Trá Ruaim Memorial
On the 10th od September 1899, six local fishermen lost their lives when returning to Trá Ruaim. In 2019, Muintir Bháire Community Council in collaboration with the Sheep’s Head Way established a memorial at Trá Ruaim in memory of the lost fishermen. (link to the opening). The memorial is a stone plaque with a bronze cast of a poem written about the event by Michael Hegarty of Dunmanus South.
Trá Ruaim was once the site of a busy fishing community and today the remains of the boat winch can be seen. There is a loop walk at Trá Ruaim that goes around Reen Headland. The name Trá Ruaim reflects the use of Alder bark to dye the fishermen’s ropes and nets giving a red colour. From the 1860’s to the early 1940’s fish were processed here. Trá Ruaim has a long history of use and it’s history and nautical navigation are discussed in depth on Michael Harpur’s excellent eoceanic.com site, which is linked below.
Southern Star Record of the Accident
From the Southern Star newspaper on Monday 25th September 1899:
On Thursday evening last an appalling disaster occurred in Dunmanus bay, whereby six local fishermen lost their lives. It appears that at about seven o’clock in the evening six men from the Kilcrohane side of the bay were returning home after casting their nets.
It was very wild at the time, a strong west wind blowing, and the sea was very choppy. The boat was under sail, and another boat returning from the fishing ground was not far off at the time. It is not known what occurred to the ill-fated craft, but in all probability she healed over in a squall, as it appears she was carrying a good deal of sail.
When the other boat arrived home, and their companions not turning up, the crew became apprehensive, and after a time created an alarm. It was, however, two wild at the time to put out to sea. The worst was, however, feared, and the next that was heard of the ill-fated boat was when she was washed ashore, bottom upwards early on Friday morning, close to Bird Island, on the Dunmanus side of the bay. In the bottom of the boat were found the lifeless bodies of two brothers named McCarthy, from Letter Lower, near Kilcrohane. Both had their arms locked around one of the seats of the boat, and one of the unfortunate brothers was stripped of his shoes and coat as if he was about to attempt to save himself when he was overwhelmed by the angry waters.
The names of the others who perished, and whose bodies have not been recovered up to the time of writing are: –McCarthy, –Donovan, Tom Spillane, and Charles Coughlan, all of Letter Lower, and young unmarried men, with the exception of Coughlan, who leaves a wife and twelve or thirteen children to mourn his untimely end. All are belonging to the small farmer-fishermen class, and were in poor circumstances, being the principal support of families, Spillane's mother being entirely dependent on the labour of her son. The terrible disaster is one of the worst of his kind that ever occurred amongst fisher folk on the coast, and has cast a gloom over the entire community.
Poem about the event
Michael Hegarty, Dunmanus (South Side of Dunmanus Bay) recorded the following poem for the Folklore Commission in 1937. The account of the names in this poem differs to the correct names, as recorded on the plaque.
Drowning in Dunmanus Bay
You mariners and fishermen come listen to my song
And if you will attention pay it won't detain you long.
How six poor men did lose thier lives it grieves me for to say
Nigh to the shore of Kilcrohane that lies in Dunmanus Bay
On the 20th September all in that present year
That was a night of a terrible gale through the country far and near
Just as the sun had gone to rest they went their nets to cast
They little thought upon that night that it would be their last
Those six young men were in their prime and healthy for to view,
Two of them were MacCarthys, Tim Spillane, and Donovans two,
And also Charles Coughlan as the public papers tell,
but I hope for all eternity in Heaven their souls will dwell
The night was wild and stormy as they ventured from the shore,
The sea it rolled then mountain high against them more and more
And soon the boat upturned it grieves me for to tell,
And it was then they met their awful fate beneath that deadly swell.
Oh Lord, it was a fearsome sight when the boat and two were found
Close into Bird Island it being near the fishing ground,
And the other four with deep regret they fill a watery grave.
May the Lord have mercy on their souls against the judgement day
Now to conclude and finish I have no more to say
May the Blessed Virgin Mary pray for their souls this day
And may her son, the King on High, their parents now console
Who are weeping for their darling men lost off Dunmanus shore.
-Michael Hegarty, Dunmanus