Kilrush, County Clare: Notes from c 1760 to 1960 by Senan Scanlan

Scattery, Cappa Harbour and the Shannon Estuary 1769 - 1849

Kilrush prospered and expanded because of its connection with the Shannon Estuary and accordingly I have included the following notes. Some of these may only be indirectly connected with Kilrush but would have been of interest to all its inhabitants. From these newspaper reports, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between those relating to Kilrush Port (the Creek) and those relating Kilrush Pier at Cappa.

It is interesting to note that the fort at Tarbert was the first to be built in the Shannon Estuary in 1794 but this appears to have been abandoned after only seven years in 1801. A more modern fort was later built there between 1810 and 1814 together with five others at Scattery and Carrig Islands, Kilcredaun, Doonaha and Kilkerrin.

1769 15th July (FJ).
On the 9th inst., Thomas Hodder, Esq, Surveyor of Scattery, seized out of the Pelican of Middlesbrough, Captain Evers, and lodged in the Stores at Limerick, a large quantity of coffee, Geneva-Gin , tobacco, nutmegs and sugar.

1771 9th December (Limerick Chronicle).
Yesterday Darby Hartney an experienced pilot belonging to this port, stepping from on board a vessel at the quay, fell into the river, the tide being out, and the current very strong he was unfortunately drowned in sight of a number of people.

1771 12th December (Limerick Chronicle).
Last Sunday a turf boat sailing down the river over-set near Tarbert and five persons were unfortunately drowned.

1772 31st December (Limerick Chronicle)
Last Thursday morning eleven convicts were shipped on board a vessel in the river bound for Virginia,

1774 28th November (Limerick Chronicle).
The John and Bella, Priestman, with coal is arrived in the river.
The Mary of Limerick, Malone, master is arrived at Baltimore, the passengers &c all well after a passage of six weeks.

1775 1st February (Finns Leinster)
Robert Sidley, Deputy Surveyor of Kilrush, seized nine bales of tobacco on the 30th of last month behind the house of Thomas Egan, tobacconist and grocer in Glin, which was rescued by about 300 armed men, headed by Egan, which prevented the seizing of about 20 tons more. Egan delivered up to Sidley a part of seven bales on the 1st inst.

1779 11th January (Limerick Chronicle).
Captain Priestman, of Whitehaven, informs his friends and the public, that he hopes to arrive at Limerick in ten days with a cargo of coal. ---.

Post News: Arrival the Charlotte, Scott, with Irish herrings. –

1779 21st January (Limerick Chronicle).
Last Tuesday morning an express arrived from Kilrush to the Collector of the Port informing him that the American privateer of Granville in France, mounting 28 nine-pounders and 200 men was cruising at the mouth of the River Shannon and from there to Kinsale. That she had taken seven vessels, among which were an outward bound West India man from Cork, a vessel from Quebec to England and another to Halifax one of the other vessels ransomed and put into the Shannon. ---.

1779 24th May (Limerick Chronicle).
-- Last Saturday a vessel under French colours came into the Shannon, sailed up to Scattery Island and down again to Kilrush but would not suffer the King's boat or any boat to board her: it is possible that the French may attempt to land in the island---.

1779 27th May (Limerick Chronicle).
The Frenchman mentioned in our last to be in this river, proved to be a rich St. Domingo Man taken near Madeira by a London privateer and valued at £50,000.

1779. A large East India fleet lay in the river for some weeks this summer, which drew a great concourse of people here. (Mason's Parochial Survey, 1814-19)

1779 5th July (CJ).
Limerick 1st July:
Monday last put into this river by contrary winds the Aurora tender, James Norman, commander, mounting 12 guns, bound to Galway to take on board the crew of His Majesty’s store ship the Elephant that was held by a privateer which was landed there.

1782 22nd January (FJ).
Whereas it appears to us by divers informations upon oath, that the ship called Seignore Soledade of Lisbon, whereof Mathias Jose De Santos is mate, laden with a cargo of fruit and wine, having by bad weather, lost one of her masts, and being afterwards driven from her anchor, and having made signals of distress, did on or about the twenty-eight day of December last, lie near Kilrush Creek in the County of Clare, and that His Majesty’s Yawl in coming to her assistance, with the crew on board said Yawl, were assaulted and attacked by George Hickman, Pilot, and Patrick Madigan, Boatman, both of Kilrush aforesaid, and prevented from boarding the said ship, or rendering her any assistance in her then great distress: that on the evening of the said twenty-eight day of December. Randal Borough of Doonaha, in said County of Clare, Esquire, accompanied by George Smith of Kilrush aforesaid, Gentleman, William O'Donnell of ? in said County of Clare, Gentleman, and several persons unknown, armed with fire arms, and other weapons, boarded the said ship then in safety, and forcibly continued on board her, until the morning of the twenty-ninth day of December aforesaid, when John Long, Gentleman, His Majesty’s port surveyor at Kilrush aforesaid, came on board the said ship, for the protection of the said vessel and her cargo at which time the said Randal Borough (having previously procured several boats) and being aided and abetted by the said George Smith and William O’Donnell, together with a numerous mob of persons unknown, forcibly, and against the will and consent of the master of the said ship, and one of the revenue officers then on board her, plundered said ship, amounting to the value of fifty pounds and upwards: that early in the night of the thirtieth day of December aforesaid, Thomas Mahony Yeoman, and John Chapple, both of Kilrush aforesaid, and who are confined in the Goal of the City of Limerick, Michael Clancy, Ale seller, Andrew Burke, and John Burke, Cordwainers, William Loftus, Hatter, Mathew Phelan, Cottener, and Patrick Gorman, Yeoman, all of Kilrush aforesaid, Arthur O'Donnell, Gentleman, and Joseph Cox, both of Clarefield, Thomas Blackhall and Joseph Cox of Querrin, all in the said County of Clare, together with several other persons unknown to the number of twenty, forcibly boarded the said ship and forcibly plundered and carried away out of the said ship, the greater part of the cargo which remained on board her, to the amount in value of fifty pounds sterling and upwards: that a party of His Majesty’s 66th Regiment of Foot having been ordered to Kilrush aforesaid, for the protection of the said ship and cargo, they, attended by two officers of said regiment, were on the seventeenth day of January instant --------.

1787 6th December (CJ).
Limerick October 20th:
A few days ago – John Fitzgerald of Merchant's Quay, Publican, fell out of a boat at Scattery, and was unfortunately drowned.

1794 9th June (CJ).
Limerick June 7th:
Yesterday morning the brig Minerva Wm. Russell, master, arrived at the pool from Lisbon: immediately on his arrival he waited on the Worshipful Mayor and voluntary made the following affidavit: ----- believed that an engagement had taken place between the English and French fleets--

1794 13th August (Finns Leinster).
His Majesty’s Ships, Alexander, Ganges, and Montague, with two cutters, under the command of Admiral Kingsmill, which sailed from Cork the 26th ult., to convoy the East India fleet from Galway, having put into the Shannon, and were on Tuesday at anchor at Carrigaholt.

1794 18th August (CJ).
Tuesday last: The Jane of Greenock arrived at Limerick from Dublin; she landed at Tarbert 12 pieces of large ordinance with a great quantity of shot for use of that fortification. A detachment of 100 of the Royal Irish Artillery is ordered to do duty there.

1794 22nd September (CJ).
The two forts erecting at Tarbert under the direction of Colonel Ferrier are nearly finished, most of the guns being mounted on the batteries, which command the Shannon so effectively as to be able to sink a vessel below the Island of Scattery. To the persevering attention of this, exceptional Officer and Engineer Colonel Ferrier the public are indebted for the speedy completion of a work of such magnitude.

1797. A squadron of gunboats was sent here to guard the mouth of the river. Lieutenant Augustus Markett had the command of them: Mr. Paterson, now a merchant in Kilrush, was one of the lieutenants. (Mason’s)

1799 17th May (CJ).
Limerick: 15th May:
Mr. Sidley, Deputy Surveyor at Scattery sent a letter to the Mercantile Coffee-House yesterday dated last Sunday evening at 5 o'clock of which the following was extracted: Arrived this moment the ? cutter having on board Lieutenant Quirk, third Lieutenant of the Royal George and Capt. Knott, coasting pilot of the line. --- They left Lord Bridport's fleet at Loop Head consisting of twenty sail of the line. With nine frigates and three cutters in search of the French fleet to the Northwest. -----

1799 7th June (CJ)
Limerick June 6th.
Yesterday three frigates anchored in Carrigaholt Bay, supposed to be the St. Fiorenzo, Amelia and Fishguard from Plymouth.

