Greencastle only two miles away were not aware of the disaster for four hours! No persons were criticised by name, but the Inquiry found it probable that more lives would have been saved if "any sort of organized effort" had been made.

Other Disasters in the Lough

Unhappily, the accident involving the Retriever and Connemara was not the last serious collision in Carlingford Lough. The 1930s saw four of the fleet of Joseph Fisher & Sons Ltd, Newry, collide - two of them with each other. They were the Pine and Olive on 21st November 1936, the former sinking although later to be salvaged and returned to service by Samuel Gray of Belfast. The same day an other Fisher steamer, Rowan, collided with the coaster Florette at Narrow Water, though with scanty damage. A much more serious accident occurred on 4th April 1937, when, at 4am, Fisher's Alder anchored in fog off Greencastle. Ten minutes later the Newry-Liverpool cargo steamer Lady Cavan loomed out of the murk and struck the Alder amid ships. Only three of the eight crew were rescued, among those lost being Capt. Campbell of Kilkeel, and his wife. The Alder was raised and beached at Greenore in March 1938, but unlike the Pine she never sailed again.

Annalong and Kilkeel were among the last ports in the British Isles to operate sailing ships. One of the finest was the veteran schooner Via, master and owner Capt. Doyle of Kilkeel, which traded locally in the 1920s. She started out as a fast fruit carrier for the Azores trade as far back as 1864. Life aboard in Capt. Doyle's time is lovingly described by Capt. Richard England in his marvellous book Schoonerman. On 5th June 1931, the Via was holed on the Hellyhunter rock in fog but Capt. Doyle and his crew escaped. Capt. England commented: "the loss of the Via saddened me ... she was a beauty and sailed like a witch. She was Capt. Doyle's pride and joy and he denied her nothing ... describing a little fruit schooner like the Via, John Mansefield the sailor poet wrote: 'Very fair, if not divinely tall; With the scent of oranges and lemons in her wake'."

The Mourne Coast

Moving north from Carlingford Lough, the coast is low-lying and rocky as far as a mile or two north of Annalong, where it takes on a spectacular character. For about six miles the Mournes tower over the water and the coast road, a panorama again delightfully described in Schoonerman. Kilkeel, Annalong and Newcastle have each handled significant amounts of cargo over the centuries, but it is with fishing that this portion of the Ulster coastline is usually associated.

The 1814 Fishing Disaster

Inevitably, the fishing fleets suffered periodic depradations by the weather. On 28th January 1814 The Times reported: On the morning of Monday , 50 boats manned with six men each, proceeded from Kilkeel to sea to fish; the sea being calm, the wind light and variable, a little snow on the ground and slight snow showers. About eleven o'clock the day brightened, and shortly after the sun had a muddy appearance through a heavy cloud; at the same time an unusual swell, accompanied with wind, set in from the south, so strong that the inhabitants on shore were struck with horror for the approaching fate of the men at sea. About twelve o 'clock the boats made every exertion to gain the shore at Annalong. When about half-way a dreadful storm, accompanied by a heavy snow shower, overtook them. On their arrival off the harbour, signals were made to prevent them coming in there. Two only succeeded in landing out of six who made the attempt. The rest met a watery grave.

The report goes on to state that the rest of the boats were lost at sundry places along the coast, with 27 fatalities. Lieutenant Francis Chesney, son of Alexander Chesney, the Chief Coastguard at Annalong, managed to save one person. His heroic deed is remembered in the ballad The New Lamentation of the Mourne Fishermen drowned on the 10th January 1814. Other boats also perished, with the loss of 13 more fishermen.

The 1843 Fishing Disaster

An even worse disaster befell the fishing fleet on 13th January 1843, when ten yawls left Newcastle, and six Annalong, to fish off the coast. Suddenly, the wind shifted from the south to the north-west and a blanket of snow engulfed the open boats. The official number of men lost was an appalling 73, including 12 from an Annalong boat that put out into the blizzard in a rescue bid. Only two boats are believed to have escaped - the Victoria, skipper John Croskery, and the Brothers, skipper 'Blind' McVeigh. Widow's Row was built by public subscription in Newcastle to house dependents of the town's fleet.

Other Losses

One man died when the bargue Bee was wrecked near Annalong on 6th December 1848, bound from Liverpool to Charleston, South Carolina. Two other large vessels came ashore in that stormy winter - the barque Sarah Parker (Liverpool to Savannah) near Annalong and the brig Hugh (Dublin to Trinidad) in Derryogue Bay. The former was refloated but the latter had to be broken up where she lay. On 15th February 1892, two local boats were lost with five lives, while on 3rd October 1904, the Families Friend, owned by A. Newell of Kilkeel, foundered two miles off Carlingford Bar with one man drowning. Another four men were lost from the Kilkeel fishing smack Alice on 16th September 1910, when she sank after a collision with the Kelly steamer Melissa five miles south-east of Leestone Point. Then on 17th April 1914 Edward Murphy, Michael Murphy, Johnny Murphy, William Lenehan and Arthur McVeigh were drowned when their skiff Morning Star, out of Newcastle, went down. Relatively few merchant vessels were lost on the Mourne coast during the great age of sail in the 1800s. It is the sands of Dundrum Bay, to the north, which are the real graveyard of ships in this corner of Ulster.

In terms of loss of life, the worst incident was the wreck of the full-rigged ship John Stamp on 17th February 1839. Inward bound from Bombay to Liverpool, she was driven aground at Leestone Point, seven of her crew perishing. Mr. John Galbraith walked to Newry and reported the wreck to the authorities, an act which resulted in him being awarded 18 shillings

Heroes and Villains

The coast of Mourne in the late 18th and early 19th centuries must have been a rough, turbulent place - and not just because of the weather, Smugglers frequented the coast, appreciating the lonely beaches and mountain wastes. The coastguards were primarily on station to combat smuggling, and did not have such a safe life as today. The first pier at Newcastle was built to accommodate revenue cutters, one of which, the Hardwick, was wrecked in Dundrum Bay in October 1820 while pursuing a vessel that had landed contraband goods at Glasdrumman. Activities of the Hardwick and similar vessels are mentioned in Customs letters book held by the Public Record Office for Northern Ireland. Also held there is an account of the stranding of the brig Bristol at Annalong in December 1803.

Smugglers were not the only law-breakers that the authorities had to combat, for a wreck would inevitably attract looters. In November 1794, the Guinea trader Surprise of Liverpool came ashore at Annalong. A crowd estimated at 1000 gathered while the military appeared in force, and at least one looter was killed. Scenes like this occurred all round the British Isles; the often needy coastal population regarded the arrival on their beach of a valuable cargo as the one friendly act of the sea which was normally their enemy!

Although documentary evidence shows that wrecks were certainly looted on the Mourne coast, there are, on balance, many recorded instances of help being preffered to add to the deeds of Lieut. Chesney and John Galbraith The gallantry of fisherman Henry Boyd won him the silver medal of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, when, on 9th December 1859, he made three attempts to reach the grounded Water Lily near Glasdrumman; he finally succeeded in saving all eight crew. Then on 3rd December 1876, Commander P.S. Cameron, RN, also won the silver medal for rescuing, at great risk, the crew of four of the brig Fame of Maryport, aground off Newcastle in a south-east gale.

Lifeboats

This is an opportune moment to mention the Newcastle lifeboat station, which was instituted by the RNLI in 1854 following numerous wrecks in Dundrum Bay. The Earl of Annesley, MP, generously provided a building to house the boat. Most of the wrecks at which the successive lifeboats assisted were in the shallows of Dundrum Bay, but one at Newcastle from which the Farnley succeeded in rescuing five men was the schooner Florence of Belfast. She had been disabled in a south-easterly gale, with seas breaking over her and the crew clinging to the rigging.

On 14th January 1905, the Farnley was launched to go to the assistance of the steamer Beechgrove which had broken her anchor cable and come ashore at Dunmore. The lifeboat had to put back after snapping several oars. Horses were then borrowed from contractors working at Newcastle quay and the Farnley was pulled on her carriage to a point windward of the wreck for launching. Unfortunately , her bottom was pierced by rocks in the efforts to launch, and attempts to get alongside were thwarted by the weather - again a nasty south-easterly. Eventually the coastguards' rocket apparatus succeeded in taking off Capt. Woodall and his crew of fifteen.

The Present Century

The number of shipwrecks around the British Isles declined markedly after 1890, owing to increased legislation, better provision of lights and the coming of steam power into the coastal trade on a large scale. It has been calculated that a sea man's chance of dying aboard a British ship lessened two and a half times between 1891 and 1911. On the Mourne coast, there have been very few total losses in the present century. Two Norwegian sailing ships, the Ascalon and Vamos, were wrecked near Annalong in 1907. Two of the Annalong fleet of sail traders, the Christina Ferguson and the Phillis became total losses after failing to negotiate the tricky harbour entrance in 1908 and 1917 respectively.

