Ballyshannon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
port of ballyshannon |
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History of The Port of Ballyshannon Page 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
by John B. Cunningham | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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That Ireland has a great maritime tradition is largely unknown to most people today except in little bits and pieces. As an island the earliest settlers here had to arrive by sea and communicate with other settlements around the coast by the same means. The communication network via water was so extensive, through time, that the Roman historian Tacitus c. AD 56�c. 120 says, �The soil, climate and manners of the inhabitants (of Ireland) are not much different to those of Britain, and in a higher degree, the approaches and harbours are known through commerce and merchants.� In the 2nd century the geographer Ptolemy gives a detailed description of Ireland in his map naming rivers, headlands and towns. In the fourth century the Irish high kings, Crimhthan the Great (366 A.D.), Niall of the Nine Hostages (379 A.D.) and Daithi (405 A.D.) led Irish fleets to raid the Roman Empire. Niall was killed on the banks of the River Loire and Daithi by lightning in the foothills of the Alps. These were names, which stuck fear into Continental tribes and many paid regular tribute to Irish kings. These people had their own navies and obviously the skill and knowledge to navigate. In the ancient Brehon Laws vessels were classified variously as Ler-longa or large sea-going vessels suitable for long voyages, Barca or coastal vessels and Currach the hide-covered, oared small vessels. Other examples of Irish seafaring could be given but this is sufficient to draw attention to Irish harbours and seafarers as a largely unknown or forgotten area of study. There are two major rivers flowing into the Atlantic on the west coast of Ireland, the Erne and the Shannon and all through history these have been major highways into the interior of the country. Everybody who has been anybody in Irish history has passed along the Erne and left traces of their influence on the local landscape from the Stone Age through the Bronze and Iron Ages, the early Christian missionaries, the Vikings, the Normans, the O�Muldorrys and the Maelrooneys of pre-medieval times, the medieval Irish princes, O�Donnell and Maguire, the Plantation settlers of the 17th century and the innumerable emigrants of the mid 19th century and before. All of these peoples used the Erne in war and peace. Stone, Bronze and Iron Age remains can be found around the Erne Estuary, which provided these people with an almost unlimited supply of food. There were eels, salmon and trout in the river. There were lots of fish in the sea and if all other sources failed there was always shellfish or seaweed on the rocks to be had in times of scarcity. Ballyshannon grew up as a port entrance to a major Irish river and as a fording place of the same river. It was the equivalent of a crossroads where one of the roads was a river. Unfortunately for the development of the town the river falls about 50 metres from Belleek to Ballyshannon. This four-mile section full of rapids could not be navigated and peoples pressing inland from Ballyshannon had to carry their craft and goods the intervening four miles to get above the falls of Belleek before resuming their travels. This along with the sand bar at the mouth of the Erne were the two greatest obstacles to the development of Ballyshannon and the Erne as major Irish trading arteries. The seasonal bounty of eels and especially salmon harvested by numerous weirs was a valuable source of food providing more than enough for local consumption and when dried and salted an important trading commodity. The early Christian monks travelled extensively by sea and by land and their animal hide covered boats took them on incredible voyages. They also secured a share of the local salmon bounty from the local chieftains. This was later included in the rights of Abbey Assaroe. This Cistercian foundation was built c 1184 by Flaherty O�Muldorry. The Vikings bore down on the Irish coast and according to the Annals; Inishmurray was the second place they attacked in Ireland after Lambay Island near Dublin in the year 795. Later they used the Erne to strike inland burning Devenish Monastery in 822 and the Annals of Ulster record that in 836, "all the churches of Loch Erne, together with Cluain Eois (Clones) and Daimhinis (Devenish Island) were destroyed by the gentiles." Again in 923, the Annals note� a fleet of foreigners on Loch Erne and they plundered the islands of the lake and the territories round it to and fro" and again likewise in 961. The Normans marched to Ballyshannon from their major base at Sligo and Bishop de Grey of Norwich ordered Gilbert de Angulo to built a castle at Belleek in 1211 while another was begun at Clones. Additional stores probably came by