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Archiver > Beara > 2000-03 > 0953851512


From: Connie Murphy <>
Subject: Dursey Island 1905
Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 22:45:12 +0000


Dursey
Even Dursey Island was involved in the fight for land ownership at the
beginning of the twentieth century. At that time Dursey was part of the
Bantry Estate and many of the island's tenants were in arrears with
their rent payments. The islanders successfully resisted several
attempts to collect the rents and to bring an eviction part over from
the mainland.

However, in April 1905, a large eviction party arrived by train in
Bantry and were met by Lord Bantry's agent. In an attempt to keep their
destination a secret, they boarded a naval tug at Bantry pier as
darkness fell and set off into Bantry Bay. It was a calm night and by 4
am they were off Dursey Island. News of their intentions had reached the
island during the night and some of the men kept watch on the cliff
tops. When the ship's lights were spotted the alarm was raised and a
large crowd rushed to the east end of the island to defend the landing
place. However, the ship continued on west as far as Dursey Head, where
there is a little known landing place, which is used only in calm
weather. Here thirty policemen were landed and unhindered they made
their way up the steep rocky path.

The tug with the rest of the eviction party then returned to the landing
place at the east end of the island. Here an angry crowd of men, women
and the older children bravely resisted the invasion by throwing volleys
of stones at the policemen, who were attempting to land. Soon, the
thirty policemen marched in from the west and attacked the defenders
from the rear, causing consternation among them. A fierce battle
followed, in which the police used batons and bayonets to gain the upper
hand. Within a short time the eviction party surrounded a house in
Ballynacallagh and proceeded to throw out the tenant, his wife and young
family, and their possessions. The tenant pleaded for a settlement with
the landlord's agent, but he was flatly refused and told that the law
must take its course.

About thirty policemen camped in the island for four months to prevent
the evicted family from returning to their house and land and to keep
law and order. The Parish Priest of Allihies, Fr. Barton, and James
Gilhooley M.P. intervened. By September, following lengthy
negotiations, a settlement was reached. The tenants had to pay their
arrears of rent to the landlord. In return they were then given
long-term loans to purchase their holdings by the Estates Commission

This Commision was set up by the British Government under Land Acts
passed in the British Parliament in response to the widespread agitation
and unrest throughout Ireland during The Land War.

It was through this system of long-term loans that the people of Beara
again became owners of their own land; the same land that was
confiscated from their ancestors three hundred earlier.

Soon after this, part of Ireland gained its independence and the new
Irish government set about the difficult task of rebuilding the nation.
Progress was slow in the early years of Independence. When I was
growing up in the 40s and 50s lack of employment opportunities forced
most of the young people of Beara to emigrate. Since the 1960s many
improvements have come about in the living conditions of the people of
Beara. Farming and fishing have expanded, new houses and new schools
have been built and there are more employment opportunities, some in
Beara but mainly in other parts of Ireland. Of course some young people
still leave Ireland, not because they have to, but because they want to
travel or gain experience abroad.

Conclusion
Over the past few weeks we have looked briefly at the landscape and
people of Beara from the arrival of the earliest settlers, to the copper
miners and stone circle builders of The Bronze Age and then on to the
Early Christian Period when monasteries and ringforts flourished. We
glanced at the dark days of the Penal Laws, the confiscation of the land
of Beara, the horrors of the Great Famine and the struggle of our
ancestors for the ownership of the land of Beara once again. Nowadays,
we are witnessing the emergence of a modern progressive Beara.
As we enter the new millennium, let us reflect on the unique history and
culture that has been passed to us for safe keeping by countless
generations of our ancestors.

Copyright retained.

Connie Murphy.

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