Annalong had a considerable export trade in potatoes, and on 14th January 1911 the small steamer Turtle of Glasgow left the harbour with a load for Birkenhead only to founder about six miles offshore, though without loss of life. Not so fortunate were the crew of the schooner Wyre. That the Irish sea still held its perils despite all the progress in safety is proved by her melancholy tale. Having traded for 60 years, she was laid up during World War One by her owner John Hoey of Annagassan, Co.Louth. He sold her in 1918 to John T. Miller of Liverpool and in the winter of that year she left Whitehaven for Annagassan with coal just after the schooner Lucie also bound for Annagassan. A storm arose and during the night, when the Lucie was off Carlingford Lough, her crew saw the lights of the Wyre some miles to seaward. It was the last seen of her. The wind was easterly and it was thought she foundered off the South Down coast.

Another strange tale of the sea attaches to the loss of the large motor launch St George at Newcastle on 15th December 1924. Unknown to anyone at the time, the four men saved by the Newcastle lifeboat John Cleland were Irish Republican activists who were returning south having abandoned a mission to help escaped prisoners and ferry them to the Free State. One of those aboard was none other than Sean McBride, son of Maud Gonne and much later, of course, a Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Recent decades have, thankfully, seen only the occasional cargo ship go aground on the coast of South Down. All have been refloated, though some, like the Celt at Annalong in 1960, with difficulty. The hazards of the approaches to Carlingford Lough still trouble modern ships as they did the Orissa and others 150 years ago. In 1988, for instance, the German Scot Trader had to be freed by a tug from Belfast. In a severe storm in December 1990, the refrigerated carrier Omagh got into difficulties off Carlingford Lough and later grounded at Cranfield.

Despite the decline of trade to the small ports, ships do at least still frequent Carlingford Lough and anyone who has seen the mountainous surroundings of the Lough at dawn on a summer morning will agree that even in Norway the scene would be hard to match. Perhaps we should leave this topic of wrecks with a sense of calm after the storm and give the last word to Capt. England again. Describing an evening at Annalong in the 1920s when over a dozen schooners and ketches tilled the basin, he remarked: "I was never again to see such a large well cared for fleet of sailing vessels in more perfect surroundings . . . set against a background of ancient stone cottages and the steep rocky slopes of the Mournes, the schooners were a beautiful sight".

1. Report of Royal Commission on Harbours of Refuge (1858).
2. Board of Trade Inquiry into loss of steamers Connemara and Retriever, April 1917.
3. Space does not permit the more detailed examination needed to do this story justice. The interested reader is referred to three articles in the Mourne Observer (22nd. 29th Oct., 26th Nov. 1981), and my own Disaster in Carlingford Lough' in Sea Breezes (July 1978), a shorter version of which appears in my book Shipwrecks of the Ulster Coast (Ballycastle: Impact Amergin, 1980).
4. Published in 1981 by Hollis & Carter, London.
5. T. Porter, 'General FR. Chesney', 12 Miles of Mourne, 4:29 (1991).
6. Mourne Observer, 3rd May 1968.
7. PRONI : D 2015/5/5.
8. PRONI : T 109/513/84.
9. PRONI : D 201 5/5/5.
10. Much still remains to be discovered about local shipwrecks. If any reader feels they have material or photographs which might contribute to the ongoing research they are very welcome to contact me at the Heritage centre, Town Hall, Bangor, Co.Down.

Submarine sinks Kilkeel fishing boats

On 17 May 1918 the Kilkeel fleet left the harbour to drift net for herring. As one of the boats was sailing to the fishing ground, a member of the crew noticed the compass was spinning. He drew the rest of the crew’s attention to this, but nobody knew the cause of this strange phenomenon. The boats continued to the fishing ground.

At daylight the next morning, on 18th May, a German submarine surfaced in the middle of the fleet, ordered the crews into the punts and told them to come along the side of the submarine.

They were then ordered on to the deck. One of the German officers then proceeded to place a bomb on each boat. The subsequent explosions sank the five boats.

The names of the boats were: Never Can Tell, Jane Gordon, Cypress, St Mary, and Lloyd.

Some of the boats had no punt and the captain ordered them on to another fishing boat, the Moss Rose, and let them row for home. The mystery of the spinning compass was revealed. The owners received no compensation for the loss of their boats, although their local MP fought hard for them.

The Mary Joseph was not fishing in the same area, and so she wasn’t seen by the submarine, but the folk at home thought she had been sunk also, as she did not return to harbour until the end of the week, to great rejoicing.

Many years later, in 1952, a reporter came to write an article on the lost boats. She went to Tommy Donnan as she'd heard he was a crew member of the Never Can Tell. The conversation went something like this:

“Are you Mr Tommy Donnan?” Tommy answered: “Yes”. “Are you the Tommy Donnan who was a crew member of the Never Can Tell when she was sunk?” Tommy answered: “No”. The reporter said: “I was led to believe you were the last surviving member of the Never Can Tell.” To which Tommy replied: “I was not aboard the Never Can Tell when she sank – but I was aboard about 15 minutes before she sank!”

Bill Quin

British Fishing vessels lost at sea due to enemy action 1914-18, extracted from " British Vessels Lost At Sea 1914-1918" by HMSO.1919

Seabird, motor, 15grt, 30 May 1918, 26 miles WNW from Calf of Man, captured by submarine, sunk by bombs

Glad Tidings, smack, 15grt, 30 May 1918, 26 miles WNW from Calf of Man, captured by submarine, sunk by bombs

Never Can Tell, smack, 31grt, 30 May 1918, 26 miles WNW from Calf of Man, captured by submarine, sunk by bombs

Sparkling Wave, smack, 29grt, 30 May 1918, 26 miles WNW from Calf of Man, captured by submarine, sunk by bombs

St Mary, smack, 29grt, 30 May 1918, 26 miles WNW from Calf of Man, captured by submarine, sunk by bombs

Cyprus, smack, 35grt, 30 May 1918, 26 miles WNW from Calf of Man, captured by submarine, sunk by bombs

Honey Bee, motor, 34grt, 30 May 1918, 26 miles WNW from Calf of Man, captured by submarine, sunk by bombs

Jane Gordon, smack, 27grt, 30 May 1918, 26 miles WNW from Calf of Man, captured by submarine, sunk by bombs

Lloyd, smack, 35grt, 30 May 1918, 26 miles WNW from Calf of Man, captured by submarine, sunk by bombs

Marianne McCrum, smack, 30grt, 30 May 1918, 26 miles WNW from Calf of Man, captured by submarine, sunk by bombs

The Ballad

In 1918 nine boats of the Kilkeel fishing fleet were sunk off Mourne shore by a German submarine. In those days few of the Luggers had engines and were rowed or sailed to the fishing grounds that lay from fifteen to twenty miles off the coast. The Ardglass fishermen were fortunate in that many of their boats were engined so that they were able to escape during the action, i have written a ballad about the happening   

In far-off France the battle rolled.
Men died on Flanders plain.
At sea the Kaiser’s wolf-pack subs.
Had killed and killed again.
At home the toilers on the land
Had ploughed and sowed once more.
The fertile sea had riches too
And yielded silver store.
 

The summer sun had mounted high
And gilded Binnian ‘s crown.
The Kilkeel fleet had put to sea
And quiet was the town.
They reached from land in search of wind
Each man bent to an oar.
They strained to east’ard for a help
To ‘carry them from shore.
 

Off Turlough ‘s Hill they caught the breeze.
They rested, shipped their sweeps.
Trim luggers leaned to bellied sails
Arid slipped out to the deeps.
The sun had dipped behind the hills,
The hills now seen no more.
The nets were shot in oily swell
Full twenty miles from shore.
 

Young cooks were busy;strong tea up;
Good plum duff on the plate.
The signs were good, the hem were there
And men must watch and wait.
Now Johnny Campbell in “Moss Rose”
A-looking to the south
Saw something boiling from the swelL
He stood with open mouth.
 

No hem -hog this; more like a whale;
Then periscope, tower and gun;
A sub! A German sure enough.
They’re caught; no time to run.
On little “Susan” of Annalong
They’ue seen the raider now;
Bill Chambers and his crew on ‘The Lloyds”
Have crowded to the bow.
 

But one and all they’re sittingducks;
Fish-anchored, net-caught craft.
The conning tower swings open
Huns string out fore and aft.
The Captain, megaphone in hand,
Hails on the quiet air
He orders “Lay to! Heave no line!”
They’re not to move from there.
 

He calls the “Rose ‘1” skipper
And seven of his crew
To come aboard the sea wolf
He treats them kindly too.
He tells them as he passes
The gin and fags galore
He’ll sink the fleet but use ‘MossRose”
To send them all ashore.

And then the desperate work began
As the sub. moved here and there.
Charges were set in every boat.
Explosions shook the air.
And Johnny Cunningham’s “Mary Ann
Paddy Kearney’s “Never Can Tell”
Reared and sank in the silken sea
“Saint Mary “and “Susan” as well.
 

