SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT KILLYBEGS

On Friday night, November 11, 1898, a fisherman, John Byrne of Bavin, Kilcar, met with a serious accident at the new boatslip in Killybegs.  Mr Byrne, with a number of other fishermen from Teelin, Kilcar, St John’s Point, etc., was engaged in fishing herring in and around Killybegs Harbour. About nine o’clock that night he returned from shooting his nets, moored his boat to the slip, and started for his boarding-house.  The night was pitch dark, so much so that Byrne could not find his way, and before he had gone twenty yards he accidentally fell over the side of the slip, falling a distance of about twenty-five feet.  He sustained serious injuries to his back and ankle.  It was nothing short of a miracle that he was not killed there and then, as the portion of the shore on which he fell was covered with broken bottles, delph, and scraps of iron, which found their way there from some of the neighbouring public houses.  That was the second accident of the kind which happened there within a few years, a respected merchant, Michael McGill, having lost his life in this very spot in February 1892.  Owing to the absence of a light on the slip, even on the darkest winter night, the place was exceedingly dangerous when so many fishermen were passing to and fro at all hours of the night.  The slip was subject to dues, and it was left to the fishermen to insist on a lamp being placed somewhere upon it.

Whilst working in his store at the back of the shop in Killybegs, Mr Willie Hegarty heard a strange chirping noise in the attic and on going to investigate disturbed a strange bird from its nest in a box.  There were several eggs in the nest.  Mr Hegarty said that the bird, which is a strange bluish colour and small, is not usually seen in this part of the country.  (May 1954)

Mr Con Gillespie, Meenreagh & Sheila Shovelin, Meenabull, Killybegs, 4^th daughter of James Shovelin.  Bridesmaid: Bridget.  Best man: Andrew Hegarty, Meenreagh, nephew of the groom. June 1937.

The marriage of Mr P. C. Brady and Miss Cassie Deery, natives of Killybegs, took place at St Gregory’s New York, U.S.A.  Miss Pauline Cacho was bridesmaid, and Mr William Paget acted in the capacity of groomsman.  Mr Brady, who is employed at Mr J. C. Mannif’s café, 40, Strand, 2^nd Avenue, New York, is a thorough Irishman, and always takes an active part in any movement for the welfare of his country.  Mr Brady organised the present Donegal Men’s Association in New York city.  He is also a member of the A.O.H.  Mr Brady spent seven years in Glasgow before going to New York.  During his time in Glasgow he was a member of the United Irish League.  June 1908.

At the Parish Church of Killybegs, by the Rev John G. Ball,  Charles Southcott, 21, bachelor, Private in the Marines, H. M. Gunboat Blazer, and Ellen Jane Hamilton, 21, spinster, farmer’s daughter, Tullycullion, Bruckless.  Witnesses: Alexander Walker & Thomas Evans. 19 July 1866.

Conwell & Martin.  At St Columba’s Church, Long Tower, Derry, by the Rev Father Faulkner, C.C., Bernard Charles Conwell, of Killybegs, to Rosetta (Etta), youngest daughter of Denis Martin, 68 Foyle St., Derry. April 2^nd, 1923. [Bernard was a son of Thomas and Rose Conwell, Straleeny, and was born in 1902]

Daniel Currie, Rathlin Island & Isabella Greenlaw, ‘Scottish Hill’, daughter of William Greenlaw, by Rev J. Howard Deazeley, in St John’s Church, Killybegs. Bridesmaid: Emily Morrow; Groomsman: Robert Greenlaw, brother of the bride. 12 October 1905.

Gallagher & McCloskey. At St Mary’s Catholic Church, Killybegs, by the Rev. Michael Martin, P.P., V.F., Willie Gallagher, gauger, Carricknamohill, Killybegs, to Mary, eldest daughter of Mr Arthur McCloskey, Castletown, Dunkineely. September 25 1894.

