On September 4, 1858, Caisleán Nua, a worn, wooden boat, typical of its time set out from Annaghdown with about 30 passengers, cattle and sheep heading for the livestock fair in Fairhill, Galway.
Just over halfway through their journey, in the portion of the river between Glenlo Abbey and Dangan sportsground, a freak accident involving one of the sheep onboard occurred and over two thirds of the passengers perished.
The boat, whose owner was never disclosed by the Annaghdown community, was described in articles following the accident as in "rotten and leaky condition". Though it has never been confirmed, it is thought that one of the sheep became restless. It drove its hooves through the wooden floor of the boat.
In an effort to prevent leaking, a passenger removed their coat and plugged the hole. The floorboard was loosened and the boat began to take in water within minutes. According to local tales, one of the ten survivors washed up at the Menlo graveyard, having floated on a bale of wool that they had been bringing.
This tragedy was written into one of the most renowned Irish language poems as a commemoration of the lives lost by poet Antoine Ó Raifteiri (1779-1835 ). This poem tells the story of the devastating loss that the Annaghdown community faced, with every family impacted in some way. A lot of the passengers on Caisleán Nua had been young men who were laid out and buried in the same suits they wore on their wedding days, which had only been some months, even weeks before the accident.
“Bhí buachaillí óga ann, ag tigheacht don fhómhar,
dhá síneadh ar chróchair ‘s dhá dtabhairt go cill;
Ba é gléas a bpósta a bhí dhá dtórramh,
ach a Rí na Glóire, nár mhór an feall.”
It wasn’t until 150 years later, in September 1978, that the wreck was found by the local Galway Sub Aqua Club. This gave locals a lot more clarity, removing the mystery surrounding the wreck and confirming the location where the boat went down.
This finding happened to coincide with the Annaghdown Anglers Club, who organised and a memorial plaque to remember the event and all the lives that had been lost for the 150th anniversary.
For such a huge tragedy, this memorial plaque was well overdue as this story is still unknown to so many people, especially younger people who see this river everyday and do not realise how much history this defining city feature holds.
“Bhris an bád a’s báthadh na daoine,
scaip na caoirigh anonn sa snámh,
A Dhia, nach ansin a bhí an feall mór déanta
ar aon fhear déag a’s ochtar mná.”