Charlie Cassidy’s pleas were vain.
The old man’s heart was sore
As the love of his life, his “Cypress” tall
Rose, fell, and was seen no more.
And Willie Douglas bade farewell
As his good ship broke and died.
“Jane Gordon” trim, the pride of Mourne
Sank in the glutted tide.
 

Alone of the fleet the “Moss Rose” swung
As the killer slipped away
To follow the engined Ard glass men
To the north in the dying day.
The small boats there on the dark ‘ning waves
Like ducklings to their mother
Closed on “Moss Rose” as gunn ‘le deep.
They came one after the other.
 

The men in them, some young, some old,
Sad, angry, unafraid,
They climbed aboard, six dozen souls,
And welcome were they made.
But Johnny Campbell broke the news;
(As he spoke an oath he swore).
The vandals had holed and crippled the “Rose”.
The punts must head for shore.
 

The night was down as they pushed off,
Eight men in each cockle shell.
Over twenty miles of pitch black sea
They faced nine hours of hell.
But God was there and he held his breath;
The sea was as flat as my hand;
In the sweet light of dawn they waded ashore
To thank Him on Leestone strand.
 

The Downshire

German submarine sinks Irish vessel.

London Feb. 22.1915. The small Irish coasting steamer "Downshire" was sunk last night by a German submarine off Calf of Man an island in the Irish sea. The Germans gave the crew five minutes in which to leave their ship, the crew landed at Dundrum County Down Ireland. The submarine which sank the Downshire was the U-2. The Germans fired three shots at the steamer before her captain hove to, after the crew of the Downshire had taken to the boats the Germans placed a bomb amidships of the steamer and exploded it and the Downshire sank in a few minutes. The chief engineer of the Downshire gave the following account of the sinking of the vessel. The submarine was sighted 2 miles away by the lookout and the captain thereupon orderd me to push my engines all it was possible. he steered a zig zag course but the pursuer had superior speed and overhauled us in a short time, and fired 3 shots, the aim was that good that we stopped right immediately.The submarine crew drew up fully above the surface of the water a hundred feet away, its captain hailed us in good english and told us to get into our boats with haste, then the waste steam began to blow out of our  exhaust pipe, the German captain got excited at this thinking we were trying to signal for help, and ordered us to shut of the steam. Otherwise he would open fire. I counted 19 men on the submarine's deck, when our boat came alongside the submarine we waited their while five German sailors boarded one of our lifeboats carrying a bomb which was in a hollow brass canister. whis was about eight inches long and four inches wide. this they placed in the water under the side of the boat amidships. The canister floated nicely and the Germans lighted a fuse then rowed back toward the submarine, suddenly there was an explosion, in the dusk it seemed to have done little damage but three minutes later the ship began to settle then went down head first. Before the submarine departed we talked with the captain , why do you trouble with a little boat like ours? we asked him, why do you make war on us he replied, Why dont you tackle  those fishing boats we asked indicating trawlers just visible on the horizon, we dont interfere with fishing boats its commercial craft we are seeking said the German captain.

Kilkeel & Area Shipping Disasters

Kilkeel Newspaper Clippings

Mourne Disasters & Shipwrecks

Annalong Fishing Disaster, 1814

By Tom Porter

Fishing Disasters

Early in the morning of the 10th January, 1814, about fifty boats, each carrying six or seven men, had left the Mourne coast for the fishing grounds off the mouth of Carlingford Lough. The day was reasonably good - the sea was calm and the wind light and variable. There had been a few showers during the night and a little snow lay on the ground but there were no indications that there was going to be a sudden change. They reached the fishing grounds just after ten o'clock and after a short time they noticed that bad weather was on the way from the south. They decided to head for home but were overtaken by a heavy snow shower and a strong south-westerly gale.

A report in the Belfast Newsletter of 12th January takes up the story: "On their arrival at the [Annalong] harbour, signals were made to prevent them coming in there. Two only succeeded in landing out of the six who attempted. The rest met a watery grave. The remainder of the boats proceeded along the shore, some filled at sea, some were upset and others dashed to pieces on the shore. Mourne has suffered a loss of twenty seven of its inhabitants, many of whom have left large and helpless families. It would be impossible to describe the distressing scene that was there witnessed - fathers, mothers, wives and sons inquiring and looking most anxiously for the fate of their relations. We understand two wherries (Clontarf hookers) and five boats from Newcastle were fishing off Annalong that day and it is said that thirteen of the latter were drowned." The report then goes on to list the names of the Mourne fishermen who were lost; all the bodies were later found along the shore.

On the day of the tragedy, Lieutenant Francis Chesney, son of Alexander Chesney, was on Slieve Bingian with a gun and a couple of dogs. he had returned to his native Mourne on Christmas leave from his army posting in Guernsey in December 1813. Finding that several members of his family were suffering from typhus, he had to spend much of the time outdoors. Just before noon the weather worsened and he decided to return home. When he reached the bottom of the Grove Road he heard someone shouting, "The boats are a-lossin!" He ran along the shore and just before reaching the harbour he saw a boat overturned in the water with a man near it. He jumped in and with great difficulty succeeded in rescuing Hugh Purdy, son of the owner of the boat. Chesney was so affected by the cold that he took several hours to recover.

On the morning after he had saved the life of Hughey Purdy, Francis Chesney was back at the harbour again. A vessel, the Leda of Lynn, was dragging her anchor and heading for the rocks. Francis, though his father tried to restrain him, waded across the rocks through the surf and with the help one of his father's boatmen, managed to get a line aboard the vessel by which the master and crew were safely brought ashore. A contemporary report noted, "Several Warrenpoint boats were surprised on the coast by the sudden storm. The vessels were upset and the men perished. The loss is not yet accurately ascertained but it is believed that at least forty men have been drowned. Lieutenant Chesney of the Royal Artillery, actuated by a true spirit of benevolence, swam boldly out in the midst of a tremendous sea and nobly saved the lives of some of his perishing fellow creatures at the imminent hazard of his own. A correspondent informs us that five merchant vessels have been wrecked off the Kilkeel coast and that the shore is covered with their ruins

Mourne fishermen lost in the 1814 tragedy
William Moore, John Stevenson, Hugh Wallace. Jun., #
Arthur McCartan, William Kerr, John McDowell,
R. McDonald, William Rodgers, William Montgomery ,
James McDonald, Robert Harrison, R. Gibson,
Nicholas Harrison, P. McCartan, McVeigh,
Thomas McKnight, William Pews, John McVeigh,
Hugh McVeigh, John Akinson, John Gibson,
Daniel Mooney, McCorrigan, Michael Magee,
James Cromwell Sr., T. Cromwell Sr.,

A ballad sheet printed in Newry and entitled The new sorrowful lamentation of the Mourne fishermen drowned on the 10th January 1814, immortalised the event:

Inspire me, Ye genius, to pen these few lines,
Assist me, ye muses, with verses sublime.
Concerning this misfortune that happened of late,
One thousand eight hundred and fourteen the date.

The tenth of January, on that fatal day,
When those jolly fishermen they put out to sea,
But such a misfortune never happened before
Which leaves many mourning along Mourne shore.

Great praise is due to Captain Chesney's son,
In the middle of danger to the quay he did run,
And swam o'er the waves like Leander of old,
And of young Hughey Purdy he quickly took hold.

He saved him from drowning, relief being near,
Wherein different forms grim death doth appear.
And brought him to land with the help of an oar,
Or he'd otherwise never have seen Mourne shore.

Francis Chesney, now twenty five years old, was awarded an Honorary Certificate by the Royal Humane Society for rescuing Hugh Purdy, and the French Shipwreck Society presented him with a medal for the part he played in rescuing the crew of the Leda.

Friday 13th January 1843 saw yet another tragedy, undoubtedly one of the worst ever to take place off the Mourne coast. The morning of that day was unusually fine with only a slight breeze blowing from the south. The few clouds gave no indication, even to the most experienced sailors, that the weather would suddenly change. One bystander, however, had some doubts:

Great praises are due to old William McVeigh,
That morning going out to the men he did say,
This morning reminds me so much of fourteen,
Says he, My brave boys in the bay don't be seen.
They said to each other they couldn't be beat,
There's no waves in the ocean can make us retreat,
Our lines they are strong and our boats they, are stout,
And. for that very reason we will venture out.

Ten boats from Newcastle and six from Lower Mourne set off for the fishing grounds known as the ' Bleachyards' , seven or eight miles out in the channel. On reaching them, the skies darkened and in an incredibly short time the wind quickly veered to the north-west and west. Within minutes a violent gale was blowing and snow clouds appeared in the sky. It was time to run for shelter. A number of the vessels withstood the first shock but several were capsized in the struggle. One of the yawls, with six men, by almost super-human exertions, managed to reach Killough. The men were so exhausted that it took several hours for them to recover. By noon it was snowing heavily; an icy wind tugged at the boats while great waves pounded into them. The men pulled on the oars and hoped that they would soon reach shelter.