At the Parish Church of Killybegs, by License, by the Rev Wm. Lodge, Rector & Vicar, John Kennedy, parish of Conwall, and Susan McIlwaine, spinster, servant, daughter of Albert McIlwaine of Killybegs.  Witnesses: James McIlwaine & Thomas Philipps.  22^nd July 1851,

Guckion & Hegarty, at the Roman Catholic Church, Killaghtee, by the Rev. Thomas Slevin, C.C., Mr James Guckion, R.I.C., to Miss Catherine Hegarty, teacher, Killybegs N.S. July 24, 1876.  [Catherine was a daughter of Master James Hegarty of the Commons School]

At Fitzroy avenue Presbyterian Church, Belfast, by the Rev William Colquhoun, B.A., assisted by the Rev William Irwin, D.D, Castlerock, uncle of the bride, and Rev James Mitchell, B. A., Great George’s street, John Harris, manager, Ulster Bank, Killybegs, son of the late Samuel Harris, Roebank, Kircubbin, to Mary Helen (Nellie), daughter of the later Rev James B. Huston, Aghadowey, and Mrs Huston, 60 Botanic Avenue, Belfast.  June 24, 1902.

At Killaghtee: John Strain & Mary Ann Blain. Witnesses: Charles Blain & A. Slevin. 2 February 1879.

At the residence of the bride’s father, by the Rev D.E. Coyle, P.P., Stranorlar, Mr Francis McCloskey, Fyafannan House, Killybegs, to Susannah, eldest daughter of Mr Patrick Kerrigan, Curraughmoan, Stranorlar. 10 June 1851.

At the Church of the Visitation, Killybegs, by the Very Rev James Stephens, P.P., V.F., Mr Bernard Mulloy, Crove, Kilcar, to Miss Susan McCahill, youngest daughter of the late Mr Matthew McCahill, Stragar, Killybegs. 22 January 1865.

This Fair was held on Tuesday, 19^th July 1870, with a large attendance.  Springers met with a ready sale, prices varying from £7 5s to £12 each; dry cows in good condition were quickly bought up for grass, from £7 to £10 each, according to condition and size; two-year-old heifers met with a ready sale, from £6 to £7 5s each.  There was very little demand for anything inferior.  There were a few lots of good yearling heifers and bullocks exhibited, but in very few instances exchanged owners.  There were several lots of sheep, some of which were sold for 16s each; but, on the whole, the demand was bad, owing to the very low condition in which they appeared.  It was almost impossible to get fat sheep, which were very scarce then.  The pig market was well supplied.  The prices were however so low that people refused to sell.  Young pigs were in great demand, and readily sold from 17s to 24s each.  There was a very good supply of cabbage plants, which sold from 5d to 6d per hundred.  Notwithstanding the immense concourse of people who attended this old-established fair, everything passed off very quietly.  No disturbance whatever took place, and there were only a few instances of intoxication, which were looked after by the constabulary, so that, on the whole, we may be proud of the peace and harmony which prevail in the large district of country surrounding the ancient corporation of Killybegs.

Mishap to Burtonport Vessels

Three boats engaged in the herring fishing off Burtonport were involved in mishaps.

On the night of Friday 31^st December 1938, the Pride of Arlands, (Skipper Manus Bonner), went on the rocks at Rutland as she was returning in the evening from the fishing grounds. The vessel was held hard and fast and the ebbing tide added to the danger of the crew as the boat gradually developed a list and seemed likely to capsize. The shouts of the crew attracted the attention of the Pride of Lackbeg, which was skippered by Charles Sharkey, to which the marooned men were transferred. Ropes were attached to the Pride of Arlands and when the tide rose again she was taken off the rocks and towed to Burtonport.

The crew of the Lackbeg had themselves a narrow escape the following night when the vessel came into collision with the Pride of Rutland, (Neil McCole, skipper). A gaping hole was made in the Lackbeg as a result of the impact but fortunately it was above the water line and the boat was able to make the harbour.

JAIL FOR SOLDIERS.

Two soldiers stationed at the military barracks, Killybegs, pleaded guilty at a special Court in Donegal to the larceny of a Service rifle, and were each sentenced by Justice O’Hanrahan to four months’ imprisonment with hard labour, the sentences to date from their arrest on June 10^th, 1942.  Mr P. Cunningham represented the accused.