ship. This was an attempt to control Lough Erne with fortifications at either end of the waterway and followed a crushing defeat at Belleek or Cael Uisge � the Narrow Water, as it was then known, the previous year. In 1210 Hugh O�Neill and Donal O�Donnell had united to defeat the Anglo-Normans, killing FitzHenry, the younger and dividing their enemies baggage and booty among their men. The Belleek castle was destroyed in 1213 and de Angulo killed. Aedh O�Neill stormed Clones in the same year. In 1252 Maurice Fitz Gerald again built a castle at Belleek and although it survived a little longer these were abortive attempts at controlling the Erne. While there is little or no evidence of Norman traffic on the Erne the existence of the place names of Strongbow Island and nearby Clareview Townland in Lower Lough Erne suggest they did so. The Erne has formed a natural boundary between northwest Ireland and the rest of the country and has been an area of friction since the time of early man. The northern chieftains raided south of the Erne and then retired behind the Erne shield with their booty. Natural defensive positions looking down on the river have been added to with fortifications and garrisons in all eras down to the present day. The Irish Army Camp at Finner and Belleek Joint R. U. C., British Army Barrack are today�s embodiment of garrisons along the Erne. It is difficult to find concrete evidence of trade with what we now call France and Spain in early times but favourable west and south west winds aided ships travelling to Ireland bringing brandy, wine, port and silk where these items found a ready market. Emissaries from these countries and from the various popes were able to reach the O�Donnell chieftains in Donegal and their principal export made the O�Donnells known on the continent as the Prince of Fishes. The Elizabethan court was amazed on meeting, what they considered, barbarous Irish chieftains of the north west of Ireland. Instead of being dressed in skins, furs and homespun cloth they found men and women dressed in the height of European fashion of the time. Just because people lived far from Dublin or London did not mean that they did not have access to the best society could offer at the time and their continental trading links saw to that. However ports have often been the entry point of disease. In 1478 the Annals recount that a great plague was imported by a ship, which entered the port of Ballyshannon, and this pestilence spread through Fermanagh, Tirconaill and far and wide through the province of Ulster. The cholera plague of 1832 is reputed to have been introduced through Bundoran via a smack calling for salmon. This ship was from Liverpool and the cholera spread to Ballyshannon and many other places including Clones. In Ballyshannon 93 died and 152 recovered from the disease. |
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The Erne crossings between Belleek and Ballyshannon were defended from the earliest times and the subject of numerous attacks, skirmishes and battles. A maritime angle appears in 1420 when Brian O�Connor was opposed by the O�Donnells in building his castle at Bundrowes. His forces suffered a reverse at the hands of the O�Donnells but got their revenge in a night attack on Ballyshannon. The O�Connors crossed the Erne while the sons of O�Donnell were at Portnalong on the northern bank � the port of the ships - indulging in wine. Donal son of Turlogh O�Donnell was killed and his brother Niall escaped by swimming out to a merchant ship in the channel. Ballyshannon Castle was built by the O�Donnells in 1423 and attacked by Sir Conyers Clifford and an Irish force under Lord Inchiquinn in 1597. Canon for the siege of the castle were brought into Ballyshannon by Tibbot na Loinge Burke (Tibbot of the ships) Ballyshannon Harbour again had a role in military affairs in 1690 period. The �Patriot Parliament� of 1689 attainted Sir James Caldwell of Castle Caldwell near Belleek. He was an ardent supporter of King William and provided his son Hugh with a troop of horse, which aided in repulsing the Duke of Berwick after he attacked the town of Donegal. Another son Charles rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in Major General Cunningham�s Regiment during this conflict. When General Sarsfield came north from Connaught to force the passage of the Erne at Belleek and Ballyshannon he was opposed at Belleek by Sir James Caldwell and others who had fortified the fords there and by Colonel Lloyd and his Inniskilleners. The two sides prepared for battle across a little stream called the Drumavanty River close to Belleek in a narrow pass between the River Erne and an extensive area of bog, which was thought impassable to the Williamite cavalry. This was a strategic misjudgement on behalf of the Jacobites as, with the help of a local informant the Williamites could be seen moving through the bog and outflanking their opponents. Panic quickly set in and Sarsfield�s poorly trained and equipped army was soon in full flight. Many