Onlookers on shore realised that the fishermen were in considerable danger and a boat was launched at Annalong to go to their assistance. Before it had travelled a hundred yards it was smashed to pieces on the rocks and all hands were lost. Farther along the coast (some say at the Spring Well) another boat was launched and it suffered the same fate. Attempts were made at Glasdrumman, Dunmore and Newcastle to launch rescue boats but again to no avail. Within less than one hour twelve courageous men, going to the assistance of the fishermen had lost their lives.

The beach was crowded to extreme with men of valiant fame,
Who nobly put their boats to sea to top the foaming main,
Intending these poor victims their precious lives to save,
But to their sad misfortune they all met a watery grave.

Before darkness fell the extent of the tragedy was known - forty six men from Newcastle and twenty seven from Mourne had found watery graves. Of the ten boats which had left Newcastle that morning, only three returned.

The Mourne victims who had gone to the aid of the fishermen were Daniel McNeilly, John Doran, John McCrum, Samuel Gordon, Henry Burden, James McKibben, Patrick Savage, John McGrory, Hugh McGrory, Thomas McGrory, John McStay and Bernard McGrory The Mourne fishermen who lost their lives were Daniel McNeilly, Robert McIlveney, Pat McIlveney, Adam Trew, John Skillen, James Hughes, James Morrison, Bernard Doran, John Orr, Hugh Smith, Charles McGrory, Daniel McGrory, John Cunningham, John McCreanor and Hugh Curran.

It would appear from the names that many of these men were from the Glasdrumman and Dunmore areas. Indeed, one of the numerous poems written about the event is entitled The Glasdrumman Fishermen and contains the lines:

George Thompson of Glasdrumman, a man of noble fame,
His conduct good upon that day will honour to him gain.
Just like a skilful mariner, a wharf he did provide,
To save the lives of eight brave men who did at anchor ride.

And James Maginn and Cromwell, I can't half sound their praise,
Just like the bold Leander who topped the foaming wave.
With courage bold undaunted, for two long miles and more,
Took eight men from McGreevy's boat and brought them safe ashore.

And likewise John McGreevy, upon that dismal day,
He ventured twice through sleet and snow upon the stormy sea
It was to save the 'Nancy's' crew, but Morrison is no more,
For brave young Smith and Curran so bold expired on the shore.

The George Thompson referred to in the first line was a member of the family who held most of the land in Glasdrumman. It was stated that the total number left destitute as a result of the disaster was: one hundred and eighteen children, twenty seven widows, fourteen heads of families, three orphans and two aunts.

Newcastle town is one long street entirely stripped of men,
And near to it a village small has lost no less than ten
In Annalong  a widow woman three sons from her were torn,
So widows, orphans and sweethearts may now weep in deep mourn.

Immediately following the disaster, a Belfast newspaper launched an appeal on behalf of the dependants of the victims. Local committees were also formed in Newcastle, Annalong and Kilkeel. When the committees met together it was decided that their efforts should be combined and that proceeds from the appeal should be divided two-thirds to the Newcastle committee and one-third to Mourne. Part of the proceeds were used by the Newcastle committee to build the Widows' Row which still stands overlooking the harbour.

Some time after the disaster several boats, believed to be from the ill-fated fleet, were washed up along the coast. One, found smashed to pieces at the south-west corner of Ireland bore the words "Nancy, owner Francis McGreevy." Another bore the word "McClelland" and yet another "Laurel of Newcastle."

Taken from a pamphlet produced in 1843 to raise funds for the bereaved families,

Belonging to Annalong
 

Names and Remarks
 

*Alexander Orr, 4 children, poor

*John Doran, 7 children, very poor

*John McCrum, A widowed mother,three brothers and three sisters

*Samuel Gordon, Father and mother and two sisters, poor

*Henry Burden, 1 child, very poor

*Patrick Savage, Father and mother with six children, very poor

*James McKibben, Father and mother, and three sisters, poor

*John McGrory, Widowed mother and widowed sister, two brothers and one sister, poor

*Hugh McGrory, one child, an orphan child about eight years old, poor

*Thomas McGrory, Father and mother, three brothers and one sister

*John McStay, five children, extremely poor, and widow pregnant

*Bernard McGrory, A father, mother and two sisters, very poor

Daniel McNeilly, four children, extremely poor

Robert McIlveney, A widowed mother, two orphan children ,extremely poor

Pat. McIlveney, two children, extremely poor and wife pregnant

Adam Trew, five children, extremely poor and widowed mother

James Hughes, Father and mother very old and one sister, very poor

John Skillen, four children, poor

James Morrison, Father and mother, two sisters ,poor

Bernard Doran, poor

Hugh Curran, An orphan sister, poor

Hugh Smith, Father and mother,one brother and one sister, poor

Daniel McGrory, An aged aunt and two brothers, poor

Charles McGrory, six children, very poor

John Cunningham, Father and mother, three sisters and one brother

John McCreanor, Father and mother with five young children, poor

John Orr, A widowed mother, three sisters and two brothers, poor

* These 12 men lost their lives in attempting to save the lives of others, and the Boat of John and Hugh McGrory was also lost.

The William McGilvery, Tuesday September l5th.1829
The wreck of the brig William McGilvery, which took place on the 26th.on the coast of Kilkeel was one of the most distressing scenes that could be imagined. For a considerable time after the vessel struck, the sea ran so high it was impossible for any boat to put off from the shore. The Rev. John F. Close, Rector of Kilkeel thinking that an offer of reward might serve as an additional stimulus, proposed to the boatmen five quineas for each life saved and the repair of any boats damaged. the danger being so imminent Mr. Close was compelled to countermand his order and wait till the storm should abate. During this awful period the crew were seen holding on at the chains and sea breaking over them, the weather having moderated a little a stout boat belonging to Mr. Moore seneschal of Mourne was launched and the boatmen reached the unhappy mariners whose hands had become so numbed they could not have held on much longer. Mr. Close had the sufferers conveyed to his own house where every attention was paid to them,. Lord Newry rendered the most essential services and much property was saved, in fact from pillage by his lordship, Mr.Close and Mr.Moore from their personal knowledge of most of the inhabitants of that part of the coast who were collected.

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The John Stamp, March 10th. 1838
Severe gales during the last fortnight have caused numerous disasters to shipping, the John Stamp, Pain, from Bombay to Holyhead was driven toward the Irish coast where she was wrecked at Kilkeel, seven of the crew unfortunately perished.

County Of Down Assizes
The Belfast News-Letter (Belfast, Ireland), Friday, July 20, 1 838; The Wreck of the John Stamp
John Duff, (one of the Coastguard) for an assault on the 19th. Feb. last, at Carginna, on Andrew McNeight.
Andrew McNeight was down on the shore where the wreck of the “John Stamp” lay, on the morning of the 19th. Feb, and received a gun shot in the thigh, the prisoner fired the shot, witness was doing nothing when the shot was fired at him, cross- examined, this happened on a Monday, had been on the shore on Sunday, curiosity brought him there, a good number of people were there, there were several shots fired, saw no stones thrown, did not hear the Riot Act read, did not hear that it had been read, did not see how many of the Coast Guard were present.
 

Henry McNeight is cousin of last witness, was on shore on the day in question, saw prisoner there, there were a number of people on the shore, there were a few of the Coast Guard on the shore ,armed, the country people were doing nothing when the Coast Guard fired, prisoner and one of his companions was on the road between the two parties of people, heard prisoner say to the people “keep back”, some of the people pressed forward, saw prisoner present his gun and fire among the crowd, the shot struck Andrew McNeight on the thigh, witness reproached prisoner for firing his gun at the crowd, prisoner was drunk, the police had prisoner in custody when witness reproached him. He attempted to strike witness, but the police prevented him, he also tried to get a stone with which to hit witness, but was not allowed, cross examined, thinks that if the Coast Guard had not been there, much of the wreck would not have been there, the people carried off part of it although the Coast Guard was there, saw the prisoner being struck by a stone before he fired, prisoner was trying to keep the people back, heard that the Magistrate had read something to the people.
Sergeant McClelland, was on duty at the wreck, heard the shot fired, don’t know who fired it, took Duff into custody, prisoner appeared to be under the influence of liquor, disarmed prisoner and examined the gun, he had loaded it before prisoner had got it, had seen prisoner the evening before on duty, heard him say” if the crowd threw stones at him, he would bore some of them”, upwards of twelve police and a good many of the Coast Guard were there. Cross examined, the police and guard were scattered along the coast, large numbers of country people were at the wreck, the magistrates would not allow the police or guard to leave the place to get refreshments, so much afraid were they of the people carrying away the wreck. ,The wreck was constantly being taken away by the people who were assembled to steal it, every man of the guard was exceedingly fatigued, very little drink would have given any of them a drunken look, they were exhausted, swears that the prisoner did not, when arrested attempt to strike anyone or lift a stone.
Constable Graydon, arrested prisoner and took his carbine from him, told him he was a prisoner for shooting a man, he gave up his arms quietly, thinks he was the worst of liquor, saw McNeight wounded and bleeding, cross examined, Prisoner had been on duty from Saturday until the day the man was shot, he was greatly fatigued, very little drink would effect a man under these circumstances, there was a large number of people plundering the wreck.
 

