Waterford News 7 September 1849
NAVAL ENGAGEMENT - ABBEYSIDE
The
gentlemen of this town having subscribed a few pounds for the amusement of the
inhabitants generally, to cheer up the drooping and desponding spirits of a
people surrounded by every sort of epidemic disease, and most particularly by
the ravages which Cholera has made, on the 2nd inst hundreds of persons
assembled to behold the aquatic sports. The Margaret
and Victoria were the boats owned by
Glanville and Rawley.
Sligo Champion 3 March 1838
Loss
of a Liverpool vessel, her crew and cargo in Ardmore Bay.
The
vessel alluded to in the following letter is supposed to be the Sir Howard
Douglas. Not one of the crew has escaped, and we fear that their fate has been
shared by the crew of another vessel - a schooner whose name or destination has
not reached us - ashore near Cable Island.
To
the editor of the Cork Constitution Ardmore Feb 16, 1838
A
most disastrous shipwreck occurred in the bay within the last six hours. About
one o'clock, a.m., the half tide, a large three masted vessel was seen to drift
before wind and tide into the south east angle of Ardmore Bay. She beached side
foremast almost instantly upon a fine sandy bottom. The crew at this time cut
away the foremast, which went overboard with the top of the mainmast. This was
the time for the crew to have made some effort to save themselves by rafts, or
boats. In about half an hour after striking she became embedded in the sand,
evidently filled with water; the crew were now all on deck, lashed to the
timber near the stern, and they and they appeared like so many inanimate beings;
the tide at this time receding, it was hoped by those on shore that at low
water the vessel might be reached, but in vain, all efforts were useless, - no
boat could go against the wind and tide. Besides the surf ran mountains high.
It was now evident all help from shore was out of the question - signals were
made to the crew to leave the vessel at all risks - but no - they seemed
unheeded. All this time spars were every moment leaving the ship and floating
to shore, and even the ship's boats from off the deck; still the crew sent no
rope to shore, or ventured on the spars; the deep water only continued for
about 100 yards... there it was only knee deep, and that 100 yards might with
the aid of the wind, be passed in five minutes - the crew in fact appeared
stupefied... It was dreadfully painful to witness the return of the tide... at
four o'clock the crew got into the rigging, and the sea washed over the deck. A
little after, one of the masts fell, and all were crowded on the remaining one,
there they hung, a most melancholy object to contemplate, their number appeared
about 12. Night closed, and left those unhappy beings in their awful situation,
on a single plank amidst a raging sea....About six o'clock the vessel broke up.
Hogsheads, boxes etc, floated on shore - the shore in fact was covered with the
wreck and cargo, but not one human being came to land. Several respectable
persons in the neighbourhood were on shore the entire time, waiting to afford
every aid.... The water guard are at present protecting the wreck.
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Shipwreck along Irish Coastline |
Our last talk of the series for 2022 was given by Bernadette Guest, Waterford City and County Heritage Officer. The talk was well attended. Bernadette outlined many projects completed or to be completed by the end of this year, such as the Knockboy Church, Kilgobinet etc. She detailed the many Decades of Centenaries Projects \which were initiated by local communities around the county. She mentioned the eagerly awaited book on the Cumann na mBan, compiled by Eddie Cantwell and Chrissy Knight O' Connor.
Waterford
County Museum would like to thank Merry's Gastro Pub, Main Street Dungarvan for
facilitating are talks this year.
Freeman’s journal 5th December 1907
A special interest attaches this to tonight’s performance by the Carl Rosa Company of Balfe’s evergreen opera “The Bohemian Girl”, in as much as an old favourite Irish tenor, Mr. Patrick O’Shea will be heard in the part of Thaddeus. Mr. O’ Shea, who is a native of Lismore, Co. Waterford, had formerly been a useful member of the Carl Rosa Company in the ‘eighties’, but in 1900 he threw himself into the Irish Ireland Movement, and devoted his energies to the rendition of traditional Irish songs, appearing with conspicuous success at all the big concerts in England, Scotland, Ireland and America from 1901 to 1906.
Now that he has again joined the Carl Rosa Company, it goes without
saying that he will be accorded a heady ovation in an opera composed by a
Irishman, Michael William Balfe. It may
be of interest to mention that ‘The Bohemian Girl’ was first produced in Drury
Land London, on No 27th 1843, when Harrison sang the part of
Thaddeus.
Patrick O’ Shea was born in Lismore in 1872 and educated at Mount Melleray.
In 1898 he won the men’s singing prise at the Oireachtas, in 1903 he was described as ‘Irelands own tenor’. In May 1919 a memorial concert was held in Dublin in his honour. The Carl Rosa Company was founded in 1873 by Carl Rosa, a German musical impresario.
The Freeman’s Journal 8th April 1919 published his obituary:
“Numerous friends and admires will regret to hear of the death of Mr.
Patrick O’Shea, the well known Irish tenor, which took place at his residence,
52 South Richmond Street, yesterday. Mr.
O’Shea’s early success was with the Ludwig concert party (Dublin born
William Ledwidge (1847-1923) had his own touring company: Ludwig concert party
in the 1890’s), with whom he toured Ireland, England and Scotland.
“Pat” as he was familiarly known to his friends, enjoyed great popularly
at home and aboard. His voice was of a
pure and sympathetic quality…he was the first professional singer who sang
songs in Irish on leading concert platforms, and his appearances at the Queen’s
Hall and Albert Hall… were always popular musical events”
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Cork Examiner 11 January 1868
Soiree in Cappoquin
On Twelfth Night a fashionable soiree was held in the
Reading-rooms here. It was attended by most of the respectable inhabitants of
this and the neighbouring towns, and patronized by the worthy pastor of the
parish, the Rev. Michael Spratt, P.P., who is ever anxious and ready to forward
any movement tending towards the advancement and reasonable enjoyment of his
parishioners.
On this occasion he not only gave the use of the
reading-rooms, but kindly and warmly announced the soiree and the object of it
from the altar. It is to this mainly due, seconded by the earnest exertions of
the gentlemen of the committee, that it has been so successful, leaving in the
hands of the treasurer, Mr. J.E. Walsh, a handsome balance towards supplying
the wants of our chapel. The extensive rooms were carefully festooned with
evergreens, which were kindly given by Mrs. Chearnley, Salterbridge, to the
members of the committee. When the company assembled, with the numerous lights
and the soul-stirring music of the brass band, specially engaged for the
occasion, it was indeed a festive scene. Dancing continued until one a.m., when
a most recherché supper was laid, to which 130 guests were together seated. The
caterer was Mr. M. Morrissey, Hotel, Cappoquin. To all who know him, it is
enough to say, that everything was in his best style. All the mysteries of the
cuisine were exhausted, and nothing was wanting that could add to the appearance
of the board or the wishes of the most fastidious epicure. When the supper,
dessert and wines, were fully discussed, the band again struck up dance music,
and on the ‘light fantastic toe’, with unflagging spirit, the company held the
floor till morning. Special credit belongs to…the Rev. P. Spratt. C.C., who
remained to witness all the enjoyment of the night, and to the members of the
committee, Messrs M. Morrissey. T.F. Bayley, J.E. Walsh, M.F. Phelan, C.J.
O’Connell, and J. Morrissey, for their untiring exertions to render the soiree
what it has been – a complete success.
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| St Mary's Roman Catholic Church Cappoquin |