The fatal crash of a KLM airliner off the west coast, the damage wreaked by Hurricane Debbie, and the role played by a fish merchant in the relief of Aran islanders are among the events recalled in a new history of Galway published this month.
On Thursday, August 14th, 1958, the Naomh ╔anna ferry was about to steam from Galway docks with 300 passengers on board when it received an urgent message. The master was informed that a KLM Super Constellation Hugo de Groot, had crashed into the sea about 80 miles due west of the North Aran lighthouse. The plane had taken off from Shannon early that morning with 99 people on board.
The day trippers were disembarked from the ferry, and only those residents of the Aran islands were permitted to sail. Essential cargo and passengers were dropped at Kilronan on Inis M≤r, and the Naomh ╔anna steamed to the estimated position of the crash.
Unfortunately, there were no survivors. By the following day some 34 bodies had been recovered from the sea, and the first were taken ashore by Breton trawlers which had been fishing in the area. The Aran island lifeboat, a Canadian warship, a cargo ship and the Italian sail training vessel, Amerigo Vespucci, were among the other vessels involved in the search. Many of the bodies were buried in a large grave at Bohermore cemetery in Galway.
The author of the history is Brendan O'Donnell, merchant seaman and one of a family of boatbuilders and seafarers from Galway. He has kept meticulous written and photographic records of his home port over the years, updated in between contracts that took him all over the world.
His photographs include images of the aftermath of Hurricane Debbie in 1961 in the docks and at the entrance to Lough Atalia.
The publication captures many aspects of maritime activity, from the late 19th to the early 21st century. One fascinating historical document is an indenture which a boatbuilding apprentice had to sign, dated June, 1904. The apprentice bound to "do no damage to his said Master nor see it done by others", and among the commitments was a promise not to get married within the said term of apprenticeship.
There were more restrictions. "He shall not play at cards, dice tables or any other unlawful games," the indenture read, and "without license of his said master, he shall neither buy nor sell". Nor would he absent himself unlawfully, "but in all things" he would be "honest and faithful".
Publication of Galway, A Maritime Tradition - Ships, Boats and People by Brendan O'Donnell was supported by the Heritage Council. It is on sale in all good bookshops in Galway, or from the author at (091) 563354, at £9.50 (€12 Euro), paperback.