John Wightman, saw prisoner fire the shot which struck McNeight, a number of labourers were employed to remove the wreck, prisoner had not the gun to his shoulder when he fired, i was about three or four yards from prisoner, thought he was in liquor, cross examined, saw stones thrown at the time, saw one thrown which it was said struck prisoner, the police and Coast Guard were firing day and night, they seemed to be firing blank cartridges.
Defence
William Morrow, is chief officer of the Coast Guard stationed at Annalong, some of his men were stationed along the coast to protect the wreck and cargo of “The John Stamp”, prisoner was one of them, numbers of country people were there determined to plunder, witness was threatened to be stoned off the beach and therefore sent for Mr. Boyle the magistrate and police, to protect his men. Stones were thrown at witness’s men, had to charge the people with the bayonet as to drive them off the beach, prisoner has been three years and a half under witness, and he never was fined or complained of, would have been fined if he had not been well conducted, cross exam ined, Saw Duff after he had fired and considered him perfectly fit for duty, the riot act was read on saturday, but had not been read on Monday.
 

homas Baskum, is in the Coast Guard service, they had been on duty from the Saturday morning till Monday, when the prisoner fired the shot which struck McNeight, saw Duff struck on the back with a stone and witness and Duff both turned round and fired at the crowd. The stones were thrown in great numbers at the Coast Guard, witness and others had previously fired several blank shots over the heads of the people in vain, witness and Duff were standing with their bayonets presented at the people, and they were forcing their way to the wreck, when Duff was struck, and fired, Duff was quite clearly fit for duty at that time. Cross examination, The orders to witness and his comrades were to keep the people back from , and to protect the wreck, were not desired to fire, witness fired over the heads of the people when Duff shot McNeight, Duff was struck by a large stone, saw two stones thrown at Duff, witness thought that the lives of the Coast guards were in danger, considered it absolutely necessary, to save his life, to fire at the crowd, fired over their heads because he did not like to commit murder, but if he had been struck, as Duff was, he would have shot dead the man that struck him. Joseph ORourke and William Higden, of the Coast guard corroborated the testimony of the foregoing witnesses, result , not guilty

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Fatal Accident, Aug. 18th. 1839
Several boats having put to sea from Kilkeel on the 1st inst. for the purpose of fishing, one of the boats was upset during a squall and six men were drowned, all leaving widows and children.

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Shipwrecks, Monday 9th.Oct. 1844
Newcastle, a tremendous storm on Wednesday night, from which the windows and roofs of houses suffered, two vessels were wrecked convenient to Kilkeel, one of them a schooner from Beaumauris sunk a little from shore, some of the masts visible, all hands were lost, the other a Belfast craft, Fitzsimmons ,master, was driven in, all hands saved.

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Sloop Jane McAskil, Monday Oct. 21st. 1844
We regret this vessel  which was driven ashore near Annalong during the gale of the 9th. has become a total wreck. she was laden with freestone, flagging and salt and was on her way from Runcorn to Dublin.

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Duchess of Gloucester, Jan. 10th. 1849
The schooner Duchess of Gloucester of Chepstow, Prout, master, on her passage from Glasgow to Gloucester, laden with pig iron was driven ashore here this morning, due to bad weather, she is now lying stranded in the bay of Kilkeel, with loss of foreyard and maingaff and full of water.

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The Brig Hugh, Tues. Jan. 30th. 1849
The Brig Hugh out and from Dublin for Trinidad, McCormack, master, Was driven ashore near this place, this morning, now lies bilged, the crew were saved, in better weather the cargo will be landed, in a damaged state in Kilkeel harbour. This is the fourth vessel sunk within the last four weeks on the Mourne coast.

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Shipwreck,  Mon. Nov. 29th. 1852
Shipwreck on the Mourne coast, we regret to have to add another to the numerous list of casualties which have occured at sea, and have been recorded in our columns during the present month. It appears that during the violent storm which we were visited on Thursday night, a large vessel went ashore near newcastle, and became a total wreck. . Reports from Kilkeel and its neighbourhood state that several lives have been lost, Some say the vessel was an Austrian, laden with Indian corn, and consigned to Newry, others say that she was an American, and others state she was Indiaman outward bound. Information reached Captain Watson, the agent for Lloyds at an early hour on Friday Morning.

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Tayleur, Tuesday March 21st 1854
The bodies of five persons, three woman and two men, were washed ashore within the last few days between Annalong and Kilkeel County Down. They are believed to be some of those lost in the unfortunate Tayleur, the bodies were decomposed, two of them, from the remnant of clothes which were left on them, appeared to be of the more prosperous class of society. And inquest was held on the bodies by Dr. Tyrell of Banbridge, coroner, under the circumstances an open verdict was found, the remains were interred in Kilkeel. The distance from Annalong to Lambay is about 35 miles by sea, and it not possible that the bodies may have been washed that far

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The Trident, Monday April 12th. 1858
A vessel the Trident has been wrecked near Kilkeel and five of her crew drowned, she is a Spanish vessel, laden Shipwrecks and Disasters in Mourne
with railroad iron, a third vessel is said to be at anchor inside St. Johns Point, she is a large ship homeward bourn from Calcutta with a general cargo. Fears are entertained for her safety in such a difficult anchorage. Such lamentable losses call loudly for a harbour of refuge at or near the Bay of Dundrum.

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Supposed Wreck, Tuesday Jan. 8th. 1861
On Saturday evening the 29th. the tide on the shore of Kilkeel being very high, a fisherman named Robert Cassidy belonging to the harbour of Derryogue, convenient to the Bay of Kilkeel, discovered floating in the sea among the rocks, a large substance, which on getting hold of, he found it to be a portion of the figurehead of some large ship, it was beautiflully carved and adorned with gold, and was in shape like the scroll and head of a violin, but was disfigured from its being dashed among the rocks

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Bottle Found, Mon. Aug. 20th. 1866
The late G. V. Brooke our agent at Kilkeel, writes as follows, a bottle was found this morning about a mile from the new pier at Kilkeel,  by William Edgar of Kilkeel, in which a small slip of paper was enclosed, with the following written on it, London, of London, going down, Belfast, friends goodbye, the bottle is marked with raised letters T. J. Cantrell's aerated  waters, Belfast,

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Narrow Escape, Wed. Aug. 4th. 1869
A fishing boats crew had a narrow escape, last Thursday A large fleet left the fishing ground for Kilkeel making for the land with a good southerly breeze, some for Annalong, some for Kilkeel but the greater part for Carlingford Lough. As they approached the land, the breeze increased to a gale with a heavy sea, Heading for the first mentioned port was the Waterwitch, a Manx boat which on reaching (the tide being low) she could not enter, so was obliged to shape her course towards Carlingford, each moment the wind and sea increased, she had reached within a mile of the bars entrance, when the crew found it utterly impossible to make it, when they with only a small foresail set for for Kilkeel. Which they safely reached about one o clock. It is a matter well understood now, not only by the poor fellows saved but also by all who witnessed the exertions made by her crew to reach Carlingford Lough. That had not Kilkeel pier been in existence the eight men would have drowned. It is a matter on which the promoters of this new pier at Kilkeel now congratulate themselves in it thus being the means at so early a stage of its progress, of saving so many lives

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Bodies Washed Ashore, Sat Nov. 4th. 1871
Two dead bodies washed ashore at Kilkeel, Last Monday morning the bodies of two men were washed ashore, one at Derryogue and the other at Ballykeel, near the Leestone coastguard station. Each of the bodies was found about a mile distant from Kilkeel pier, in opposite directions, it is not known whether the poor fellows have been sailors or fishermen, or washed of the deck of some vessel. One of the bodies was quite naked except that he had on a pair of elastic side boots, nearly new, near the corpse was found a silver lever watch, with the inscription, No.1874 Liverpool, makers name Henry Samuel, on the outside case was engraved Henry Allison Whitehaven. The other had on blue cloth pants, blue cloth vest, a striped flannel shirt, a pair of high low shoes and in his pockets were a shilling of silver, 3s and 4d in coppers and a knife, these particulars may enable the relatives of the dead men to identify them, should they happen to see this notice, an inquest has been held and both bodies have been decently buried in one grave.

