Beara-L Archives

From: "Beara Research ODwyer" <>
Subject: Dramatic funeral in Dursey Island during 1947 storm.
Date: Sat, 26 Jun 2004 19:11:35 +0100

Many visitors travelling in the cable car to Dursey Island
today have no idea of how dangerous it was for the island people trying to
cross by boat in days gone by. A terrible storm in March 1947 prevented
medical aid for an octogenarian Mary O'Leary of Tellickafinne. Another storm
cropped up on the day appointed for her funeral with the result that Very
Rev. Fr. T. Sheehan P.P., Allihies, who had proceeded to Dursey Sound, was
unable to get across to the island. As it was impossible to get a coffin
across from the mainland, the funeral had to be postponed until the next
day. Despite the fact that the next day saw but little improvement in the
weather conditions, the islanders decided to attempt the perilous crossing
for the coffin. A large rowing boat manned by six oarsmen and a helmsman was
launched at half past ten in the morning, although in getting away from the
island it had a providential escape from being swamped. Near the mainland
the crew discovered that they could not approach the pier. However, Mr. C.
Dennehy, an islander who had been stranded ashore, and Mr. T. Sheehan,
Dursey Sound, succeeded in catching a line thrown to them. To this the
coffin was made fast, lowered into the sea, and hauled out to, and on board,
the boat. When the island was reached again, the boatmen learned, to their
dismay, that a landing could not be effected. After many efforts, the men
managed to get a line ashore to the base of a huge cliff. To this the coffin
was again secured, dropped into the sea, and hauled up the cliff face. It
was then conveyed to the home of the deceased at the far end of the island
from where the funeral took place to the cemetery at the near end. Very Rev.
Fr. Sheehan, who wasn't able to cross, read the burial service from the
mainland pier within sight of the cemetery. During all this time the boatmen
spent uneasy and strenuous hours rowing back and forth in the rough sea,
unable to get ashore anywhere. Finally, at about four o'clock in the
evening, in the presence of almost the entire population of the island, a
dramatic landing was effected. Up the rugged side of a bleak cliff called
Faill Muc the boat was dragged by willing hands. The boatmen were exhausted,
having eaten no food since they left home at 8.30 a.m. to eventually get the
boat launched by 10.30 a.m. It was the first time in living memory that a
coffin was not taken across dry, although a storm a few years previous to
that prevented the Priest and coffin from getting across from the mainland,
and a rough home-made coffin had to be provided. Is it any wonder that there
was huge emigration from Dursey Island in those days !
I am delighted to hear that some descendants in the States of
those marvellous, brave islanders are taking up my recent proposal to put
little plaques on the walls of the remains of the houses of their ancestors,
so that in years to come people can visit those ruins, be able to stand
within what is left of the walls, and be able to say "Here lived our
ggggrandparents". Yes, that would be perhaps a sad day (with some,
naturally, moist eyes), but definitely a proud day for them to know that
their ancestors, though now long gone from this earth, will never be
forgotten.
Though I have been researching and trying to trace and put
together on my own for the past 40 years all the families who lived in the
Cork section of the Beara Peninsula over the past 200 years or so, I'm still
learning. A great friend of mine in Middletown, Rhode Island, recently
enlightened me further when he emailed me to tell me the wonderful,
world-shattering news:- that a grandfather is a man grandmother !! How did I
miss out all those years on that gem of genealogical knowledge !!
----- Riobard.

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• Dramatic funeral in Dursey Island during 1947 storm. by "Beara Research ODwyer" <>