Most Afflicting Accident!!!

Connacht Journal Sept. 4th 1828

Loss of Several Lives.

It is with unaffected sorrow we have to record a most distressing circumstance which took place this day, by which it is supposed that at least 19 unhappy fellow creatures perished. An old row boat, in a rotten and leaky condition, started from Annadown early this morning, a distance from Galway, up Lough Corrib, of about 8 miles, having, it is calculated, about 31 persons on board, who were coming to the fair of Galway; the boat and passengers proceeded without obstruction, until they arrived opposite Bushypark, within two miles of Galway, when she suddenly went down, and all on board perished, except 12 persons, who were fortunately rescued from their perilous situation by another boat. Eighteen of the bodies of these unhappy creatures were taken out of the lake in the course of the day, and presented a most heart rending scene, being surrounded by their friends, who came to identify them, and by whom they were removed in a boat to Annadown. The boat was in such an unsound state, as to render her unfit for the passage. The unfortunate accident occurred by a sheep putting its leg through one of the planks, which produced a leak, in order to stop which, one of the passengers applied his great coat to the aperture, and stamped it with his foot; in doing so, he started one of the planks altogether, which caused the boat's immediate sinking, having been overloaded - 10 sheep, a quantity of timber, and about 31 persons being on board. Eighteen of the bodies have been found; 12 have escaped, and one is supposed to be yet missing. Major Dickson and a party of the 64th Regiment attended, and rendered every humane assistance in their power. An inquest was held on the bodies by John Blakeney, Esq., Coroner, at which James O’Hara, Esq., M.P., and J. H. Burke Esq., Mayor attended and the Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Drowning". The following are the names of the persons drowned and taken out of the lake:-

Bridget Faraher, Mary Costello, Judith Ryan, Bridget Hynes, Mary Newed, Winifred Jourdan, Mary Flynn, Bridget Curly, Catherine Mulloy, Mary Carr, Michael Faraher, Michael Cahill, John Cosgrave, John Concannon, Thomas Burke, Patrick Ford, John Ford, and Timothy Goley.