1801 19th October (CJ).
Limerick October 17th:
The gunboats employed for the protection of the river are ordered to be paid off.

1801 5th November (CJ).
Limerick November 4th.
The Fortifications and Battery at the Island of Tarbert, being no longer considered necessary. The troops have marched to the neighbouring villages. The wooden huts are to be sold by public auction on Friday.

1802 8th February (CJ).
Limerick February 6th:
A boat from Kilrush belonging to John Rochford laden with oats was stranded on Thursday morning at Coonagh Point near this city. There were six on board three on whom perished through the inclemency of the weather namely: Thomas McMahon, Peter Daly and Catherine Enright whose corpses were yesterday brought to town.

1802 1st July (CJ).
Limerick June 30th:
Last Friday arrived in this river his Majesty’s cutter Nimble, of 14 guns, Lieutenant Coughlin, from Plymouth and sailed for said place on Sunday with discharged seamen and marines from His Majesty's ship Fortune, Captain Clements, stationed in the river, which ship is reduced to the peace establishment.

1802 15th July (CJ).
Limerick July 14th:
On Monday arrived in this river, the ship Penelope of this port, from Kingston, Jamaica after a fine passage having on board a full cargo of rum, sugar and other articles the produce of this island. This is the first direct importation we have had from thence for many years.

1802 30th December (CJ).
Limerick December 29th:
His majesty sloop Petrel of 18 guns has arrived in the river to recruit volunteer seamen and able bodied lands-men. A rendezvous was yesterday opened for the purpose at Merchant's Quay.

1803 18th August (CJ).
Sunday last sailed from Scattery Roads his majesty's ship Apollo, Captain Dixon and the Mason, revenue brig, Captain Plummer for the Downs, having the following ships under convoy, Sir Wm. Bensly, Rhode, London for East India, Goods: Varuna, Lowe, ditto, ditto: Ganges, Carr, ditto: Fugar, rum and cotton? ---Boddington-----Clarendosyn ----Minerva. ---.

1803 2nd November (CJ).
This morning ten sailors who had defected from His Majesty’s cutter Dart, commanded by Capt. Young at Scattery were brought up in the Tarbert yacht and lodged in the new prison (Limerick). On their escaping from the tender a part of the Kilrush Yeomanry got a boat and pursued --- the defectors at Newtown Sands in the Co. Kerry.

1804 15th February (CJ).
Sunday last a small boat with two tons of dried ling from Dublin arrived at our canal (Limerick): this is the first arrival direct from Dublin.

1804 27th September (CJ).
Through the extraordinary exertions of General Payne the signal towers in this district (Limerick) are nearing completion: - That at Loop Head is finished the other nine will be done in the ensuing months: -at each tower ten men and two officers will be stationed. Mr John Smyth of this city (Limerick) and Mr. Maher of Tarbert have been made contractors for these towers. (These signal towers on the west coast were erected to warn of any invasion by the French .The one referred to at Loop Head was I think on Fodry or Knocknagarhoon Hill, Baltard Castle, Doonbeg was another)

1805 23rd September (CJ).
Tuesday evening, Mr. George Perry late of the city (Limerick) and two other persons of the Revenue Department passing through Tarbert Race --- in a small boat--- upset by a strong gust of wind and were unfortunately drowned.

1808 12th January (FJ).
The John, of Grand Harbour Captain Ford, from Newfoundland for Waterford, laden with timber and ling, which put into Kilrush on last week, was detained by the revenue officers there, in consequence of a large quantity of rum being found on board, which did not appear in her manifest. She on Tuesday arrived at Limerick, under convey of the Kilrush revenue barge.

1809 2nd February (CJ).
In a dreadful gale last Friday a boat heavy laden with corn and butter from Querrin, West Clare, on a passage to this city (Limerick) was lost near the former place and melancholy to add that the crew and passengers consisting of eight men and seven women were all unfortunately drowned.

1809 24th October (FJ).
The Warburton, of Liverpool, Kennedy master, from Botany Bay, last from Rio de Janeiro, put into Scattery Roads, in our river, on Tuesday last. She landed her Passengers at Kilrush, who arrived on Thursday at Swinburne’s Hotel, Limerick. Colonel Johnston, who lately commanded at Prince of Wales Island, his two children, and Captain Arthur, of the New South Wales Corps, were of the number. Some convicts, whose period of transportation expired have also arrived. The Colonel, with his attendants set off this morning for Cork, intending to proceed for London. When the Warburton sailed from the Brazils, European goods, of very description brought good prices.

1809 30th November (FJ).
On Friday last a sailboat; in her passage from Limerick to Kilrush, foundered at Money-point near Tarbert, a young man, Stephen Rochford, boatman and Mary Casey, a resident of Kilrush, were unfortunately lost.

1810 22nd February (CJ).
Monday last the Resolution revenue cutter, Captain Elsmere, picked up at sea in a distressed condition the Jean Maria, Flowers master, from New York, laden with staves and turpentine, which Captain Elsmere conveyed into Kilrush where she is now safe at anchor.

1810 13th October (FJ).
Yesterday, the Marquis Cornwallis, Thomas Simpson, master, from Lisbon, for London, with wine and wool, arrived at Kilrush, under convoy of the Ross cutter, Capt. Sinclair. It appears that the brig was captured by a French Privateer, and given up by the captors, putting on board the masters and crews of some vessels then prisoners on board the privateer, the sailors having mutinied, the master of the Cornwallis hailed the Ross cutter which she met at sea, who brought her safe into the above place, where she at present remains.

1811 14th January (CJ).
Last night, at ten o’clock, a cargo boat the property of Stephen Grogan, proceeding from this city (Limerick) to Kilrush laden with sundry merchandise ran foul of the rigging of the Diana, Jameson (master), lately foundered at Kilrush Bay, and was completely wrecked. There were 20 passengers on board and were it not for the assistance of a small boat convenient to the place, every soul on board would have perished, and we are sorry to say that one of them a private of the – named Brown was lost--- he was a good soldier.

1811 8th March (CJ).
A few days since a vessel came into the port of Kilrush under very distressing circumstances. We have not heard her name or destination but we must lament to understand that the crew had been for thirteen days without any other description of substance, the most, which the material on board afforded the cargo containing skins and tallow!

1814 17th December (LC).
On Tuesday evening a large boat belonging to Denis Mulcahy of this town (Limerick) was driven on the rocks off the shore of Kilkerrin Battery the tide at the same time setting in with such rapidity the boat filled with water and one of the crew threw himself overboard and swam ashore, leaving two men and a boy on the wreck. When at this awful moment one of the workmen belonging to Messrs. Mackey and Ryan plunged into the water and swam to the boat: - made a raft of her oars and spars to which he fastened a rope and swam the length of it. The remaining crew clung round the raft and in the presence of a number of people on shore were towed in and thus saved from a watery grave. Thomas Gleeson, a mason was the person who thus humanely ventured his life to save that of others which providence enabled him to effect.

1815 31st August (CJ).
Tuesday a large sailboat laden with turf from Kilbaha and bound for Limerick foundered near Kilcredaun and melancholy to add the crew consisting of John Price, D Culligan and Morgan Shaughnessy unfortunately perished.

1816 15th January (FJ).
Limerick Jan. 10th: - Salvage: -
O'Donnell and others, against the Portuguese Schooner Currico De Fagle and cargo: - Our City magistrates have been for several days past investigating the claim of salvage made in this case: -from the evidence adduced, it appeared that the schooner in question (bound from this Port for Lisbon, with 1992 barrels of wheat) having met with severe weather and considerable damage at sea, in the morning of the 2nd December last appeared off the Heads, with Jury masts, apparently in great distress: and that claimants being then out in the Kilrush Pilot Boat, and hearing a gun fired from the schooner immediately bore down for her, and took her in tow about four miles within the Heads, from whence they brought her to a safe anchorage to Scattery, in the Shannon.-- The claim is for £1,000.--

1818 15th January (CJ).
It was the brig Bridgewater, Captain Campbell, from Chester, and not the Margaret that was wrecked off Kilrush. --- Every attention was paid to the unfortunate sufferers.

1818 1st June (CJ).
Yesterday were transmitted from Kilrush to jail in this town (Ennis), eleven of the crew of the Fox, privateer, who were taken by police stationed at Kilrush after escaping from the vessel. ---.

1818 21st September (CJ).
The Lords of the Treasury are pleased to direct that the entire proceeds of the Fox, smuggling cutter and cargo --- captured by the Vandeleur revenue cruiser---- without any deduction – will go to each seaman. ---- each receiving over £100.