escaped through marsh and forest but the rest were cut down by the cavalry. Between one and two hundred were killed and about 60 sought refuge on Inis Saimer Island in Ballyshannon Harbour. In June of 1689 Sir James and others set out for Derry to acquaint Major General Kirk of the situation around Ballyshannon and along the Erne and to seek arms and reinforcements. Kirk was supposed to be engaged in relieving the Siege of Derry but had shown little enthusiasm for the task and took about a month before deciding to reinforce the Williamite forces about the Erne. Eventually he sent professional military officers to command these largely amateur forces and 1,600 muskets and firelocks plus eight fieldpieces and a plentiful supply of powder and shot, which were landed at Ballyshannon. Many of the officers took prominent positions in the final defeat of King James in Ireland beginning with Battle of Newtownbutler soon after which marked the turning point of the war. Many of the Williamite troops over wintered in the Ballyshannon/ Belleek area before the decisive year of 1690 and were the cause of much complaint. They �plundered� the locality of food, timber, iron, horses etc. and Charles who was a substantial merchant in Ballyshannon claimed that he lost �800 worth of salmon, mutton and beef taken to feed the troops quartered there. After the war many of the military units that had fought in Ireland were employed in Flanders fighting in another of King William�s wars there. Hugh Caldwell now served in Lieutenant General Ross�s Regiment and embarked from Ballyshannon for this campaign and served under the Duke of Marlborough there. In time he became a Lieutenant Colonel but was wounded by a gun shot at the siege of Mons in 1710. He refused to have his arm amputated and died soon after. Henry Caldwell another son of Sir James Caldwell made a substantial contribution to Ballyshannon in erecting a fine Customs House there in the early 18th century which has unfortunately fell to the developer�s hand in recent times. One of the most successful entrepreneurs ever connected with Ballyshannon was Tom Barton. In 1720 Thomas Barton (French Tom) emigrated to France to take advantage of the ancient trading links between Ballyshannon and Bordeaux eventually being in a position to buy numerous estates in various counties back in Ireland. He set up business as a wine factor and with his brother William became very wealthy. Sir James Caldwell, a neighbour from near Belleek estimated their wealth in 1744 at �60,000. He stayed three months with then at that time and the extent of their business is indicated by the fact that they could give Sir James letters of credit to trading friends in Toulouse, Montpellier and Marseilles. Despite occasional rows regarding money Caldwell had borrowed from them they remained in contact. A letter from Tomas Barton of 21st, December 1754 tells Sir James that he is sending him two bags each of oak acorns, chestnuts and walnuts on board the ship Everina (first known named ship to Ballyshannon) bound for Ballyshannon with Henry Dickson, Master. Dickson is almost certainly a member of the ancient Dickson family of Ballyshannon. The letter adds that it is too late to send him �cork tree ackerns.� The Barton�s home was in the townland of Curraghmore, on the banks of Lower Lough Erne in County Fermanagh near Pettigo. From Bordeaux Tom Barton gives instructions re improvements to the house so that he might better entertain his guests. His ease of manner regarding travel or transport by sea is indicative of his frequent usage of this form of transport. (This letter has been altered to modern spelling leaving out a large number of capitalised words.) |
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Mr John Keys Bordeaux 24 January 1769 Dear Sir, I wrote you two letters the 20th of last month with a copy to Messrs Ogles of Newry letter to me concerning their taking part of the Killmore Estate. that out of lease & also a copy of my letter in answer to them on that subject to which refers I sent them letters by way of Ballyshannon to be sent you from them by express by cousin Thomas Dickson & refers you to the contents of them - I received no letter from you since which surprises me. I have not anything farther to add concerning the Killmore Estate (later the Clonelly Estate near Pettigo) but that I am resolved to agree with & give leases to Messrs Ogles of Newry on any reasonable terms. As I foresee that I shall be greatly stinted at Curraghmore for lodgings & room for my self & servants & friends that may come there to see me. I beg the favour of you that as soon as you receive this letter that you will order deal boards from Ballyshannon & carpenters & get first the little room off the parlour at Curraghmore floored well & the window in the room made larger to give light to that room that done to get the two rooms off the kitchen likewise well floored with deal boards & make them as handsome as possible or that time will permit - & if time will permit it to