School: Baile an Londraigh (B.) (roll number 14305)

On this page

1. Water Supply - Ballylanders Pumps

   

   Share Share Post

   Water Supply - Ballylanders Pumps

   The water supply in Ballylanders, up to the installing of the present up-to-date one, was uncertain and dangerous and was often the cause of trouble and anxiety to the villagers. Epidemics were frequent and diphtheria recurrent.
   Our local poet, James Barry, an old man of close on ninety, describes the state of affairs in the following:

   Oh! Sad is the fate of the poor to relate,
   The pump is dried up that supplied us of late,
   Not a drop of pure water all round can be found
   Oh dear what a shame in this saintly old ground.
   They locked it, and blocked it, and poured water down,
   And said, now 'twill supply all the folks of the town.
   But the lock it was broken to see would it come,
   Sure the divil a drop could be got for the home.
   And far, far away you could hear every thump
   Of the handle that's working this empty old pump.
   Pumping air is the fashion, the pails come and go,
   Yet, still not a drop of the bright water flow.
   The pump that now yield us the water you know,
   Is receiving the sewerage that constantly flow.
   There's scarcely a foot twixt the sewer and the well
   And this is the water they call par-excell.
   I've seen worms and maggots pumped out of this hole,

   (continues on next page)

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Language

   English

   Informant

   Mr E. Ryan

   Gender

   Male

   Occupation

   Officer

   Address

   Ballylanders, Co. Limerick