Memorial Will Recall Anach Cuain Tragedy

Connacht Tribune , July 21st 1978

One hundred and fifty years ago on September 4th, 1828 a boat left Annaghdown Pier bound for a fair at Galway City. On board were some sheep which were for auction at the fair and some thirty men and women who had intended to make a holiday out of the visit to Galway since a fair afforded one an opportunity in those days of meeting old friends and relations.

The atmosphere aboard the boat was a light hearted one since people in those days got very few opportunities to mix socially and they were, no doubt, looking forward to their outing.

Tragically, however, this atmosphere was to change to one of panic and eventually tragedy in what was to become one of the most lamented drowning accidents in the history of the West of Ireland.

Its not quite certain what caused the boat to sink, but the story is told that one of the sheep on board got restless and poked his hoof through the floor of the boat.

One of the men on board tried to stuff the hole with a piece of clothing but only succeeded in knocking a plank out of the boat which caused the water to pour in.

The rest of the story is history — nineteen men and women on board were to drown in the ensuing panic and scarcely a family in the village of Annaghdown was to remain unaffected by the tragedy.

On board the boat was a young man named Cosgrave who managed to help some of the passengers to safety. However, when he swam back to try and rescue the girl who was shortly to have been his wife, Maire Ni Ruain, they were both dragged under by panic stricken women.

Then there was the woman who used a bag of wool to stay afloat and was eventually rescued and lived to a ripe old age.

The story of the Annaghdown tragedy was poignantly related by the poet Raftery in his now famous poem 'Anach Cuain'.

To date there has been no memorial erected to the unfortunate people who died so tragically but now that situation is to be rectified. The members of the Annaghdown Anglers Club have started a campaign to raise £800 in order to erect a huge stone memorial at Annaghdown Pier.

The memorial stone will carry the names of the nineteen people who died, along with a verse of Raftery's poem and is being hewn by Menlo man Paddy Fahy who was born in the house to which the bodies of the deceased were first brought.

The anglers have collected £500 already but are still £300 short of their target and Des Nolan from Annaghdown who is Chairman of the memorial committee would welcome any help, either monetary or practical.

Members of the Annaghdown Angling Club view the plans on Annaghdown pier where the memorial will be erected: From left — Mattie Hughes, Des Nolan, Chairman; Peter Dooley, President; and Francis Divilly.