1818 25th October (CJ).
A very valuable cup has been presented to Capt. Hopkins of the Vandeleur revenue cruiser--- for his zealous attention – in the disposal of the Fox.

1819 18th March (CJ).
The ship Isabella, Capt. Fraser from Leith to Jamaica, burthen 309? tons was on the 5th of January last driven into Kilrush under Jury masts with the loss of her bowsprit------ is now completely fitted to pursue her voyage.

1819 19th August (CJ).
An order has been issued by the Commissioners of Customs that the vessels coming to Limerick from any place between Bay Castle and Loop Head, with any goods on board (stones and turf excepted) are to clear out at the Custom House of Kilrush.

1819 22nd September (FJ).
Limerick, September 18th: -- An inquest has been held on the body of a woman who was washed on shore, with a rope round her neck, at Money-point, near Kilrush. When the circumstances was known, the Knight of Glin, and Major Warburton and Ogle, instantly repaired to the spot, and after the verdict was had, ordered the body to be interred, which was accordingly done by Mr. Daxon. Sufficient evidence was adduced on the inquest, to attach suspicion against two persons as the perpetrators of this murder, but it is not prudent at present to disclose their names.
(Flagstone on O’Connell Grave, Number 116 in Old Burrane Graveyard states: Also the resting place of Eileen Hanley better known as the Colleen Bawn murdered six weeks after her marriage in July 1819 on orders of her husband John Scanlan.)

1820 24th April (CJ).
The Captain and crew of the vessel captured by the Revenue Cruiser at Kilbaha are now in jail in this town (Ennis). They are all French except one who is an Englishman.

1820 27th July (CJ).
On Friday last ,came before the Collector of Kilrush and Messrs, Hunt and McCloskey,Sub-Commissioners in Kilrush, the trial of the ship lately seized by the Vandeleur Revenue Cutter.-- The vessel was condemned. We understand that the service will be brought before the Court of Appeal

1820 14th August (CJ).
On Thursday, a sailor boy, belonging to the Vandeleur packet of Kilrush having gone out on the bowsprit to adjust some part of the rigging, fell off near Bay Castle and unfortunately perished.

1820 21st September (CJ).
Major-General Flyers of the Royal Engineers arrived in Limerick on Saturday on a tour of inspection of the batteries on the Lower Shannon.

1820 2nd November (CJ).
During the last week a turf boat was seen to go down suddenly off Kilrush, the owner Codee and two boatmen were lost.

1821 1st February (CJ).
A correspondent in Kilrush informs us that a vessel in ballast was stranded off Kilbaha on Saturday morning. The previous evening when leaving Kilrush the Captain refused to take a pilot on board. --- Major Warburton sent a party of police to protect the vessel from plunder early on Sunday morning.

1821 12th February (CJ).
We regret to find that a statement published a few days since respecting the stranding of a vessel off Kilbaha was incorrect and that it was in consequence of a sudden change in the wind that the vessel was driven on shore and not by a means attributable to the Captain not taking a pilot on board as not one appeared. --- The vessel was unfortunately lost.

1821 24th May (CJ)
Detachments of the 34th Veteran Battalion from Tarbert, Carrig Island and Scattery arrived in Limerick on Monday and yesterday proceeded for Waterford.

1821 4th August (LC).
His Majesty's cutter Griper, Lieut. Figg, arrived at Kilrush on Thursday and was to sail on a cruise this morning.

1821 9th August (CJ).
By a communication from Kilrush, we learn that a large Dutch brig called the Noorde Stavie was captured by the Revenue Cutter Kite -and brought into Kilrush on Monday. The ship and cargo are estimated at ten thousand pounds. (Limerick Leader of the 11th August stated that the ship was undergoing an examination in Kilrush by Thomas D Hunt Esq)

1821 11th August (LC).
The Vandeleur cruiser, Captain Napier sailed from Scattery on Tuesday on a cruise.

1821 12th September (LC).
The following King's vessels are now lying in this river: Sapho, Captain Bruce: Vandeleur, Lieut. Napier: Kite, Lieut Collingwood: Diligence, Lieut Richells and Harriet, Lieut Tandy.
1821 16th December (National Archives of Ireland Ref: CSO/RP/SC/1821/759) Letter from Thomas Hunt, George's Square, Kilrush, County Clare, to William Gregory, Under Secretary, Dublin Castle, 16 December 1821, enclosing copy of a paper shown to Hunt by [Andrew] Wright, master gunner on Scattery Island, found by Wright's servant, Anne Connor, on Scattery Island on 14 December 1821, containing a catechism for a secret society [Ribbonmen], with various questions and answers. Hunt sends it to the CSO, in the hope that, 'it may give Government a Clue to unravel the close Secrecy observed by my Deluded neighbours....’. (Andrew Wright, master gunner died on Scattery on the 18/07/1831 and Anne Connors was still living there per Griffith’s Valuation published in 1855)

1822 7th March (CJ).
On Tuesday night some men supposed to be from County Kerry entered the house of the herdsman at Hog Island in the Shannon and relieved him of an old gun.

1822 11th May (FJ).
A smuggling brig has been captured by John W. Trousdell, Esq, Collector of Customs at Kilrush, Co. Clare, and brought into that port yesterday morning; she had on board tobacco, teas, &c to the value of £10,000.

1822 21st August (LC).
Yesterday the H.M.S. Vandeleur, Lieut. Napier left this river on a cruise.

1823 19th July House of Lords: The Sessional Papers 1801-1833 @ books.google.ie/
Mr. Tattan's Report upon the Water-guards Department at the Ports of Limerick and Kilrush.

Sir,
Having found upon my inspection of the Water-guard Department of Limerick and Kilrush, that the boarding duty of both ports is performed by the tide-surveyor stationed at Scattery: and that the tide-waiters belonging to that establishment frequently perform duty at Limerick and Kilrush: I have necessarily considered the duties of the officers stationed at Scattery, as connected with both ports, and shall take leave to submit my observations upon them accordingly.

At Limerick, there are five tidewaiters, who are stationed for the general of the home station, which includes the Pool, and extends about a mile from the Custom-house.

Vessels of charge bound to the port of Limerick, are boarded at Scattery and brought up to the Pool, or the Custom-house quays, under the care of the officers belonging to that establishment; they are then relieved by the tidewaiters at Limerick, (when any of those officers are off duty) and returned to their station at Scattery. It appears, however, that in many instances they have been continued on board to discharge the cargo, in consequence of the Limerick tidewaiters being all upon duty. The officers on board vessels when lying at the quays are visited and superintended by the port-surveyor, who (with the assistance of a quay tidewaiter) it appears, discharges the general duties of tide-surveyor at Limerick.

To enable him, however, to visit and rummage vessels of charge, that may lie at any part of the harbour, and to discharge the tide-surveyor's duty effectually, I would submit, that instead of the quay tidewaiter, who now assists him in that duty, he should have two active boatmen with a light boat. But as the time of such boatmen would not be wholly occupied on the service alluded to, I would propose, that they should be available for the duty of weighers, or any other official employment that may offer, under the direction of the port-surveyor.

Exclusive of the quay tidewaiter, already noticed, there is also one who assists upon the general duty. The officer I understand will not (under the arrangement submitted by Mr. Weston) be any longer required in that capacity: if therefore the Board shall be pleased to approve of two boatmen being appointed to assist the port-surveyor (as suggested) it is submitted that the two quay tidewaiters be discontinued.

At Pool, which is situated about a quarter of a mile from the Custom-house, on the opposite side of the river, there are stationed the following officers, viz. One tide-surveyor seven boatmen and one coxswain, with three boats.

The duty of the surveyor upon this station (it appears) is to proceed frequently down the river with his boat, and to place his boatmen on board any vessels of charge that may have passed the Scattery and Tarbert stations unguarded, and also to rummage any suspicious vessels or boats he may meet within the limits of his district, which (it is stated) extends to Beigh Castle, a distance of about 20 miles from Limerick.

It appears, however, that during the last year, only twenty-one vessels of charge passed the Scattery and Tarbert stations without officers: and of those, there were only two from foreign parts.

It also appears that within the same period no seizures whatever were made by the officers belonging to the establishment in question.

With reference therefore to the regulations now pending, I am of opinion, that the present establishment of officers at Pool may be altogether discontinued, without inconvenience or prejudice to the service.

At Scattery, which is situated about forty miles from Limerick, and half a mile from Kilrush, on the north bank of the river Shannon, there is the following establishment of officers (viz.) One tide-surveyor, one mate, eleven boatmen, two coxswains, one pilot, one carpenter, also one sailing vessel, one six-oared pinnace, one eight-oared boat, and two four-oared boats.

