The Irrawaddy - Folklorist

“The Irrawaddy”

Description

Fragment: "The curse upon Crossgadden, likewise his robbing crew; They robbed the Irrawaddy and the John R Skiddy, too"

Notes

Ranson: "The 'John R Skiddy' had 430 passengers aboard, all of whom were saved. When the 'Irrawaddy' ran aground ... between four hundred and five hundred people ... boarded the vessel and carried away a large quantity of goods from her.... The coast-guards, evidently, had a hand in the looting for Mr Crossgadden was a coast-guard."

It may be unusual on the Irish coast, but not elsewhere, for coastal inhabitants to consider the cargo and ship remains among wreckage to be a fair source of enrichment. See, for example, "The Old Mayflower" from Newfoundland and "Mariposa" from Labrador. On the other hand see Ranson's "The Middlesex Flora" for similar activity on the Wexford coast. - BS

Historical references

Apr 1, 1850 - "... Captain Shipley the master of the _John R Skiddy_ ... sailed his vessel ashore on Glascarrick beach .... he described the locals as 'the most abandoned set of villains that he had encountered'. They pillaged the wreck and anything brought ashore in defiance of both coastguard and police" (source: Bourke in _Shipwrecks of the Irish Coast_ v1, p. 49)
Oct 13, 1856 - "... the _Irrawady_ was wrecked opposite Cahore Point on the Blackwater Bank. A fleet of local fishing boats was organised by the local coast-guards and rescued the crew and passengers.... The teak from her hull was used to form the pews at Ballyragget Church" (source: Bourke in _Shipwrecks of the Irish Coast_ v1, p. 69)

Cross references

cf. "Mariposa" (theme)
cf. "The Teapots at the Fire" (theme)
cf. "The Middlesex Flora" (theme)
cf. "The Old Mayflower" (theme)

References