portofballyshannon5

Ballyshannon

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History of The Port of Ballyshannon.....Page 5

by John B. Cunningham

The last two of these ships were steam powered and following their loss insurers refused to provide cover for any other ships or cargo entering Ballyshannon which finally brought Ballyshannon�s long maritime career to an ignominious close. Rumour surrounds the wrecks of many vessel down the centuries. Certain pilots were said to collude with local interests to ground their vessels along the long winding channel inside the Bar in order to plunder the resultant wreck or to be in collusion with the railway to close the port. One Ship�s Captain is reported to have held a gun to the local pilot to ensure that his ship got safely into port. Whatever about these unsupported allegations it is abundantly clear that the Bar of Ballyshannon and its long and winding channel were more than sufficient natural danger without skulduggery from anyone else. However current plans may bring about a long deserved revival in the fortunes of Ballyshannon Harbour. Lets hope these are not talked into oblivion as has happened so often in the past.

John B. Cunningham 15-11-2000

Thanks are due to Mr. Lucius Emerson, Ballyshannon, Jan & Stephen Hart formerly of Clonelly, County Fermanagh, (Keys/Barton letter) Leicester, England, Mrs. Doreen Brown, Donegal, Mr. John Cronin, Ballyshannon, Leonard Cooper, Fredericton, N.B., Farrell McCarthy, Miramichi, N.B., Daniel F. Johnson, N. B. [email protected] and J. Richard Armstrong [email protected] , For the passenger list of the Brig Brazilian, National Archives and Records Administration, Film M277, Reel 23. Contributed and Transcribed by Mary Koelzer a member of the Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild 4 May 2000.

The following historical information has been graciously provided by Johnny Cunningham of Fermanagh Heritage Tour Guides at
http://www.fermanagh-heritage-tour-guides.atfreeweb.com/

I am actively seeking permission from John Cunningham to use this article. Alas, contact is not possible at the moment owing to the Fermanagh Heritage Tour Guide Website undergoing construction. If permission is denied then this article will be removed