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Cannibalism At Sea,  Wed. Feb. 28th. 1877
The steamer Gambia, of the British and African steam Navigation company, which arrived in the Mersey on Saturday night, brought home a seaman named James McLinden a native of Kilkeel, the only survivor of the crew of the barque Maria, of Belfast. the story given by him of the sufferings of the illfated  crew are most horrible. The Maria left Dublin some months ago for Dobuy, under the command of captain Grayson, and she left the latter place for England, timber laden, late in November last with a crew of 14 hands. When seven days out heavy  south east gales were encountered, and the vessel was hove to.  for two days after this there was a weeks spell of bad weather and then a severe south west gale set in, and again the vessel was hove to. The pumps had to be kept in constant use, and on the 7th. December they became choked with the sand ballast on board, the vessel began to fill rapidly, and the sea was making clean breaches over her, after this four large logs of timber that were on deck were forced by the sea through the lee bulwarks carrying stancheons and everything with them, the captain then gave orders for the masts to be cut away, but before this could be done the vessel heeled over on her beam ends and fell into the trough of the sea. the crew took refuge in the mizen rigging, in about two hours the main mast went by the board, and the ship righted and the crew took shelter on the poop, here they stayed day after day, their boats were washed away, and there only hope was in being seen by some passing ship. What little food they had was soon finished, and they were unable to obtain any from the vessel, which was completely waterlogged, On the second day after the disaster a large ship hove in sight and the crew kept dipping their ensign to attract attention. She came close to the Maria so that her name could be seen, the City of Montreal, from Ney York, captain Grayson hailed her and asked for a boat to be sent off, in reply the the officer on deck waved his hand, which was understood by the helpless sailors to mean that he would do so, but he held on his course and took no further notice of them. McLinden states it was the intention of captain Grayson had he lived to report the conduct of the master of the City of Montreal, as at that time they could easy have lowered a boat. An Italian barque came by them a few days later, but the seas were too rough to attempt help, on the ninth day after the ship was demasted, the cabin boy died from exhaustion three days later one of the sailors died and others quickly followed. On Christmas day the mate died and the captain became deranged, he was lashed to the rigging for safety by McLinden and the boatswain, who were now the only survivors, and he died two days later. During this terrible time the poor fellows had no food and subsisted entirely on the bodies of their companions, when the first man died, his throat was cut for the blood and then his head was cut off and the brains divided amongst  them. The body of the second man that died was treated in the same way, and the first one thrown overboard, this was done with all the bodies. At the end of thirty three days, when McLinden and the boatswain were the only two left, the latter became insensible from exhaustion, but fortunately on the ninth day of January they were sighted by the American schooner F . E. McDonald which took them off the wreck, the boatswain died four hours later, McLinden was in a deplorable state, being covered with boils and his body was so swollen, his clothes had to be cut off him, he was landed at Goree and placed in a French hospital, McLinden is slightly built and only 20 year old. his health is improving.

The crew of the Maria was, Captain John Grayson, Belfast, Charles O'Neill first mate, Newry, Robert Lewis second mate and boatswain, Belfast, James Mooney, Steward, Dublin,

Able seaman Benjamin Campbell, Belfast, George Fox, Sunderland, John Williams Amlwich, John Ross, a Russian, Stephen Sadlier, Dublin, James McLinden, Kilkeel ,ordinary seaman, A Drury, Hartlepool, and an able seaman and two boys whose names are unknown.

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Body washed ashore, Sat May 19th. 1877
The body of a sailor was washed ashore near Kilkeel pier, the body had been in the water a considerable time constable Shanley, sub constable Johnson and McPadden had the body carried out of the water and placed in coffin, it was then conveyed to Mr. Andrew Crutchleys stable, where it remained till Thursday, when a inquest was held, the verdict was found, drowned at Kilkeel. Mrs Hanratty of Boat street Newry identified the body as that of her husband captain John Hanratty, who was drowned at Greenore about a month earlier, the body was removed in the evening and buried in the old churchyard.

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Supposed Drowning, Sat. May 26th. 1877
Mr. W.H. Maxwell of London, a well known public reader and recently on a tour through Ireland, had been carried out to sea from Rostrevor and was supposed lost, it turned out however that he had been picked up by a fishing boat, after being several days at sea.he was landed at Kilkeel,  Since then he has been lying an invalid at the Annesley Arms Hotel in Newcastle, last week he was out again in his canoe in Strangford Lough, on Friday he said he was crossing to the Isle of Man in his canoe, after taking in a stock of good things and a supply of bottled porter he proceeded on his journey. Nothing since was heard of him until last night when a sub inspector of constabulary stationed at Downpatrick received word that a canoe had been washed ashore at Castleman, Isle of Man, the only articles in it were some bottles of porter and a gentle mans hat, it was supposed that Mr. Maxwell had met an untimely end.

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Fatal Boat Accident, Near Kilkeel, Tues. April 23rd. 1878
On Saturday evening last, Joseph Dickson, Coroner, held an inquest at the home of Daniel McGivern, a well to do farmer, in Greencastle, on the bodies of McGiverns son Thomas aged 18 and daughter Bridget age 14, it appeared that on Friday afternoon the two deceased and a youth named Henry Dowdall age 14 years, proceeded to a grocers named Cunningham situated on the opposite side from Greencastle at Millbay for the purpose of purchasing goods. On their return between one and two o'clock, whilst passing the influx of the White Water river which flows into the sea, a strong current, with junction of the tide caused the oar to fall from young McGiverns hand, he made a sudden grasp for the oar and the frail pram upset, the scene was witnessed from the shore, and a boat went to the rescue but the attempt wfailed, young Dowdall swam to the keel of the upturned pram and held on to it,

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Kilkeel Fishing Fleet, Thursday, Sept. 25th. 1879
The storm of Monday night has proved disastrous to the Kilkeel fishing fleet, a heavy wave struck the "Sarah" carrying away two of her hands, one was rescued the other drowned, several of the boats lost all their nets, to the value of £525.

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Steamer Stranded, Sat. Jan 29th. 1881
The steamer Elenor, captain Lewis, one of the fleet of the London and North Western company, has gone ashore near Lee Stone point on the Kilkeel side of Carlingford Lough, the 20 passengers were safely landed at Kilkeel, The vessel is filled with water at the flow of the tide, if the weather moderates the vessel may be saved, but if the sea should turn rough she will go to pieces, as she lies among jagged rocks.

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Rescue of Valuable Dredger, Thursday, Nov. 3rd. 1881
Yesterday morning the heavy south west gale, which suddenly broke over this coast, was the cause of a disaster in Carlingford Lough, it appears that a firm of shipbuilders on the Clyde constructed for the Dublin Port and docks an immense dredger, capable of dredging in forty five of water and one of the latest crafts of her kind. When the morning of Tuesday dawned she was close to the mouth of Carlingford Lough, in which it was the intention of her captain to seek shelter , in the heavy  cross sea off the Bar the exact handling of such an unwieldy  monster proved an impossibility, the hapless dredger was seen to plainly drifting in amongst the breakers upon the coast of Ballymartin. Her flag of distress was at once hoisted, the coastguard boat from the station at Leestone manned by chief boatman Cahill and his crew of four men put out and safely crowning the breakers, reached the dredger, after remaining on board the dredger for some time, the coastguard boatmen returned to shore, when about 3 or 400 yards from the shore the boat capsized and the occupants were thrown into the water. Each of the men wore a cork life jacket but for which instead of the loss of one life there would have been five, even as it was such was the force of the waves buffeting that the men could make no headway toward the shore, to the credit  of the men of Mourne  be it spoken, strenuous attempts at rescue were at once made. Men fastened ropes round their waists and plunged into the boiling surf,  and at last all,  save one of the crew was brought ashore, that one had drifted out to sea, and sad to say he could be seen lifting up his hands as if silently imploring help, while he was being swept away. one clergyman present offered £5 to any who might go out to the rescue, but no boat could live in the boiling surf. Two more were launched and those on shore had to watch the body of Charles Wooler, the second in command at Leestone Point lying on the surface of the waves, still supported by his cork jacket, but fast being carried out to the open sea. The rescued men were carried to the house of Mr. Samuel Orr, Annalong, Meanwhile the Greenore steamer which was three hours late in coming in, had sighted the ugly stranger as she crossed the bar, and having reached Greenore she quickly informed captain Smith the harbour master, who at once got up steam in the Derby tug and pushed through the heavy seas until she discerned the dredger close to the breakers, after several attempts to communicate with her captain Smith at last  succeeded in making the vessel fast and towed the dredger to a position above Greenore, where she was anchored.

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Schooner Crimea, Tues. Jan. 30th. 1883
The Crimea, captain Burns of Belfast, from Kilkeel to Carmarthen, with a cargo of potatoes ran ashore below  Kilkeel on Sunday, the cargo was safely landed and the crew safe.

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The Herbert, of Liverpool, Thurs. 17th. 1884
From Warrenpoint bound for Ayr has gone ashore at Leestone Kilkeel

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Fishing Smack Margaret, Mon. Nov.3rd. 1884
The fishing smack Margaret, of Kilkeel County Down was driven ashore during a gale on Saturday near that place, and became a total wreck, the crew of 5 hands were in great peril for several hours, but were eventually rescued by the coastguard.

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Kilkeel Fishing Smacks, Wed. Dec10th..1884
During the recent southerly gales the fishing smacks Florence and Wanderer of Kilkeel substained serious damage by breaking from their moorings at Greencastle and colliding, they having been left their for a place of safety, as there does not exist a safe enough place at Kilkeel at present, coal laden vessels occupying the principle part of the harbour.