get the windows made a little larger with fireplaces in each room & as there is no proper place for servants to lodge set about on receipt hereoff the building a good wall cabin on the north side of the house as long & large as convenient. with two wattle & clay partitions in it & a fireplace in the middle where meat may be dressed if occasion & beds on rushes may be put at each end of the cabin for servants to lie on large enough for a bed on each side of each little room this I leave to your own invention & management & if you have not time to make the good wall you may make the side walls with any ordinary timber ash or oak & cover the little rafts etc. with scraws (?) to keep out the wind & rain to do you may cut ash or ...... in the orchards racks or where you please for those rafts etc. ? cannot be got at Ballyshannon they may be brought by sea from Sligo to Ballyshannon & by boat from Ballyshannon to Curraghmore. Cousin Thomas Dickson or Cousin James Dickson Junior. On your desiring it will get this done for you if needfull. In short my Dear Mr Keys I leave all to your management & shall be pleased with everything that you do & to get everything done as soon as possible I wrote Captain Barton to buy 4 beeds blankets sheets & curtains etc. to send to Curraghmore knives forks table linen & chairs which no doubt he will doe as soon as possible. I have desired him to send brother George a suite of clothes & another suite for Brother Anthony but I will not have anything by any means to come to Curraghmore for I will not see him on any account he disobliged me greatly - do not write me any answer to this letter for I shall get outo for London before I can receive any answer to it from you - My Love to all friends I am sincerely Dear Sir your Very affectionate Friend & Servant Thomas Barton" There were other Irish migrants to the Continent who also got involved in the liquor industry. This was so much so that they came to be called the �Wine Geese.� These Irish traders on the Continent supplied a home market of wealthy landlords and merchants and in the case of Ballyshannon an important military presence in the town. With an infantry barrack and a cavalry barrack there was a large circulation of money in the locality and under the patronage of the officers large quantities of port, sherry, claret and brandy were imported. Archibald Murray is the earliest known of the extensive locally based merchants to supply these markets. Before banking came to the town money remittances were made by the purchase and transfer of bills of exchange, which were obtained by the remitter from some outside party, and seldom represented the exact sum to settle the transaction. Consignments of wine from Bordeaux and elsewhere were occasionally paid for in kind by a return cargo of butter and grain. It was not until 1835 that the Provincial Bank of Ireland established the first bank in Ballyshannon. This was followed by the Belfast Bank in 1869. St. Anne�s Church of Ireland was erected on Mullaghnashee in 1745 and apart from its religious function it was the principal landmark for vessels entering the harbour. There are numerous other examples of churches serving a similar purpose. Along the east coast of England sailors used the shapes of the church towers as their navigation aids. St. Anne is an unofficial patron saint of sailors whose churches tend to be grouped around the Mediterranean and near ports and major waterways. Murray proposed improving the harbour in 1778 and it was costed at �2,000 at that time. Mr. Abbot touring Ireland in 1792 writes of Ballyshannon and mentions the proposed improvements. �The town is large and tho� poorly built yet thriving; it occupies both sides of the river; its square towered church makes it very distinguishable at a distance. Beyond it the river flows into the sea between high sand banks. The chief objects in the view are a range of mountains broken into three [word not deciph.] promontories along the coast of Sligo. From the bridge the scenery is extremely picturesque. On the upper side, the river is seen rippling down some shelving rocks; it then forms a still pool over which the bridge is laid and three hundred yards lower it tumbles down a considerable cascade to the level of the sea. Exactly below the cascade is a rocky island in the middle of the channel. The banks of the river during the rest of its course are low and green, broken into sharp points as far as the sand banks, which make the bar. It was too late in the season for me to see the salmon leap up the water fall; but whilst I was for a few minutes upon the bridge I saw them continually leap up clear out of the river to catch flies and disport themselves. The fishery is let for �500 a year, but the eels alone are supposed to pay the rent with a profit frequently of �2,000 from the salmon. Trees only are wanting to embellish this singular and picturesque scene. Twiss�s view of the place [one or 2 words not deciph.] accurate representation. Mr Connolly is lord of the soil. He has