It is the duty of the tide-surveyor, upon this station, to board tidewaiters upon all vessels of charge bound to Limerick, Kilrush, and Clare, upon their arrival off Scattery, the number of which in the last year appears to be as follows, viz.
For Limerick: 26 from Foreign Parts and 103 from Great Britain.
For Kilrush: 1 from Foreign Parts and 4 from Great Britain.
For Clare: None and None. ----------- .

1824 18th June (FJ).
The Carl Johan, Olaf Malmgren, master, from Rio De Janeiro bound to Hamburg, with coffee, horns, &c., has put into Limerick: - out 136 days when she was boarded by a pilot vessel off the Heads. Six of the crew perished on the passage from privations they endured, and the master and an English sailor were only able to stand the deck when she made the coast. It has been deemed expedient to place the vessel under quarantine in Scattery Roads.

1825 15th October (Morning Star, London) @British Library Online Newspapers.
--- Our readers are aware that Scattery is the classical Innis Cathy, celebrated by our National Poet, Moore, in his dialogue between Saint Senanus and the Lady. The present Laureate of the Island, Shaun Eareagh, otherwise Jack Gallagher, inspired by indignant patriotism, -- has transmitted the following version from the original Monkish lines: - ---
Paddy:
Dark smoking barge, avoid our strand,
Nor dare to touch this rent less land:
For ‘midst the qualwish crew I see
The Mayor bend o’er the lee:
And Judges grave, and Scott, have said,
No City Knight these sands shall tread.
The Mayor:
Oh! Paddy, send not home my boat,
My milk-white wand, my scarlet coat:
Marrett and I but come to share
Thy morn and evening fare:
We come to bless thy calm content,
With civic dues and city rent.
The Mayor and Knight poor Paddy spurned
The cap and bells to town returned:
Nor rent nor dues had paid:
And who that marked their fruitless course.
Can think the Mayor the better horse.

We are requested to contradict the report that the inhabitants of Scattery have given Sir Christopher Marrett the title of the (Knight Mayor) Night-mare.
Mr. Scott, of Ennis, the respectable Solicitor employed by the inhabitants of Scattery, in defending the Ejectment.

1826 1st March (FJ).
Mr. James Paterson, of Kilrush, has taken charge of the timber wreck, driven into Kilbaha.

1826 27th April (CJ).
It is with regret that we have to state an afflicting accident that occurred on Friday last by the upsetting of a boat off the Island of Scattery near Kilrush. On the morning of that day eight persons left Kilrush in a boat to collect seaweed and upon their return a squall of wind upset the boat, by which six persons unfortunately lost their lives viz.: Margaret Grady and Anne Grady, Lucy and Patrick Quilligan, Michael Carey and Margaret Nowlan. The other persons who were in the boat were saved by the exertions of two men named Cusack and Lillis of Scattery who deserve great praise for their humanity.:-
On the same day, that the above melancholy occurrence took place a man named Scanlan, a resident of Kilrush, on his return from Limerick, fell out of a boat and was drowned.

1826 23rd June (CJ).
The bodies of Margaret Grady and the servant boy who were lost with four others about three weeks back by the upsetting of a boat which was carrying seaweed from Scattery Island to Kilrush were found on the west side of the island on Friday last.---

1827 7th September (FJ).
The Shannon Yacht Club will meet at Foynes Island on Saturday the 8th inst., precisely at nine o'clock, a.m., to sail from there to the Castle of Carrigaholt.

1828 Graves of the Yellow Men (Thomas Steele, Practical Suggestions on the General Improvement of the Navigation of the Shannon, etc. London, 1828. @ books.google.ie).
There is near Kilbaha Bay, in the lower Shannon, a spot believed to be haunted. The crew of a Portuguese vessel was here savagely murdered: and their spirits are believed by the peasantry to glide at midnight about the place where this deep damnation was perpetrated.

1828 21st February (CJ).
A few days since a sloop from Tarbert laden with provisions for Kilrush, foundered in crossing the Shannon and we regret to state all hands perished .More accidents have taken place on the Shannon this season than have occurred in any year for many years back.----.

1828 5th May (CJ).
Scattery Island. A correspondent writing from Kilrush says: As you are pleased to recognise me as an old friend in whose sentiments you seem to concur with and in who's representations you place confidence you will allow me to inform you that the “march of intellect” is gaining considerable ground in a town and neighbourhood since the arrival of the present Parish Priest. In corroboration of this assertion, it becomes necessary to relate that the annual exhibition at the shrine of St. Sinon on the far famous island of Scattery is entirely abolished.
On last Easter Monday the day on which hundreds of people were accustomed to assemble, to perform what are called rounds not one person was to be seen but the inhabitants. On former occasions, it was melancholy to behold the number of deluded votaries performing the most superstitious and revolting practices, under the idea of what they conceived to be religion. Were you to see the poor creatures knees and feet bleeding and the body pressed down with the weight of a large stone and afterwards spending the evening in rioting and drunkenness you would be constrained to cry out, when shall the end of these things be? .
---- Thanks however to the present Parish Priest he has put an end to these abominations.

1828 1st September (CJ).
From a Kilrush Correspondent: A melancholy event on the Shannon. -- A party of gentlemen some from the town and some belonging to Kerry dined on Monday with Lieutenant Sarat of the Coast Guard service at Beale on the Kerry side. -- and about 8 o'clock the gentlemen from here returned on board the Chance wherry, --- and the other embarked on a small pleasure boat belonging to Mr. B. Gunn Esq, in order to return to Ballybunion, --- it is supposed the frail craft struck Beale bar---- The sufferers were Captain Lloyd of the Coast Guard Service-Kerry, Barry Gunn and Mr. Wilson, John Perryman, boatman, John Dee, John Scanlan, helpers and Nicholas Madden, musician. ---

1828 12th December (FJ).
The Late Storm.
--- The Janet of this port (Limerick), from London with sundries, is stranded at Moneypoint, near Kilrush, with loss of keel and forefoot, and must discharge there. ----

1829 13th August (CJ).
On Saturday night a valuable cow the property of James Galvin, was maliciously killed on the Island of Scattery in the River Shannon and a few nights before his boat was sent adrift and much injury sustained: the only cause assigned is that Galvin has been in the habit of attending some keepers who were left in charge of the Island by the Landlord.

1829 26th August (LC).
Shannon Regatta:
------ Foynes Island to Beale Bar and back to Kilrush result:

Second Race Yachts:

Six-oared gigs:

1830 Scattery Island and Limerick Corporation @ http://www.eppi.ac.uk

This is a lease forever, made in December 1823, to Sir Christopher A Marrett, Knight, an alderman and one of the committee of accounts. The proposal by him, and the order of the common council accepting it, appear to have been made on the 29th August 1823, two days before the Regulation Act commenced. It appears that by lease of the 19th September 1717, the corporation demised to Randal Holland, “the island of Inniscattery, in the river Shannon, with pilotage of ships and accustomed fees” to hold for 99 years, at the rent of £34.The chamberlain's observation on the rent-roll, printed in the Appendix B. to the Report of the Select Committee of 1822, No. 16 state that no rent had been received out of this holding within the last 40 years, and that it was then under ejectment. Considerable expense appears to have been incurred by the corporation in finally obtaining possession of the island.

The costs of the ejectment were £308-14s-6d, besides a sum of £10-1s-2d paid for effecting service. A sum of £122 appears paid on the 22nd August 1828, for law expenses incurred in the Scattery suits: £100 in July 1829, for expenses in taking possession under the writ of habere: and £101-13s-6d, in 1830, to persons keeping possession. All these expenses appear to have been incurred after the lease was made to Sir Christopher Marrett. The chamberlain stated to us that it was understood that Sir Christopher Marrett was to have obtained possession of the island without expense to the corporation, and that the lease was made to him under the impression that his influence and connexions in the county of Clare would have enabled him to do so. Sir Christopher Marrett died about 1824. Pending the proceedings to obtain possession, his representatives did not pay any rent. The first payment by them, on account of rent, is on the 18th day of November 1830 for a half-year's rent due the 1st August 1830. The rent, from the commencement of the lease amounted on the 1st February 1830, to £204-15s. Proceedings were taken by the corporation to recover it: but on the advice of council and the law agent of the corporation, it was agreed that this arrears should be released on the representatives of Sir Christopher Marrett paying the corporation £117-2s-11d on account of the expenses of taking possession.

