School: Balscadden (roll number 9492)
- Location:
- Balscaddan, Co. Dublin
- Teachers: P. Ó Séaghdha Francis Shaw
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0783, Page 141
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- This terrible disaster occured on the 26th Feb 1875 at a point along this coast right opposite to Balscadden. The Cargy rocks are a dangerous reef and other disasters occured here. This large cargo boat with a crew of fifteen left Liverpool bound for Malparaiso S America. It is believed that a mutiny took place on board and that the captain was shot and thrown overboard. There was a very valuable cargo of food stuffs clothes etc. There seems to have been no one in charge of the steering and no effort was made to keep away from the rocks. The coastguards made heroic attempts to reach the ship with a life-line but only succeeded when the boat went in pieces and all hands were thrown into the boiling surf. Fourteen sailors perished and one only was saved whose name was McDonnell. Eight bodies were washed ashore that day but the others were found at intervals along the coast. Those eight are buried in Balrothery in one large grave and marked by a stone giving the names of the dead. The wind was blowing from the SE and heavy sleet was falling. The keel is still visible at very low water. This wreck is still a constant topic among the locals.
- Informant
- James Donnelly
- Gender
- Male
- Address
- Clonard Street, Co. Dublin