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Wreck In Carlingford Lough, Tues. 26th. 1886
The schooner Monkstown of Carnarvon from that town to Dublin, in ballast ran ashore at Annalong, near Kilkeel onFriday. during a gale, and has since become a total wreck, the crew managed to get ashore, the wreck was sold onSaturday for a sum of £20, the master and crew have gone back to Carnavon.

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Fishing Luggers Missing, Thurs. Nov.3rd. 1887
Eight fishing vessels which left Kilkeel on Monday, and proceeded southwards, have not been seen since.

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Great Storm, Kilkeel, Thurs. Nov. 3rd. 1887
The storm was very violent at Kilkeel, the S.S. Norseman which was taking in a cargo of potatoes in the outer harbour, having had to be brought into the inner harbour, the schooners Alpha and Gem received some damage, the latter having a hole knocked in her stem, the outer harbour was full of timber, herring boxes and several petroleum barrels, having been washed of the wharf by waves, which ran mountains high, the spray rising fully 40 feet in the air. Towards the evening a heavy sea struck the pier and made a breach in the wall protecting the roadway, 30 feet long by 12 feet deep of the cement and stonework been clean cut away, great anxiety is being felt for the safety of the fishing fleet which went south in the direction of Balbriggan on Monday evening. There are eight boats out and only one of the three which put into Carlingford Bay with loss of her nets, has as yet been heard of, telegrams have been dispatched to all ports to the southwards.

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Further Disasters, Wed. Oct 9th. 1889
Reports show that the storm was the worst experienced in Warrenpoint, Kilkeel and along the coast for many years, a large number of lighters were engaged in discharging a cargo of grain from a large vessel in the Pool in Carlingford Lough have been blown from their moorings, one is sunk and another one cannot be found, three large grain lighters the property of Mr. Moses Hunter of Newry are ashore at Milbay, and the Rocket also the property of Mr. Hunter is sunk in the same place. Two lighters belonging to the Newry saltworks company are also aground along the coast between Omeath and Carlingford, and another lighter owned by the same company is missing. The damage to house property in Warrenpoint, Greenore, Kilkeel, Carlingford and other places along the coast is very great.

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Extraordinary Story, Than. 10th. 1889
The storm was very severe, vessels have gone ashore near Warrenpoint and Kilkeel, from the same quarter comes an extraordinary story, It appears in Carlingford Bay an old fisherman named Guy and his nephew being caught in the storm while in a small boat, the old man, to lighten the boat and try to save both their lives made the boy get out o a rock telling him to hold on by a signal post there till help should arrive, the boy did so but not until two hours had passed during which the waves repeatedly washed over him was he rescued in almost a benumbed condition by several fishermen who put out to save him. Nothing has been heard of the old man who tried to gain the shore alone in the boat, it is almost certain that his frail craft capsised before he could  reach the shore.
Kilkeet Pier knocked down, Sat Nov. 15th. 1890.

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Kilkeel Pier knocked down, Sat.Nov. 15th. 1890
Heavy  rain and floods in Newry district, also heavy damage in Warrenpoint. The new pier at Kilkeel was blown down and great damage done.

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Severe Storm, Oct. 15th. 1891
One of the severest of rain and wind within living memory of the oldest inhabitants ever experianced raged at Kilkeel and along this portion of the coast on Tuesday. It commenced about midday, and continued with unabated fury until darkness had set in, the sea was lashed into fury and the waves were terrible during the day, but towards midnight greatly subsided, just as darkness had set in lights were observed a short distance off to the North East of Leestone Coastguard station, but no sign of a vessel could be seen. your correspondent was along the coast at this time and being in possession of  standard binoculars a large steamer was descried battling with the tremendous seas, one moment seen rising high out of the water and again lost to view for a few minutes, she was near the breakers when first seen, but afterwards headed out into the channel. She was judged to be the Newry and was watched until she stood out about 3 miles off the lighthouse, when she was completely obscured from view by the heavy rain clouds beginning to fall, a large anxious crowd watched her course. A great deal of harm was done through the country and in the town, stacks blown over and slates removed from houses in all directions,. The fishermen have to look well to their boats in the harbour, especially those lying in the outer basin,. In blown seaweed has come ashore in abundance and the farmers are carting it away, the gale commenced yesterday and seems to be increasing every hour from the south and a heavy sea is rising in the channel.

Yacht Capsized, Wed. Aug. 2nd. 1893
At Annalong between Kilkeel and Newcastle, on Monday evening, six ladies and gentlemen went out on a yacht when a squall struck the vessel which capsized. The occupants were thrown into the water, but the coastguards succeeded in saving four lives, Miss Keitland, a niece of the late Mr. John Shaw Brown, J. P. of Belfast and the boatman named Pollard were drowned.

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Fishing Boat Capsized, Sat. Feb. 10th. 1894
A fishing boat "The Twin Sisters" capsized during a storm yesterday evening when returning to Kilkeel from deep sea fishing, the crew of six men were drowned, their names  are John Cousins, John Balance, John Hogg, Robert Cousins, Joseph Collins and Patrick Cunningham, the dead men left behind 27 relatives.

 The Melancholy Drowning  Off  Kilkeel Harbour In The Twin Sisters

In which six fishermen where lost on the 9^th. Febuary  1894.

Poem By J. S. Wray

Twas on the ninth of Febuary, in Eighteen Ninty-Four,
Sad is the tale we must relate which happened off our shore,
When six of our brave fishermen who feared no peril of dread
Went out  upon the fatal day to earn their daily bread.

 The “Twin Sisters” was the small boat, with six brave men was mann’d
John Balance was the master, that day he had command;
John Cousins and John Hogg, with Robert Cousins too,
Patrick Cunningham and Joe Collins comprised her gallant crew’

 They left our shore that morning in all their manly pride,
The “Twin Sisters” like some fairy nymph rode proudly o’er the tide;
Brave Balance stood up in his boat, those words he cried aloud,
“Keep steady to your work, brave men, yonder’s a threatening cloud.”

They all stood well together, to face the coming storm,
And prayed the God of Land and Sea to shield them from all harm;
With aching hearts their thoughts were turned unto Kilkeel’s fair shore,
Thinking of their loving  ones, whom they might see no more.

 The proud waves still kept swelling-the storm came on apace
While Balance and his comrades their course could not retrace
The “Twin Sisters”quickly bore them far o’er the stormy main
Till she had them out three miles, or something near the same

 The “Twin Sisters” then turned over, no helping hands were nigh
Yet out from Kilkeel harbour were many a watchful eye
When two boats were quickly mann’d, with manly hearts so leal
The “Mystical Rose” was quickly launched  with “Ellen” of Kilkeel

 Those boats together started, while not one word was spoke
The “Mystical Rose” had not went far until her mast got broke
When being thus disabled, what could brave Donnan do?
Only cry out to brave McIntosh-go on to the rescue

 McIntosh braved out the storm, with his little “Ellen “ fair
And he said to his companions, brave men feel no despair
McGuiness and Cassidy, Ferguson and McKee-
“God will this day protect us, come along with me

 But when they came unto the place where the “Twin Sisters” lay
There was no boat or living soul for all were swept away
They then turned the gallant “Ellen” while their manly hearts were sore
And brought her safe to anchorage into Kilkeel once more

 Some thousands then assembled round them on the quay
They had no good news to tell them of that sad and fatal day
Heart rending was the wailing while the sad news onward ran
While the “Twin Sisters” was picked up nigh to the Isle of Man

 From many an honest heart went up this fervent prayer
O’God look on those widows and children in despair
That’s not too much for us to say, he must have heard the same
He quickly raised up friends for them, blessed be his holy name

 There are ladies and gentlemen and around Kilkeel
Those Christian hearts and tender when want to them appeal
And soon a great subscription list was issued the next day
For the widows and the orphans of those good men cast away

 That subscription list, we read it through, by £20 was led
The name of John Quin Henry was standing at its head
And all his worthy family their Christian work do
With the good Earl of Kilmory and his gentle Countess too

 They all give their subscriptions, from five to twenty pounds
And many others with them within that list are found
The Revs. Dr. Marner, Dudley, Barker, and McMurdie too
Captain Douglas, Messrs, Shannon, Morgan all good men and true

 There were Messrs, Orr and Annett, Dr. Evans, we make known
And friends in Newcastle, Annalong  and by Killowen
Dundrum, and Castlewellan, and Rostrevor done its share
The Hon. A. S. G. Canning of the Lodge his name was there

 There are many other worthy names whom we must leave behind
Who nobly done their duty-all equally good and kind
The author they must pardon, as he must draw the veil
O’er this terrible disaster of  the good town of Kilkeel.

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Disaster Off County Down, Thurs. April 6th.1894.
A fishing Lugger with a crew of eight men left Kilkeel harbour yesterday before the storm commenced, which raged with great fury till late last night, for the purpose of fishing, and today the small boat belonging to the lugger was washed ashore on the Kilkeel coast. No tidings up to this evening of the luggers crew have been received , and it is feared that she has been wrecked and all hands lost.

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Steamer Glenarm, Mon. Oct. 29th. 1894
The steamer Glenarm for Dublin with coal went ashore near Kilkeel, but got off, now anchored near Carlingford Lough, a portion of her propeller has gone.