built some houses here. Mr Dickey[Dickson], the member for the place, has granted land in the town rent free to others who have built good houses. The Custom House & Barrack are both respectable buildings and below the waterfall a new storehouse is built where the new canal from Lough Erne is to fall into the river. There are only four or five ships belonging to the port, but there is trade in fish and grain and timber that brings a considerable number. Yarn is made in great quantities about this place but no cloth. Salmon, which used to be sold fresh at a penny-farthing per pound, is now sold at two pence halfpenny per pound. Labour is 6pence halfpenny a day besides victuals or one shilling and a penny without, that is in the summer season for harvesting, &c. Of late years Bundoran, 4 miles from hence, has been much frequented for sea bathing. Emigration as most people understand it has been to the United States and Canada. The earliest Ballyshannon emigrant lists to America are from 1804. This first known list of emigrants is for the ship, Jefferson, bound for Newcastle and Philadelphia, which set sail from Ballyshannon on May 15th, 1804. Daniel Knight, a citizen of the USA was captain, suggesting an American ship and it had a crew of six plus one cook. The passengers were:- (The first six all from the Barony of Lurg, County Fermanagh) Francis Maguire, 38, a labourer. Brigid Maguire, 36, Edward Thompson 34, labourer, John Thompson, 24, labourer, Mary Thompson, 22 and Edward Thompson, Jun. Aged 8. (From Resinver) Patt Conolly, 33, labourer, Rose Conolly, 31, Francis Cullen, 16, labourer, Daniel Tiffany 24, labourer, (From the Barony of Tirehugh, County Donegal) Charles Stephenson, 29, farmer, John Stephenson, 27, farmer, Margaret Stephenson, 22, Thomas Diver, 25, chapman (pedler), Mary Diver, 26, (Donegal, County Donegal) Robert Johnston, 15 clerk, William Stephenson, 20 farmer, (from Drumcliffe, Sligo) John Connor, 20 labourer and from Ballyshannon, Hugh Mc Partlan, 23, labourer and Mary Mc Partlan aged 22. |
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Another ship which departed this year seems to have most of its passengers from Donegal Town and Killybegs. This is the Roll of Passengers to be received on board the Ship Catherine of Dublin, 170 tons burthen as per Register, George Thomas, Master, now in the Port of Killybegs and bound for New Castle and Philadelphia. Sworn at Ballyshannon, 9th. June, 1804. All from Monargin in Killybegs:- John Conyngham 55, Farmer, Isabella Conyngham, 49, William Conyngham, 26, Isabella Conyngham, 23, Alexr. Conyngham , 21, Labourer, James Conyngham, 18,Labourer, John Conyngham, 15, Labourer, Catherine Conyngham, 12, George Conyngham, 49, Schoolmaster. All from Lochris in Mishue (Today Loughros, the peninsula between Portnoo and Glen Head opposite the Maghery caves) :- Andrew Conyngham, 34, Farmer, Elitia Conyngham, 34, John Conyngham, 12, Andrew Conyngham, 6, Robt. Johnston, 15, Donegal, (May be in here for some reason) Robt. Henderson, 45, Farmer, Elenor Henderson, 44, Elenor Henderson, 18, Jane Henderson, 15, Prudence Henderson, 13, George Henderson, 11, Ann Henderson, 8, Alexander Henderson, 6, Arthur Fawcet 19, Labourer, John Porter, 43, Farmer, Elitia Porter, 44, Catherine Porter, 22, William Porter, 20, Alexr. Porter, 18. From Carrick East, Drumhome:- William Harran, 37, Elizh. Harran, 37, Ann Harran, 15, Jane Harran, 13, John Harran, 10, Alexr. Harran, 7, Matthew Brown, 18, Labourer. From Carrick Breeny, Drumhome:- William Harran, 37, Farmer, Jane Harran, 32, Barbera Harran, 11, Jane Harran, 8. Thomas Grier, 30, Big Park, Drumhome, Jane Grier, 23, Big Park, Drumhome, John McCrea, 24, Labourer, Lignanornan Drumhome, Catherine Fawcett, 21, Mt. Charles Inver, Drumhome, Elinor Devenny, 2, Benro in Killartie, Archd. Scott, 26, Farmer, Tullymore in Misheel, Elinor Scott, 20, Tullymore in Misheel, Wm. Scott, 20, Labourer, Ardara in Killybegs, Jas. McDade, 22,Labourer, Killarhel in Misheel, Andw. Lamon, 18, Ardegat in Misheel. From Meenhallu in Killymard:- Patt Kennedy, 52, Farmer, Susan Kennedy, 52, Edward Kennedy, 24, John Kennedy, 19, Labourer, James Kennedy, 13, Labourer, Charles Kennedy, 11, Labourer, Biddy McCafferty, 20, Daniel Sheerin, 24, Ardara in Killybegs, Michael Carlain, 26, Donegal, George Maxwell, 24, Raferty in Killartie. From Bractcia in Killartie:- James Syms, 45, Farmer, Mary Syms, 40, Samuel Syms, 6, Elizh. Syms, 4, Tera Allis, 30, Drimahy in Donegal. James Allis, 14, Labourer, Drimahy in Donegal, From Glen, Donegal:- Owen McGloghlin, 29, Farmer, Nelly McGloghlin, 30, ??McGloghlin, 5, Patt Gillespy, 35, Pegy Gillespy, 24, John McClosky, 25, Labourer, Drimreny in Inver, Rose McClosky, 19, Drimreny in Inver, John Syms, 30, Glen, Donegal, Cath. Syms, 21, Glen, Donegal Trade and emigration from Ballyshannon was several times projected by another of the Caldwells of Castle Caldwell. Henry Caldwell had been an aide-de camp to General Wolfe when he was killed at the battle of the Plains of Abraham. This