The island is now let by the representatives of Sir C. Marrett, to the occupying tenant, for a term of three lives or 31 years, at the rent of £81-10s. It contains 103 acres, of which four are in possession of Government, having been purchased from the corporation in the year 1810 for the Ordnance service. Serious difficulties appear to have been experienced and expenses incurred in making the island productive to the present tenant, from the resistance of those who had been in possession. He has provided for them elsewhere, and he stated to us that he has expended £800 in improvement of the island, and the removal of the former occupants. It is two miles and a half from the shore, and annual expense and loss incurred in the communication with it. Much of the difficulty attending this property to the tenant appears to have arisen from a determination to get rid of the persons in possession, and an offer of a rent of £100 of the late currency, made by the priest of the parish on their behalf, and other offers from persons who, it was supposed, would have left them in the occupation, were rejected by the representatives of Sir Christopher Marrett. The interests of the present occupying tenant, and of the heirs of Sir Christopher, appear to be considered as worth more than £1,200.
The land is described as liable to diminution by encroachments of the sea, and about 20 acres are protected by an artificial embankment. It was stated that the common council caused the intended letting to be advertised: but it does not appear that any proposals were made at the time save that of Sir Christopher Marrett. On the whole, it is not probable that, under the circumstances in which this property was situated in 1823 a higher rent could have been obtained: but those circumstances, and the great difficulty and expense of obtaining possession, appear to have been but the natural result of the long neglect of their interests by the corporation and independent of any objection to the demise from the position of the lessee as a member of the common council and of the committee of accounts, the letting of property not actually in possession, without at least, some provision to compel the lessee to defray the expense of recovering it, or to abandon the lease, seems a very improvident exercise of the powers of the common council. The corporation have, on the whole, expended about £500 and sacrificed £200 in rent, in obtaining the present income from this part of their estate.

1831 19th September (CJ).
On Monday evening two canoes, each containing three persons went out to fish within two miles of Carrigaholt, when a short distance off the shore a heavy swell arose and one of them was totally overwhelmed and never seen no more. The other was driven on the rocks and the crew saved themselves by swimming to the shore. We understand one of the men drowned had a family of nine children.

1832 2nd August (CJ).
His Majesty's frigate, Castor, Captain Sir Richard Grant, from Cove has arrived in this river and lies off Kilrush, with 300 of the Royal Marines on board, for the purpose of assisting the Magistrates, if necessary, in preserving the peace of the neighbouring counties. (Lim Chr).

1832 24th December (CJ).
Three men were drowned at Fodry Bridge near Carrigaholt in the west of this county on Thursday morning last by the upsetting of their boat in a heavy sea. They were returning to shore having ventured out suspecting there was some timber in the bay.

1834 31st March (CJ).
Tarbert Light House.
This beautiful edifice on Tarbert Rock has been finished and will this night for the first time have the light burning in its lantern.

1834 7th August (CJ).
Shannon Regatta.
--- 30-guinea challenge won by Seadrift, Messrs Westropp, the Gille Macroid, Messrs Paterson rowing second and the Petrel a six-oared gig last.
--- The silver salver worth 40 guineas for all yachts was won by the Dolphin, G. Courtney Esq, beating the Comet, W. Harrington Esq. and Phantom W.C. Marrett Esq. ---

1835 25th June (CJ).
Kilrush Regatta: June 23rd 1835 at 2 o'clock.
Our Regatta commenced today and indeed compared to last year is nearly a failure we had not the number of yachts or respectable persons who attended there. The failure of the day is attributed to Mr. Vandeleur's absence.
--- Yachts:
Caroline, 49 tons, Mr. Crofton Moore Vandeleur: --- yellow, five blue balls.
Adelaide, 49 tons, Lander, Kinsale. --- blue with red diagonal crest.
Reinvilla, 30 tons, Knight of Glin, -- white red and square.
Peri, 27 tons, Jarvis.--blue and white stripe.
Paul Pry, 23 tons, O’Brien. -- blue and red quarter.
Result of yacht race from Kilrush to Foynes and back:
Caroline, Reinvilla, Peri and Paul Pry. --------

---Fishing Boats:
Sporter, 7 tons, John Hennessy--- red.
Brundish, 7 tons, Michael Hennessy. ---white.
Rising Sun, 6 tons, Pat Connell-- black and white.
Morning Star, 6 tons, Michael Hennessy-- blue and white.
Hero, 5 tons, Thomas McGrath. -- red and white.
Wave, 5 tons, Patt McGrath, ---yellow.
Result: race was won by Sporter ---------------

Regatta 24th June 1835.
Pilot Boat Race: Shamrock, 19 tons, John McDonnell, blue peter.
Swift, 19 tons, Darby O'Keeffe, green. ----------- Shamrock won.

1835 30th October (FJ).
The Irish division of the Royal Western Yacht Club consists of 266 ordinary and 54 honorary members. The number of yachts 90, including 1 ship, 2 brigs, 1 brigantine, 13 schooners, 2 luggers and 71 cutters. General Rendezvous, Limerick. Commodore, Crofton Moore Vandeleur, Esq, Kilrush House, Co. Clare: Vice-Commodore, George Courtenay, Esq, Dromadda, County Cork: Secretary, Thomas O'Connell, Esq, Tralee.

1835 30th October (FJ).
Extraordinary Quick Passage: - The Breeze, of this port, Captain Paterson, started from Scattery Roads for Quebec on the 10th of August, and returned yesterday having thus made the passage out and home from Quebec in the short space of seventy-seven days. Limerick Chronicle of Wednesday.

1836 2nd January (CJ).
A few days back a fine boy the son of Michael Mescall of Kilrush was washed overboard while on his passage to Limerick in a turf-boat. The body has not been since found.

1836 4th January (CJ).
----- It is in contemplation to establish in the course of the ensuing spring a large and commodious ferry boat between Ballylongford Co. Kerry and the Pier at Cappa. -----

1836 14th January (CJ). @ (http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Clare)
Loss of ship Francis Spaight (From the Limerick times).

It is with the deepest regret we announce the loss of the ship Francis Spaight, T. Gorman, Master, of Limerick, the property of the eminent merchant of that name. Mr. Spaight received this morning, the subjoined letter from his Captain, apprising him of this most lamentable occurrence, which is more to be deplored because of the loss of seven lives! —The vessel was on its return voyage from St. John's, New Brunswick, to Limerick, and was upset in a tremendous gale, which had obliged her to lie to. She was a first class ship — one of several employed by Mr. Spaight in the American trade—we may, perhaps, add, the finest belonging to our city—and remarkable from her quick and fortunate passages.

To Francis Spaight, Esq, Falmouth, 8th January 1836.
DEAR SIR—It is with the greatest reluctance that I can bring myself to tell you that your fine ship is lost, and which I am heartily sorry for. We left St. John's on the 25th November, and on the [night] of the 3rd Dec. in lat. 46 N. —long. about 48 W., when lying-to, under a closed reefed mizzen topsail, the ship upset and turned bottom up. On getting the masts cut away, she again righted, but with the loss of three of the crew—William Griffiths, Patt Cusack, and Patt Behane, apprentice, and every article on deck save the bare poop deck, not leaving us, the remaining sufferers, fifteen in number, the smallest particle of provisions, or yet water. We were then left in that dreadful state, such as tongue could not describe until the 22nd, when, not being able to endure suffering any longer, Pat O'Brien a boy, John Gorman, cook, Michael Behane, and George Burns, apprentice, died * * * [Here we withhold, at the desire of Mr. Spaight, and out of respect for the feelings of the public, some shocking facts in connexion with the dreadful occurrence.] On the afternoon of that day were taken off the wreck by the Angorona, Captain Jillard, bound from Newfoundland to Teignmouth, and landed here this morning. Through Captain Jillard's kind attention, we are getting quite recovered, for we were in a most dreadful state when he took us off the wreck. This, Sir, is a most dreadful account for you, but it cannot now be helped
I, am, dear Sir, your obedient servant, Timothy Gorman
Dreadful Shipwreck.