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During Storm, Oct. 30th. 1894
During a storm off Kilkeel, County Down on Sunday, a steamer with a broken foremast was observed towing another steamer with stern completely submerged, both were proceeding in a southerly direction.

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Collapse of Pier head, Tues. 20th. Nov. 1894
On Sunday night the pierhead at Kilkeel County Down, which was undermined by recent storms, suddenly collapsed and threatens to close up the mouth of the harbour.

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Schooner Lost, Dec. 31. 1894
The Dublin schooner Active, potato laden from Kilkeel for the Bristol channel went ashore on the County Down coast during Friday nights storm, and has become a total wreck, the crew were saved.

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Severe Storm, Tues. Jan. 15th. 1895
Near Kilkeel two schooners are flying signals of distress but it is impossible owing to the massive seas to render help, it is also reported that a large vessel has foundered near the same place, her spars being visible through a telescope.A telegram from Newry states that three vessels were much damaged in Kilkeel harbour by the storm and fifty yards of the embankment was washed away.

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Kilkeel Harbour, Thursday Feb.13th. 1895
Another portion of the Kilkeel harbour has been injured by the heavy tides which prevailed during the last few days, accompanied by an Easterly gale, whereby the northern portion of the outer basin has been broken down, and if not attended to at once should a south easterly gale spring up the tide would completely cut away the cart road to the inner basin were vessels lie. The Board of works engineer has arrived to superintend the repair of the pier head which was knocked down during the start of the present winter, but nothing has been done yet towards the new building.

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Shipping Casualty at Kilkeel, Mon. April 1st. 1895
On the night of the 29 ult. the steam trawler Laurel of Hull (captain Walker), and trading for Messrs Wolf & Coy. of Milford became disabled off the coast of Kilkeel during the gale and the thick weather which prevailed, and went ashore at Derryogue one mile from the town. The crew had a narrow escape, the place being rock bound, but fortunately it was high tide and the steamer was carried right over them, three of the crew took to the small boat, when she struck, with a leading line from the steamer, having but one oar as the other one was broken, the seamen made a successful attempt in the darkness to reach the shore, where they soon obtained assistance, and with the aid of fishermen and a skiff they returned to the steamer and landed the crew of nine hands, it is doubtful if the steamer can be got off, as she is wooden built.

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Drowning at Kilkeel, Thurs. 17th. Oct. 1895
On Tuesday night a man named Sloan living in Kilkeel, left his home to go down to the harbour on business, shortly afterwards cries for assistance were heard, and the harbour was immediately dragged without success, however at midnight when the tide had gone out, Sloan's body was found, Sloan's wife has now been twice widowed by drowning having lost her first husband in a boating fatality a year or two ago.

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Ship Ashore, Wed. June 30th. 1897
The steamer Kilkeel is ashore on Greencastle Island, Carlingford Bar, but is expected to float at next tide.

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Kilkeel, Oct 20th.1904, Llewellyn Ashore.
The Llewellyn of Belfast ran ashore at Ballykeel, County Down last evening, leaking.

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Kilkeel Shark Caught,  Sat. Aug. 27th. 1932
Three young men named Cunningham, Doran and McBurney, while out fishing off Kilkeel, noticed a shark making towards their boat, the men rowed for the shore and the shark followed, when close to Kilkeel harbour they gaffed the shark with a boat hook attached to a strong line. The boat was capsized and killed.

Minutes of Evidence

County Down

Derryoge, Annalong and Kilkeel

17th.Dec. 1835

On the Living and Working Conditions of the Fishermen

Examining Commissioners, Messrs. Jago and Stanley

Witnesses, Mr. Stephen Burns, Kilkeel, shopkeeper, William McKee, of Derryoge, fisherman, Mr. Alexander Robinson, of  Kilkeel, boat owner, and Samuel Grummel of Annalong, fisherman.

The fishermen of Derryoge and Annalong are continuously employed in fishing for the supply of any fish, except haddock, and this decrease Mr. Robinson ascribes to the destructive trawl nets of English cutters, from Dublin Bay, by taking Herrings last summer the fishermen earned about £4 each.

mackerel visit this part of the coast in large shoals, and come in close to shore, but they are only taken with lines, in this way two men have killed 80 dozen in a day, the shoals are seen during about three months from June, The Bay of Dundrum, north of Annalong, extending, from Moneydaragh Point to St. Johns Point, contains large quantities of flat fish, mainly turbot, but the fishermen on the shore of the bay will not permit fish to be taken in it with trawl nets,

 Mr. Robinson who is owner of two boats of thirty tons each, stated that he would not desire any encouragement for fishing except the privilege of using fair trawl nets in Dundrum bay, there are five decked boats in Annalong, but Grummel stated that the owners are not remunerated.

William McKee of Derryoge stated that the fishermen are sworn to preserve order when fishing and to render friendly aid, this practice has been observed for forty years, and the oath is taken voluntarily before a magistrate triennially, Mr. Burns is in the habit of giving credit to the fishermen for tackle and gear, they are charged only a small advance on the cash prices, and they are punctual in their payments. A pier is considered requisite at Derryoge , the natural shelter being deemed insufficient, (Mr. Burns).

Evidence Furnished In Replies To Printed Queries

Carlingford Loch to Dundrum Bay

The description of fish taken are, cod, ling, haddock, glassen, bream, whiting, mackerel and herrings, herring fishing begins in June and ends in November, ( Mr. Murrow, C. G. Officer, Annalong. ),

 Fishing with herring nets and land lines the only mode of fishing practised, herring fishing on the coast usually commences in August or the beginning of September, and ends in November, it is most productive,( John Miller and William McRoy, fishermen, Derryoge).

There is no alteration in the mode of taking fish here during the last twenty years,  (Lieut. W. H. Gosling, C.G. Officer, Cranfield)

There are scattered beds of oysters along the coast, but no exertion is made to find them, they are of good quality and large, small premiums to the fishermen would improve these oyster fisheries, ( Mr. Murrow, Annalong )

There are oyster banks on the Down shore in Carlingford Loch, one off Rostrevor Quay, about two miles and a half in length, and half a mile in breadth, the other is off Kilowen Point, one mile in length and half a mile broad. They are open to all persons who pay five shillings a year, the Marquess of Anglesey claims all rights of control and no persons dispute this, they are regularly dredged and at low water, spring tides, oysters are picked up as much as two hundred weight each tide, the supply of oysters has increased in the last two years, they are sold in Warrenpoint at from seven to fifteen shillings a thousand, their quality is good, and although not very large, they are full.( Lieut. W. H. Gosling, Cranfield),

The royalty of Carlingford Loch belongs to the Marquess of Anglesey, dredging is confined to his tenants generally, but open to the public, the supply of oysters has increased within the last ten years, owing to the enforcing of the act of parliament, against unlawful dredging, I have known oysters to be sold as high as seven shillings and six pence per hundred within the last six years, I suppose the value of all taken in the season to be upward of £1000, (Mr. Leonard Watson, Warrenpoint)

There are plenty of crabs and Lobsters, they are taken by strange boats from Cooley, county Louth, sometimes ten or more, ,( John Miller and William McRoy, fishermen, Derryoge).

Lobsters are taken regularly off Green Island and the Black House Island, they are taken in pots made of willow and hazel rods, from March to September, they are sold in the local markets for ten shillings a dozen, crabs sold for eight pence a dozen.

There is no scallop fishing within my guard, but there are numerous beds on the coast, but no exertion is made to take those fish, , ( Mr. Murrow, Annalong ),

Trawl boats which visit the coast, are considered injurious to the fisheries, ever since the Torbay boats were allowed to fish on these shores the herring fishery has been on the decline,

Trawling has increased and is generally considered injurious at certain seasons,

The line fishermen have a great prejudice against trawls with small meshes, as they destroy quantities of every kind of fish, too small for any market.

The boats and fishing gear, in Cranfield station, from Warrenpoint to River Foot are in tolerably good condition, two or three men are owners of most of the boats, no improvement has been made in the construction of boats within the last twenty years.

The boats used at present cost about £10, if there was a pier at Derryoge, smacks would be advantageous for deep sea fishing, a smack from 15 to 20 tons, twenty eight feet long and a twelve foot beam would cost £70, nets are made and repaired by fishermen, there are no schools in which nets are made, each net is fourteen fathoms long, five fathoms deep, with inch meshes, .( Lieut. W. H. Gosling, Cranfield),

The boats in Leestone  district, which are all row boats, are general in bad condition, the gear is also bad, the fishermen have not the means of getting better, the boats belong to the fishermen, no improvement has been made in the construction of them, those from 2 to 3 tons cost from £10 to £12, properly fitted out, if a harbour were provided, boats from 10 to 20 tons could be manned, and would  cost from £50 to a £100.

Nets which are used only in herring fishing, are made and repaired by the fishermen and their families, they are sixteen fathoms long, five fathoms deep and have meshes of an inch or an inch and a quarter fr