Cappoquin

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Paul Doherty's [RIP] photo of Cappoquin is more than a mere photo. It encapsulates the History and Geography of the town better than words.

Between the broad river Blackwater and the Mountains at Knocknafallia you have the town and in the distance Mount Melleray Abbey.

It speaks of an area rich in texture colour and form.

Shipping on the River Blackwater up to the town was the commercial lifeline of West Waterford in the 18th and 19th Centuries.

Cappoquin is a small market town on the Dungarvan to Lismore road, it is set in beautifully wooded country where the Glenshelane River joins the Munster Blackwater at the foot of the Knockmealdown Mountains.

It is an ideal base for a visitor to the area, surrounded as it is by Mountains, Rivers and the Sea not far distant at Dungarvan and Youghal.

Cappoquin has had more than a few literary residents, the Walsh's in particular figure in the list of Poets and Authors. Buried in the graveyard of the Catholic Church is Padraig Denn, a plaque attached to the wall near the Grotto in the church yard has a brief history and appreciation of this scholarly man.

4 Km north of Cappoquin is Boola Bridge, a grotto on the left side of the road has become well known because of apparitions and unexplained sightings some years ago, further up this road Mount Melleray Abbey, a Cistercian Monastery founded in 1832 by Irish Monks expelled from France in 1822. The buildings have been described as " A disappointing essay in the Gothic manner" (Lord Killanin). At the abbey are 5 Ogham stones from the ancient cemetry of Kilgrovan. leaving Mount Melleray heading North to the County Boundary at the top of Glenafallia between Knocknafallia (2,189 ft) and Knockanask (1,500 ft) the views over county Tipperary, from Newcastle to Clonmel are well worth the effort.

4 Km N.N.E. of Cappoquin at Cluttahina (625 ft) is a most interesting Ringfort and Souterrain.

10 Km N.E. on the Clonmel Road in the old church yard at Ballynamult are fragments of an ancient stone cross with fret and interlace patterns.

3 Km S.S.E. is Affane, scene of a celebrated battle between the Earls of Ormond and Desmond on the 1st of February 1565. Affane House occupies the site of Affane Castle, birthplace of Valentine Greatrakes (1629~83), otherwise known as "The Stroker" who cured Scrofula and other diseases by stroking with his hands and by hypnotism and faith healing; Charles II of England was amongst his patients.

It would not be fair to write a piece on Cappoquin without acknowledging the contribution made to the entire West Waterford region by the existence of the river. As evidence of the importance of Shipping, a canal was planned and partly finished to connect Cappoquin to the Sea at Dungarvan. This canal today is known as the "Brickey River" because of the brick lining on the canal. Ships, such as The Happy Harry, The Olive Branch, De Wadden Etc.. Plus of course the Lighters from Youghal and Tallow. Flemings of Youghal operated a number of these load lightening barges up the river ( Hence - Lighter). I was most fortunate to know Tommy Hannigan, Bridane RIP, on a trip from Cappoquin to Tallow by water, Tommy recalled Farrells Lighters their names and who worked on them. With appologies to Tommy, I can't recall most of it.

Cappoquin Harbour Master

The Harbour Masters House.

For close on 100 years, the Daly's lived in this split level house. They were Riverboat Captains in the heyday of Cappoquin Port. To the rear, at river level stands a pier, also, at one time the Boathouse. Today as we ponder the demise of this house, we can only hope that in some small way, we perpetuate the memory of the Daly's and Patcheen Geary's involvement with Cappoquin's Maritime past. (Photo: Helen McGrath)

The Jetty at Cappoquin

The quayside at the Port of Cappoquin is now abandoned, silted up, and strewn with Flotsam and Jetsam. How many stout and brave vessels tied up to it's bollards, bringing prosperity and Industry to this part of the country. Ochon go deo !

In the background, the six span "Avonmore" Bridge and to the right, Cappoquin Rowing Club's Boathouse. The Blackwater is on a full tide, though, not on a Springer.

It has been suggested that a Maritime Museum be opened to preserve the history of Cappoquin Port.

S.S. Dartmouth Castle.

A paddle steamer built for service on the River Dart in Devon UK. Built in 1885, the first of three vessels named Dartmouth Castle. She came to Ireland in 1907 and ran a regular ferry service between Cappoquin and Youghal. Pictured manouvering off the Steamers Quay Cappoquin. We have a surviving ticket and price list per item of carriage which we will attach ASAP. The background is the "Red Bridge" the railway bridge across the Blackwater which prevented many vessels with high funnels from coming alongside at Cappoquin Pier.

The Wreck of the Happy Harry

Built in 1894 ~ Wrecked 1950

Length:101 ft Breath: 23 ft Draft: 10 ft

Weight 142 Tons

Her day's are numbered as workmen climb like ants on her decks stripping her down and burning her remains.

The last of the three masted Schooners in British or Irish water foundered in the Mersey and was dismantled.

[Photo: Southport Maritime Museum]

There were so many vessels plying cross channel to Youghal and Cappoquin that it would not be possible to list them all. A visit to "Through Mighty Seas" will give you an idea of the scale. One story related to me about the "Olive Branch" hitting Camphire Bridge and the confusion that followed, is I am afraid a "story" The Olive Branch was wrecked on the 30th November 1848 at St Margarets hope. However, the memory of the Olive Branch lives on in such stories. The "Piel Castle" Gross Tons: 75, was wrecked on the 2nd November 1898 while En-route from Youghal with a cargo of timber, the web site has loads of information, if you have the name of a vessel then you most likely will find it listed here.

When you think about Maritime trade in the 19th~20th Century, the size or Gross Tons of the vessels and the means of propulsion, you would have to admire the men that crewed them. Nowadays, steel hulled vessels run for shelter using Diesel engines and Satellite Navigation. We should remember also, the Cappoquin men that lost their lives as merchant seamen, the Whelan's, William, lost at sea, S.S. BARON KELVIN freighter 3081 Tons Launched 1924 (1941 - torpedoed near Gibraltar) and Daniel 1946 S.S. EMPIRE BLESSING (Sunderland) Aged 29, the son of William and Margaret Whelan, Cappoquin. Buried in Barking (Rippleside) Essex.

The building of the Railway in the 1870's and the construction of the "Red Bridge" across the river meant that, three masted Schooners could no longer come alongside in Cappoquin itself, to be honest we were almost at the end of the masted sailing ships, instead we had the Steamers. Some of these had hinged funnels that could be raised or lowered.

A family tradition lives on, Father and Son, on the left, some of the crew of L.E. Macha relax after winning this humungus sailing challenge cup for Whalers, in Cork harbour. On the right, Chief Radio and Computer Sytems Officer(RCSO), John Geoghegan, Cappoquin. John served deep sea on the QE2 and various other vessels, he is now stationed in Dublin with the Irish Coastguard.

Loing Eireanneach "Macha"

B O'Dee,(Offaly) P Geoghegan, (Waterford) J Long, (Dublin) C O'Brien, (Curragh) -? (From Killrosanty)

Chief Radio Officer. John Geoghegan

(Seabourne Uniform)

L.E. Macha

(Ex. H.M.S. Borage. K 120.)

A Flower Class Corvette bought from the Royal Navy in 1946. This vessel was one of three, L.E's Cliona and Maeve being the other two (Bellworth and Oxlip).

A great sea boat and a proud history in WW2.

One of her regular skippers was Commander Joe Deasy, Dungarvan. Her crew usually had a Waterford complement from Lismore, Ring and Old Parish.

The Corvettes gave great service to the country until sold for scrap in 1970.

(Stoker Geoghegan, P. - 817970)