FALMOUTH, JAN. 7. —The brig Angenora [sic], from St. John's, New Brunswick, arrived here last night, and furnishes the following melancholy account: —“The ship Francis Spaight, of Limerick, T. Gorman, master, sailed from St. John's, New Brunswick, on the 24th of November last, and on the night of December 3d she was struck by a heavy sea whilst lying-to, which threw her on her beam-ends. By great exertion, the men cut away the weather-lanyards of the fore and main rigging, which leaving the masts unsupported, they soon went overboard, and she was righted. The mate and two men were drowned, all the provisions were lost, and everything moveable on deck was washed overboard. They remained in this dreadful condition from the night of the 3rd to the 18th, when finding it impossible to sustain themselves any longer without food, they came to the dreadful resolution of drawing lots which should be killed to sustain the survivors. One poor fellow was eventually killed, and the survivors fed on him until the 20th, when another became deranged and he shared the same fate on the 22nd. A providential occurrence prevented any more such heart sickening necessities, for, on the morning of the 23rd, they were descried by the brig Angenora, being at that time in Lat 47 N, and Long. 37 21. The captain and crew of the Angenora, at the great peril of their lives, succeeded in rescuing the wretched creatures from the wreck, consisting of the Captain and 10 men, whose miserable condition language fails to describe. Captain Jillard [sic] speaks warmly of the humanity and kindness of the crew of the Angenora, who treated them with brotherly hospitality during their stay on board, and landed them safely at Falmouth.”
(Timothy Gorman was born in Kilrush on 23rd September 1799 his father Daniel Gorman (d 1823) and sister-in-law Ellen (d 1821) and are buried in the Church of Ireland Graveyard in Kilrush: Source “The Gormans Master Mariners by B & J Hacker, Queensland, 2006. Of the seven crew who perished six were from the immediate vicinity of the town ---- of the eleven that escaped eight were from Kilrush: - Clare Journal 18/1/1836).

1836 4th February (CJ).
---- during the gale on Saturday in which the Intrinsic went down near Kilkee the congregation were at the Chapel and when it was reported to them they went to the shore side ---. Quirk, Master, late Chambers of and from Liverpool to New Orleans – the master and fourteen crew all perished. ----.

1836 18th August (CJ).
Kilrush Regatta:
--- to yachts not exceeding thirty tons for the £25 cup. - The Paul Pry was first---
--- second race for yachts not exceeding 10 tons--- the Gazelle came in first ---
--- the steamer Clarence from Limerick was in attendance ----

1837 The Sessional Papers printed by order of the House of Lords (@ books.google.ie)
--- A quay at Querrin in the Shannon, four miles from Carrigaholt, is greatly wanted.
Carrigaholt Quay is of little use, having been built upon the minor part of an extensive flat; and boats are often detained there in neap tides (Lieut, White, R.N., Inspecting Commander C.G.)
The tide rises in Querrin, from eighteen to twenty feet: and only twelve feet at Carrigaholt and Kilbaha. The pier at Carrigaholt was originally erected at the charge of the county on presentment, and afterwards repaired by the late Fishery Board: it requires extension. Querrin is most in need of a pier, as it is the principal fishing station in the lower Shannon. The agents of the landlords say they would contribute: but no one will begin. The fishermen would contribute in labour, and use their boats for carrying materials. (The Rev. Mr. Duggan, P.P.)
The pier at Kilbaha is so much exposed that it can only be approached in smooth water: a small breakwater would make it very useful to fishermen and local trade.
The pier at Kilrush was originally built by the Commissioners of Customs, and on the abolition of the Irish Board was handed over to the Commissioners of the Fisheries who repaired it. The proprietor of the soil, Mr. Vandeleur, now claims a right over it. A small toll, producing about £35 a year, is collected at it, and applied in protecting and repairing the pier and harbour: the toll is not charged on fishing boats; - (Mr. James Paterson, late Inspector of Fisheries)
I am of opinion that the produce of the tolls in Kilrush is upwards of £100 a year. Resistance has been made to the tolls by the public, but no legal decision has been made.
There is not any harbour on the Clare side of the Shannon, which requires a pier or quay more than Querrin. There are belonging to it twenty-five fishing boats, of from seven to twelve tons each, fourteen trading boats of from forty to forty-five tons, and about fifty canoes. The owners of the boats would each bring two loads of stone to assist in making a pier or quay: but there is not a probability that any other assistance would be obtained (Mr. J. Peake, C.G.O, Kilrush)

1837 20th February (CJ).
On Friday, a sergeant and ten men of Captain’s Elgee's Company, Royal Artillery from Clonmel arrived in Limerick and on Saturday, morning proceeded by Steamer to occupy the Ordnance stations on the Lower Shannon viz. Tarbert, Scattery, Kilcredaun and Doonaha.

1837 2nd March (CJ)
The remains of a young man named Mescall, whose father is a corn-buyer in Kilrush, and who was drowned before Christmas in the Pool near Limerick was found on the shore at Tervoe on Friday last --- they were brought into Kilrush on Saturday and interred. ----.

1837 12th April (FJ).
Bad Coin:
A few days since a man was taken up at Carrigaholt in the west of this county, for passing counterfeit sovereigns. A vessel in ballast lay off the shore, and the man we mention landed from a small boat and commenced purchasing all sorts of produce, which were sent on board: - pigs, porter, meal &c, &c were freely bought up, and the people cheerfully parted with the articles for gold, which was the only coin the gentleman brought with him. A knowing one, however who had one of the sovereigns weighed, found it was light, and gave intimation to his countrymen, and he was brought before the magistrates, who committed him to durance vile. We have not heard the name of the vessel, or any other particulars. --Clare Journal.

1837 21st August (CJ).
Captain Paterson of the new schooner Dream, son of J. Paterson Esq, of Kilrush had his leg broken by a block, or pulley – when off the Blaskets – from London to Limerick – now under best surgical care in his vessel lying at Wellesley bridge-docks.

1837 21st August (CJ).
---- The Fleet of the Royal Western Yacht Club sailed up the river on Tuesday? from Kilrush under George Courtenay Esq, Commodore of the Dolphin yacht and came to anchor in the pool where their arrival was announced by signal guns from various craft.---
--- At the Kilrush Regatta the Caroline, Crofton Moore Vandeleur Esq. and Paul Pry, Stafford O'Brien Esq. sailed for the Dunraven Tureen, which was awarded a second time to the former. The Paul Pry, yacht won a prize of £15 and the Midge, S. Creagh, Esq award of £10.

1837 5th October (CJ).
We regret to mention that three men and two women were lost by the going down on Sunday last of the Virgin of Carrigaholt, belonging to George Belson on its way to Limerick with turf
-- the names of the lost were Patrick Behan, Michael McCarthy and Daniel McDonnell. The women were widow Callaghan and Bridget McDonnell.
-- one man named O'Connor was saved by the exertions of Owen Kean, of the Kilbaha Pilot Boat----.

1838 15th January (CJ).
-- The detachments of Artillery stationed at the several forts on the Lower Shannon have received orders to prepare to march to Island Bridge the latter end of this month to be replaced by Major Palmer's Company. These movements are preparatory to the embarkation of detachments to Canada.

1838 18th February (CJ).
A sergeant and ten men of Captain Elgee's Company, Royal Artillery arrived on Tuesday in Limerick from the Lower Shannon forts having been relieved by a sergeant and ten men of Captain Chalmer's Company.

1838 6th August (CJ).
Shannon Regatta: On Thursday the races were again adjourned in consequence of the continual wetness of the weather. ---.

1839 12th January (FJ).
The Late Storm.
--- All the vessels (11) were driven ashore at the Clare side of the Shannon, with the exception of the Diana, Lloyd master, for Liverpool. The Gleaner, Evans master, from Liverpool for Galway, lost her chain cables and anchor, and was obliged to run for Foynes. Another vessel not yet known was lost, and sank at the Beeves, and it is generally supposed that all hands perished. The vessels, which anchored off Scattery, are all on shore. The steamers could not ply on Monday. The chapel, the national school, and the church have suffered, the latter having been deprived of one of its pinnacles, which in its fall crushed a part of the roof, and otherwise injured the interior of the building. The Police Barracks have been demolished: while the house of the Rev. Richard Fitzgerald is totally dismantled. The bedroom chimney of James D. Paterson, Esq, was blown through the roof---.

1839 27th June (CJ).
Saturday last as a boatman named John Moran was putting a pilot on board the “Native” Spaight of Limerick, between Scattery Island and Beal Bar, the mast of his boat got foul of part of the schooner rigging which upset her and he sunk to rise no more. A brother of his, who was also on board, swam a few strokes, but succeeded in catching a line, which was thrown to him, and by this he was saved. Moran has left a wife and four children wholly un-provided for, his only means of support being earnings of the boat. He was known for many years as the ferryman between Scattery Island and Kilrush, the passage of which in stormy weather is attended with imminent danger.

1839 15th August (FJ).
On Sunday last Mr. P. Browne, one of the officers of the county goal, proceeded with a party of police from Kilrush to board the ship Borneo, then lying in Scattery roadstead, under a warrant from Thomas Philips Vokes Esq, founded on the information of Mr. Browne, and succeeded in retaking John Bourke, who was convicted at the last Spring assizes of administering an unlawful oath and robbery of arms in the house of John Piper, near Patrickswell for which Bourke was sentenced to be transported seven years, but he escaped on the 5th of May last: he was concealed in some turf under the deck of the forecastle, was there discovered by Mr. Browne, and struggled violently with constables who seized him before he would submit to be secured with handcuffs,-Limerick Standard.