battle broke French power in Canada and Henry greatly increased his wealth in succeeding years. He acquired grain and timber mills along the St. Lawrence and about 600,000 acres around Quebec, the Richelieu River and parts of New York province and proposed sending grain to Ballyshannon c 1790. This idea was put on hold on account of the then current proposal to remove the sand bar at the mouth of the estuary and deepen the channel to the Ballyshannon Quays. With this out of the way Ballyshannon was also to be linked to Belleek by canal thus overcoming the second barrier to the navigable Erne. Correspondence regarding these proposals can be found in the Caldwell Papers as far back as 1750. Henry Caldwell�s nephew the second Sir John Caldwell is now in possession of the family estate and although he writes that he cannot afford the �1,600 it would cost to build a mill at Belleek despite its favourable situation as a source of water power he intends to press ahead with a smaller mill at Garvery Bridge which will cost �200. He adds, �I contemplate this undertaking, however limited, with pleasure as the flour for every morsel of bread eaten in this country is ground at Sligo mills, and is often extremely bad.� Earlier in 1774 Henry had tried to interest prospective emigrants in his vast lands. He promised leases for ever for lands of from 100 to 2,000 acres at a rent of less than three pence per acre with payment to begin five years after the date of the lease. The terms may have been attractive but Henry was an unusually blunt emigration agent. Apart from a few labourers for his own lands �... no person need apply that has not a sufficiency to pay the usual passage to America, to set themselves up in a little way as farmers, and maintain them for a year after their arrival, as before that time they will not be able to grow as much grain and potatoes as will support them; which will require a capital to each family of from �30 to �40 ..... Major Caldwell would not, on any account, wish to bring indigent people over there, as he cannot afford to give other encouragement but in the cheapness of his lands; and both time and industry will be required before the new settlers can maintain themselves.� (Belfast News Letter, 11th February, 1774) Unfortunately this initiative failed to succeed because of the lessened pace of emigration at the time, the limited class he was appealing to and perhaps most of all due to the bluntness of his advertisement. One of the great unknowns concerns smuggling along this stretch of coast but its existence is undoubted. Legal and illegal trade always flourished along the west coast of Ireland according to the political situation of the times. The danger of a French invasion was uppermost in the minds of the authorities in the 1798 period and the possibility of French predation on shipping. The following from the Belfast Newsletter July 29th, 1779. A Letter from Ballyshannon, July 23rd, says, �This coast swarms with American Privateers; scarce a vessel ventures to sea but are taken. Our harbours are full of ships, waiting for the expected convoy; if it does not arrive soon, many people must suffer by it, as the merchants will not send their ships to sea without protection. Our merchants and manufacturers have suffered very much by the delay of Chester Fair. In George Ormerod's 'History of the County Palatine and City of Chester', 2nd ed. (1814) it states: "There are three fairs. One held on the last Thursday in February, relating chiefly to cattle, was granted by royal charter. The others are held at Midsummer [5 July] and Michaelmas [10 October]. On the two first days are sales of cattle and horses; but the principal business of the fair includes the sale of an immense quantity of goods of every description, although chiefly consisting of Irish linens (which are exhibited in a building set apart for that purpose)." Until the silting of the River Dee, Chester was the major English port for Dublin and the Royal Mail sailed from here. So Chester Fair in July 1779 was delayed for some reason, and Irish linen merchants were greatly inconvenienced as a result. Ships sailed in convoys in these unsettled times. Ballyshannon did have a linen market from the early part of the 19th century where an Inspector and a Stamper employed by the Board of Trustees of the Linen and Hempen Manufacturers. Their job was to prevent fraud and their stamp was only to go on perfect pieces of linen. If their stamp was found on a defective piece then they had to pay compensation. In 1824 those in charge of Ballyshannon Linen Market were Mr. Robert Caughran, Inspector and Mr. Stewart, Stamper. This Board was disolved in 1828. Presumably Ballyshannon had cargoes of linen to export but they certainly had the usual staples of salt fish, mutton, pork and beef and these would have found a ready market in Chester both locally and as ships provisions since Chester was the major port of this locality before the rise of Liverpool. |
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