A Curious Court Case and other Strange Tales in Ballyshannon

The right hand bank of the Erne was the scene of an incident that led to a curious court case

Thursday 30th April 2020. An unbelievable court case based on an incident on the Erne at Ballyshannon. Also an amazing escape for a Ballyshannon woman.

Friday 1st May 2020. Local Customs for Special Days in the Ballyshannon Area.

Wrack versus Wreck
The wreck directly reached the rock

And wronged the Rector’s wrack,

       The Rector rushed to wreak the wrongs
Of wrack upon the wreck:

Can rectitude direct the Rector,

Recklessly to wreak

     Upon the wretched wreck, the wrongs

Of Rector’s wracky rock?

 A trading vessel called “The Henrietta Charlotte” was wrecked on the shore  near Ballyshannon  sandbar. The Rector (Minister), who lived not far from Wardtown Castle, claimed the right to the seaweed on that part of the shore where the ship had run aground. He sued the ship-owner for damage to his seaweed! His claim was unsuccessful. The case was humorously known as - Wrack versus Wreck. William Allingham captured the mood of the times in his humorous poem above called  “The Wreck of the”Henrietta Charlotte.”  Like myself when you know the background you can read the poem again and get a better understanding. (Wrack refers to the seaweed found along the shoreline).

The ruined residence of the rector is still identifiable on the way to Kildoney and is recognisable from the roadway as there is a very extensive walled enclosure still standing. Kildoney Glebe was the residence of the minister who served at St. Anne’s Church in Ballyshannon. A coloured aerial photograph of the remains of Kildoney Glebe are contained in my book “Ballyshannon Genealogy and History” page 256.  (see below for details)

Famous Pickpocket operated in Ballyshannon 1771

George Barrington whose real name was Waldron was born in Maynooth Co. Kildare in 1755. He joined a troop of strolling players managed by a man called Price. They put on performances for the garrisons and the gentry in large towns in Ireland. In 1771 they arrived in Derry but their funds were exhausted and despite performing plays there, Barrington resorted to a new source of income. Barrington was a good looking fellow, very plausible, so he engaged in pick pocketing from the merchant and shopmen in Derry. 

They moved on to Ballyshannon where they spent the autumn and winter of 1771. On Tuesdays and Saturdays they performed plays but for the remainder of the week they engaged in pick pocketing. During their stay Barrington was attacked by a violent fever and the company of strolling players moved on without him. However a young actress with the group called Miss Egerton was smitten by Barrington and stayed with him until he recuperated. They then moved on but she was drowned while crossing the Boyne. Barrington later in life went to London to carry on his illegal business and was eventually arrested and sentenced to seven years transportation to Australia. He died near Sydney in 1804.

A Narrow Escape for a Ballyshannon Lady in 1833

A poor Ballyshannon woman was looking out of a two-pair of stairs window, when her opposite neighbour offered her a glass of whiskey. Unfortunately she leaned out too far across to reach it and fell down into the street. Luckily she fell on a gentleman who was passing at the time who broke her fall. He enquired as to whether she was dead or not and she replied that she believed that she was not dead but speechless. He had her conveyed to the hospital where she has made a speedy recovery. She had shown great female presence of mind as she had held on firmly to her glass of whiskey and had not spilled one drop during her fall!

This story from Ballyshannon was recorded in a book of comic stories in 1833.

Limited edition quality hardback with dust jacket as above available when things return to normal in A Novel Idea and Local Hands Ballyshannon and Four Masters Bookshop Donegal Town. Also available for postage from anthonyrbegley@hotmail.com

Topics include: How to go about Tracing your Roots/The first settlers in the area/ Newly researched history of the town of Ballyshannon and the townlands in Kilbarron and Mágh Éne parishes/ Records of the first travellers and tourists to Ballyshannon, Bundoran, Belleek, Rossnowlagh and Ballintra/An aerial guide to place names along the Erne from Ballyshannon to the Bar/Flora and Fauna of the area/ A history of buildings and housing estates in the locality/Graveyard Inscriptions from the Abbey graveyard, St. Joseph’s and St. Anne’s /Rolling back the years with many memories of the Great Famine, Independence struggle, hydro-electric scheme, Gaelic games, boxing, handball, Boy Scouts, soccer, mummers, characters, organisations, folklore and lots more.