1839 18th December (FJ).
Boat Collision.
On Friday two boats laden with corn, one belonging to John Toompane, hired by Michael Gibson, and the other belonging to Michael Comyn, ran foul of each other on their way from Kilrush to Limerick, by neglect of the boatmen. Toompane's boat, according to the protest entered, struck Comyn's boat to leeward of her, while in her stays coming about, when she went down. Comyn's boat was severely damaged and had a large hole in her side, but the crew were enabled by stuffing empty bags into the hole, to keep the boat afloat until they ran her on shore. Fortunately for the crew of the boat that went down, a third boat laden with turf was close in their wake, and succeeded in saving them. —Clare Journal.

1840 2nd July (CJ).
Six hundred Teetotallers from Limerick went to Kilrush on Tuesday morning in the Dover Castle and Garryowen steamers on an excursion of pleasure. -------. The Kilrush Committee did the honours on the table, and the large party left for Limerick at two o'clock in the Dover Castle and Kingston-----.

1840 13th August (CJ).
The Shannon Regatta will commence today at Kilrush --- several handsome wherries belonging to the Limerick Wherry Club are preparing for the contest on Monday----.

1840 3rd September (CJ).
There was not for the last ten years such a run of herrings in the Shannon as this year. The boats come in full every morning and the price is down to 1s-5d per cwt.

1840 26th October (CJ).
A clever lad of the name of Brew of Kilrush was lost off the bowsprit of the Breeze of the port of Limerick on her home run from Quebec during a gale of wind.---.

1841 11th February (CJ).
The New pier at Tarbert has been injured by the late bad weather and the force of the tide thrown upon it by the Northeast gales.

1841 22nd March (CJ).
On Wednesday, last six men and a woman were unfortunately drowned when endeavouring to cross the ferry between Captain Cox's and Kilrush. The canoe was overloaded by placing two bags of barley in it.

1841 17th May (CJ).
Captain James Creagh, R.N., Inspecting Commander of the Coast Guard, on Tuesday inspected the officers and crews of the Kilrush, Kilkee, Doonbeg and Kilcredaun stations.---.

1841 2nd September (CJ).
Shannon Regatta:
Saturday: --- Two yachts started for the Dunraven Tureen, the Rinevilla, Knight of Glin owner and Albert, D.C. Hartnett, Esq. Albert won, Rinevilla disqualified due to anchoring caused by adverse tidal conditions. ---.

1841 October (Engineer and Architect’s journal Volume 4 @ books.google.ie)
Mr. Faivelle is the contractor for building the much required pier at Kilrush which is to extend 150 feet into the sea in a westerly direction, and there are 120 men now daily employed in the immediate neighbourhood quarrying stones for the work. The masonry embankment forming on the northern shore close to the present pier is very forward and will be a great improvement.
Me. Vignolles, C.E., son of the celebrated engineer of that name, is appointed resident engineer to superintend the construction of the piers or quays at Kilrush and Cahircon

1841 9th December. (CJ)
Launch of the Lady Grace.
On Tuesday Kilrush presented a scene of the most animating gaiety and interest on the occasion of the launch of the beautiful new schooner built by C.M. Vandeleur Esq of the best Irish oak, the produce of his own estate, wrought by Kilrush tradesmen, all his own tenantry and the first vessel of so large a class ever built in Clare. ----- Mr John Kelly part owner of the newly launched ship, and about to freight her to London with provisions made up at his extensive concerns in Kilrush. ---.

1841 9th December (CJ).
Tuesday evening a man named Carmody, servant to Mr. Paterson of Kilrush, fell between the steamer and the quay and was drowned his remains were found yesterday morning.

1841 16th December (CJ).
Mr. John Kelly and Company of Kilrush have shipped from that port for London per the new ship Lady Grace,480 bales of bacon,430 firkins of butter,80 cases of firkin lard?, and 34 cwt. of bladder lard, besides a large quantity of oats.

1842 5th May (CJ).
The Mauritius of London bound from Canton to the former port, put into Kilrush river on Saturday short of provisions being over five months on the voyage. She delivered her letter bags &c at the Post Office and has since sailed for London.

1842 21st December. (LC)
We are concerned to state that four pilots were lost off Kilbaha, on Saturday, after putting their comrade Patrick Brennan on board the Superb, from Alexandria to Cork which vessel ran into the Shannon in distress. The pilot boat was returning to shore when a squall upset her, and the hands unhappily perished.

1843 March Shannon Navigation Fourth Report Published 1843. @ http://www.eppi.ac.uk
Querrin.
The work at this place is a landing quay of 135 feet frontage, with fourteen feet depth of water at high spring tides: the work was commenced in the month of March, completed in the month of December, and then opened for use of the public.
The front walls of this quay are built of Limestone Ashlar, with good rubble backing: it is calculated to afford great facilities for the shipment of agricultural produce and turf, and is likely to fulfil the object contemplated by its erection.
The work has been executed in a very satisfactory manner by the contractors, Messrs, Sykes and Brookfield.
The average number of persons employed daily at Querrin from the 1st of April to the 31st of December was forty-five, being equivalent to 10,508 days work.
Kilrush.
As soon as the season permitted, the contractor commenced putting in the foundations for the new work at this pier, and as the dimensions of the front footing stones are considerable, no difficulty was experienced in setting them in their proper places under water for a length of 140 feet, without the aid of the diving-bell: from that point outwards, the bell was necessarily employed and with great success, so that at the close of the year more than two-thirds of the most difficult part of the work had been executed in a satisfactory manner. The great progress made is mainly attributable to the excellent machinery employed by the contractor, who by this means was enabled to take advantage of the favourable weather of the last summer for using the bell. The advantage of the extension of this pier, as far as it has gone, have already been experienced by the increased protection from the prevailing westerly winds afforded to steam and sea-going vessels.
The average number of persons employed daily at Kilrush, from the 1st January to the 31st December, 1842 was 45,being equivalent to 14,174 days' work .--- at a cost of £3982-16s-2¼d.-- Crofton Moore Vandeleur contributed £750.

The average number of persons employed was 40 from 2nd Jan to 2nd Dec 1844 being equivalent to 11,462 days' work. (Fifth Report 1844)

1843 6th March (CJ).
The Captain and mate of the schooner Native of Limerick have been apprehended and committed to jail in Limerick charged with plundering and scuttling the vessel. --- The vessel was the property of Mr. Francis Spaight, and the Captain White lately commanded the Dover Castle steam packet between Limerick and Kilrush.

1843 16th March (CJ).
On Monday last the Kilbaha pilots observed a dis-masted vessel about nine miles W.N.W off the heads. -- she turned out to be the Windsor Castle.--

1843 20th March (CJ).
The Limerick Chronicle with its customary regard to truth is claiming credit for a number of persons for services rendered to the Windsor Castle. When in truth the whole credit of her safety is solely to be attributed to the pilots of Kilbaha. They refused to receive the slightest assistance from any party and remained in charge of the vessel.

1843 21st April (LR).
To the Editor of the Limerick Reporter: Carrigaholt 17th April 1843.
Dear Sir, There are in my parish a class of men, obscure, because of their poverty, but deserving of public notice—public favour and public support because of their invaluable influence and exertions in the preservation of property and life, to the imminent risk of their own. I mean the pilots near the mouth of the Shannon. The peninsular position of my parish washed on the south by the waters of the Shannon on the north by the Atlantic and hemmed in by the most desperate iron bound coast on the globe, brings within their range many melancholy opportunities of rendering vital service to the interest most valuable to the commercial world. The value of their services can be seen in the contrast of the present with past times even within my own memory. I can name the times and place of many a wreck merely from want of assistance. Before these men formed themselves into a body and exclusively devoted themselves to this pursuit their value is further enhanced in this, that after preserving a vessel from the ocean fury, they have still to defend her from the rapacity of their less enlightened neighbours.

Of very late years many water-logged vessels have been brought into port or safe anchorage by these poor fellows. The other day the Windsor Castle, a valuable East Indiaman, which now lies in Scattery Roads, completely dis-masted, owing her preservation to the extraordinary exertions of these men. This vessel which was like a log in the water, seven miles out to sea was towed by these men into the Shannon with their canoes while thus employed they were three times in imminent danger of being dashed against the cliffs by the surge and had in the meantime to contend with the country people who boarded the vessel with intent to plunder. They succeeded and surmounted, by their gallant conduct, every obstacle until they brought the ship into a place of safety.

