The Fishery, Douagh, Achill, Co. Mayo
[graphic]
| Main Creator: | |
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| Contributors: | |
| In collection: | The Lawrence Photograph Collection |
| Format: | Photo |
| Published / Created: |
[between 1880-1900].
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| Subjects: | |
| Notes: | Douagh was a busy fishing village, and the fishermen's currachs (fishing boats) are visible on the shingle beach. The two well dressed men in the centre may be tourists organising a fishing trip, or a trip to the caves for seal hunting. Douagh is also spelt Dooagh. Additional information about this photograph is available on the National Library of Ireland's Flickr Commons photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/28739417497/ Robert French was the chief photographer responsible for photographing three quarters of the Lawrence Collection. For more information, see the Dictionary of Irish Biography: http://dib.cambridge.org/viewReadPage.do?articleId=a3369 Physical description: 1 negative : glass ; 30 x 25 cm. Geographic Coverage: Achill Island, County Mayo, Province of Connacht, Ireland. more |
A scene from a beach, apparently in Achill, where the locals are gathered with tins, buckets, boats and nets. What is really unusual and demands some explanation is the man inspecting the nets while holding a gun? (Incidentally this is the first time I can recall uploading an "Imperial" sized image to this stream. I shall have to study it carefully to see the difference such a significant size will make.)
We are on Dooagh Beach, thanks Niall McAuley I think we can understand that the peopel we see had a hard existence, it is nice to see some of them playfully pose for the camera. BeachcomberAustralia provides a piece from the magnificent Trove website curated by our friends from The National Library of Australia where we see Michael Davitt pleading for the building of Piers and Harbours for the fishermen in the area, Davitt argues that at little expense the construction would save uncounted lives and increase fishing productivity. There is evidence of a small pier in the streetview, I wonder how long after this photo it was built?
Photographer: Robert French
Collection: Lawrence Photograph Collection
Date: Catalogue range c.1880-1900
NLI Ref: L_IMP_1289
You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie
Tags:
Robert French, William Lawrence, Lawrence Collection, Lawrence Photographic Studio, Glass Negative, National Library of Ireland, Achill Island, Achill, Co. Mayo, fishermen, fishing community, fishing nets, shotgun, inspection, boats, currachs, Neamhógs, DOG, Dooagh Beach, Dooagh, Michael Davitt, Fishing, trove.nla.gov.au, National Library of Australia, Lawrence Photograph Collection
Comments
DannyM8
There is a Dog and a Comedian rowing a boat.
Posted: 25.07.2018
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/gnmcauley] If you keep on further down the road in your street view, the boats are still there!!
Posted: 25.07.2018
Inverarra
What a great photo. Looks like a very dangerous beach to be launching and landing currachs. Incredibly skillful oarsmen (and some women) in those days. Many thanks.
Posted: 25.07.2018
Inverarra
Looks a bit staged. Sitting into a currach while it is on rocks is and was a thing to be avoided, for obvious reasons.
Posted: 25.07.2018
domenico milella
Congratulation for your beautiful Album.
Posted: 25.07.2018
ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq
At the time, c. 1890, it was far from sweetness and light on Achill Island. Via Trove this 1886 article, "On Starvation's Verge', about a report by Michael Davitt ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Davitt ) includes -
...The villages of Achill are mostly fishing villages, where once the kelp manufacture flourished, and the sea supplied the inhabitants with a great part of their sustenance. But now [1886] the manufacture is dead, and the wealth of the sea wasted, save in calmest, summer weather, for want of harbour accommodation. Mr. Davitt points out the places where the Government might, at small expense, provide piers and harbours, and save uncounted lives. But his suggestions will, we fear, be wasted in the British Parliament. ...From - trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/119446126 (Freemans Journal Sydney, 24/4/1886
Posted: 25.07.2018
oaktree_brian_1976
Is that a gun/rifle or a cain? Man talking to the lady in the middle has a flat hat and a walking stick?
Posted: 25.07.2018
abandoned railways
Definately a Flintrock weapon, and he also has a ball pouch on his back for powder and shot.
Posted: 25.07.2018
dantheserene
Perhaps a fowling piece rather than a rifle?
Posted: 25.07.2018
Rory_Sherlock
The firearm could have been for a seal cull - see this other Achill image for comparison:
catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000564837
Posted: 25.07.2018
Swordscookie
My first thought was that the guy with the gun was a kind of water bailiff examining the nets?
Posted: 25.07.2018
ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq
Fascinated by this - the sandy beach appeared again in 2017 after 33 years - www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/10/i-had-50-tourists-d...
"... My great-great-grandfather used to blow a bugle on the beach to let the villagers know when the wrack was washed ashore so they could come down and get their share. ..."
Posted: 25.07.2018
Dr. Ilia
good image
Posted: 26.07.2018
ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq
💡This photo is in the 1902 book 'On an Irish Jaunting-Car Through Donegal and Connemara' by S. G. Bayne. Title for the photo - "The Fishery, Achill Island. Slievemore in the distance. Host Sheridan with the rifle". Page 78.
archive.org/details/onirishjauntingc00bayn/page/n134/mode...
So photo must be before 1902 at the latest.
Posted: 26.08.2022
