School: Carraig Bhuí, Durrus, Beanntraí (roll number 16286)

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1. A Drowning Fatality

   

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   Two sad accidents have occurred here recently in which the sea claimed ten victims. Though the harbour is fairly safe the coast is treacherous enough in places. The fishermen are badly equipped their boats being frail and quite unfit for rough weather.

   About twenty years ago a sad fatality occurred on the north side of this district. The people there are nearly all fishermen and eke out a living by the sea. Two boats had gone out fishing taking a seine (which is a large fishing net) between them. This is a peculiar kind of net which has to be shot in a circle and carried by two boats. The boat which carries it is called the seine boat and the other is known as the follower. The fishermen had secured a monstrous haul of fish and their boats were overloaded so they were trying to tow the seine ashore between them.

   If nothing had happened all might have been well but luck was against them. The weather suddenly changed, the waves rose, and within a short time the wind had reached its zenith, and they were caught in the grip of a hundred miles an hour gale. Their plight was desperate hampered as they were by the load of fish which they lacked prudence to release, and after putting up a brave

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. events
      1. hardship (~1,565)
         1. drowning (~292)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Breda Mac Carthy

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Coolcoulaghta, Co. Cork