On last night the Cumberland, of Sunderland ran ashore in the darkness on the cliffs of Kilbaha, the pilots boarded her, tied their canoes to her, and when the tide of flood was made hauled her off the rocks and were bringing her up the river, when she was met by the Garryowen steamer, which went to meet her and towed her up to Kilrush.

Mr. Editor it is to be deplored that the valuable services of these men are so shamefully overlooked. There is a scanty pittance given them by the Bridge Commissioners of Limerick for piloting vessels. I will not say from what motive its scantiness proceeded but it would not buy coffins for the number of them that are drowned, from want of sufficient means to build such boats as would render their services infinitely more valuable, and afford greater security to their lives in this perilous occupation. Loss of life is an ordinary occurrence in their miserable canoes. Even in this year from the upsetting of a canoe, I have myself witnessed fifteen orphans and widows to have been made. If these poor men but got the same privileges that the Liverpool pilots enjoy, who are not a bit more hardy or useful. There benevolent landlord Nicholas Westby Esq promised to give them a hooker that would live in that boisterous sea.

In attention to our interests in this important? --- particular aware more of our indignation than surprise because it is only in sad keeping with Irish oppression and English contempt and it is one of the many palpable proofs that prosperity will never smile on our shores nor on our plains until we are placed under a domestic and fostering Senate House in College Green ----- I have the honour to remain Dear Sir your faithful servant.
M. Duggan.

1843 24th April (Caledonian Mercury).
Limerick 18th April.
The Cumberland bound to St. John’s, New Brunswick, which sailed from Kilrush 16th last, struck the cliff on the west side of the Horse Island yesterday, became leaky, carried away her rudder, bowsprit, fore-mast, &c, and has been towed back to that port.

1843 5th May (LR).
The Windsor Castle.
Two fine steamers the Victoria and Albert belonging to the “Drag” company arrived at the quays this morning from Liverpool for a supply of coals preparatory to towing the above named vessel and cargo to Liverpool. Before the pilots consented to give her up the owners were obliged to lodge £5,000 as security for the salvage. They made an offer which was refused. The case, therefore goes for trial into the Admiralty Court, it is said the value of the vessel and cargo first stated to be £121,000 is estimated by the owners as only £23,000.

1843 10th May (LC).
The Victoria and Albert steamers of the Liverpool Towing Company, which left this (estuary?) , on Saturday evening with the Windsor Castle, derelict Indiaman from Bombay to Liverpool. -----

1843 27th May (LC).
The Windsor Castle.
On Wednesday a long inquiry as to the circumstances under which this vessel was abandoned on the 4th of March off the Shannon, took place before Mr. Rushton and Mr. Houghton, Magistrates at Liverpool on the hearing of the case between Henry Curtis one of the seamen and Charles Chaloner and Co., the owners of the vessel. The seamen claimed his wages for the homeward bound voyage. It appeared that on the 1st of March between eleven and twelve o’clock at night the Windsor Castle while on her passage from Bombay to Liverpool came into collision off the south west coast of Ireland with a vessel called the Berlin. Her three masts, in consequence, went by the board, and her bowsprit and cutwater were carried away. The Berlin remained with her all night, and in the morning took four of the crew who were sick and three passengers off, the remainder of the crew stating that they would remain by the vessel till she got to some port. Curtis and others of the crew stated, in consequence of the roughness of the weather the vessel rolled so much that a jury-mast could not be rigged and they were in danger of being cast away on the coast of Ireland. They left the vessel on the 4th of March, having been taken off by a ship called the Hudson. They stated also, that the boats were so damaged that there was no chance of any of them living even if they could had been launched, to do which it would have been necessary to cut away the bulwarks. The longboat was stated to have been eaten in the bottom by rats.

Two apprentices were called and gave a different statement they said that after the collision the weather moderated, and the boats could have been repaired so as to make them fit to be launched, if the carpenter had been put to work, and that the men had asked the captain to abandon the vessel. It appeared also that one of the boats without any repair had since been used. At the time the ship was abandoned there was only six inches of water in the hold, and she did not make more water after than before the collision. On the 9th day after she was abandoned the Windsor Castle was boarded by pilots and taken into Kilrush with only six inches of water in her hold.

Mr. Rushton on hearing the evidence of both sides said it was his opinion that the men could not recover, for it appeared to him to be a most discreditable abandonment of the vessel, and if the men were allowed to recover wages under such circumstances they would soon have no commercial navy.

1843 22nd June (CJ).
The Cyclops man of war steamer accompanied by the Myrtle, tender came into the Shannon on Tuesday with marine stores &c for the Batteries. We understand Scattery Roads is to be her headquarters for some time and that officers are to be quartered in Kilrush in charge of the adjacent forts---.

The Cyclops mounts six 68 pounders, has 170 men on board and is commanded by Captain Austin. -- She has also three Lieutenant Surgeons, Assistant Surgeon, and Prise-Master, Purser & c & c.

1843 27th September (Nenagh Guardian).
The splendid new pier of Kilrush, will be completed early next month, under the auspices of Mr. Favell, the contractor who carried out this noble work in a most scientific and durable style. It is intended to erect a small lighthouse at the extremity of the pier for the benefit of all classes of sailing craft.

1844 Monday 3rd June (CJ).
It is rather annoying to see the large pier at Kilrush upon which a sum of nine thousand pounds has been expended now completely deserted by the vessels and boats of every description that now frequent the thriving town. It will be asked the cause of such desertion, and a ready answer is at hand the heavy dues imposed by the authority of the commissioners for what they are pleased to call quayage and wharfage. The old quay was crowded every day with vessels of various burdens from the vessel of 500 tons to the turf skiff but now after a vast outlay a vessel is very seldom seen there. They now make for the creek and even run the chance of a neap tide sooner than encounter those exorbitant fees-------------.

1845 24th July (CJ).
Tuesday, the Shannon Commissioners commenced sinking and removing all obstructions in the river at their new docks in Clare (castle) so that vessels may be moored with safety.

1845 14th August (CJ).
Lord Conyngham's yacht the “Flower of Yarrow” missed stays in the Pool(at Limerick) on Saturday and took ground at the west side of the river but was easily drawn off without any damage by the Dover Castle steamer, Captain Kennedy after which she sailed down and anchored at Hog Island opposite Kilrush,

1845 15th October (Morning Chronicle, Sydney).
Irish Fortifications:-
The forts on the Lower Shannon, viz. Carrick Island, Scattery Island, Doonaha, Kilcredaun and Kilkerrin, are manned by two master-gunners, two bombardiers, and twenty gunners.

1845 13th November (CJ).
On Tuesday, the Jane Black of Limerick port completed her loading of 8,000 Brls of oats about 700 tons for the London market.

1845 11th December (CJ).
There are 50 vessels with corn and provisions from Limerick for the English markets, wind-bound in the river Shannon, by adverse weather conditions.

1846 (Seventh Annual Report. Improvement. Navigation River Shannon @ books.google.ie)
Division No 1. - Lower Shannon.-Kilrush Pier.
The surface of the pier has been paved for one-half its entire breath. The average number of persons employed daily at Kilrush Pier from the 1st January 1845 to the 30th April 1845 was eight, being equivalent to 824 days' work. Three hundred and sixty-six square yards of pitched paving were set. The quantity dredged was 63 cubic yards.

1849 17th May (Accounts and Papers: Thirty Volumes @ books.google.ie)
--- To the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury.
In our report to your Lordships dated the 7th instant, No.623, in return to a reference upon a communication from the Commissioners of Colonial Lands and Emigration, on the subject of certain evasions of the Passengers' Act on the part of vessels which had sailed from Limerick last season, we stated that directions had been issued to the officers of the Coast-guard at Scattery and Kilrush, for the due muster of the passengers of vessels before leaving the Shannon in future.
We beg to report to your Lordships, that the Inspector-commander at Kilrush has represented the necessity of having a medical practitioner to attend the muster of such vessels during the prevalence of cholera and fever, a case of death from the latter disease having taken place on board one of the vessels, and the Inspector-commander having at the same time suggested that Dr. Thomas Elliott, the Admiralty Surgeon and Agent, would be a suitable person to be appointed Emigration Agent at Kilrush, many vessels sailing without a surgeon.
We take leave to submit the above propositions for your Lordships' consideration, and to request your direction thereon.
Signed: Thos. F. Freemantle. G.R. Dawson, H. Richmond, S.G. Lushington.
Custom-House, 17th May 1849.