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 Extant evidence of CG Stations
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| Fred Barton |
Posted on 20/02/2014 21:16
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 New Member  Posts: 9 Joined: 15/06/2009 |
Greetings from New Zealand! It’s been a considerable time since I last posted on this website (4 years I think) but my family history research has been bubbling away on a slow burner and I’m back to an active interest in what I call my ‘Coastguard Connection.’ Some brief background before I get to some specific questions. My paternal grandmother, Catherine Dawson, was born in the coastguard cottages in Harwich, Essex, whilst her father, John, was on a ship based there and she then spent her teenage years in Bantry Bay when John was Inspecting Chief Officer at Castletown (known locally, I think, as Castletownbere). However, both John’s father (James Dawson) and his father-in-law (Charles Hampton) were also in the Coastguard Service and each of them also had postings in Ireland. All but one of these Irish postings (when James spent 11 years at Portrane, north of Dublin) were in the far south, in Waterford, Cork and Kerry. As I hope to be making a trip to England later this year, in July and August, it occurs to me that a side trip to southern Ireland to visit some of the places where my ancestors spent some time could be both pleasurable and informative. Whilst I have the names of the various CG locations it would be very interesting to know which still have extant evidence of the CG Station that was there in the 19th century; perhaps CG cottages (as in Harwich today) or maybe even just a jetty. So, the following is a list of the nine sites (with possible alternative spellings or names) and if anyone has current information on any of them I’d be really pleased to hear from them: County Waterford: Ballymacaw and Bunmahon County Cork: Cobh (Cove/Queenstown), Mizen Head, Castletownbere (Castletown), Reentrisk (Rintrisk) County Kerry: Collorus (Colaris/Bonaw/Bunaw), Kilmakilloge (Kilmichaelogue) and Cunana (Kells). I have a feeling that Collorus and Kilmakilloge may in fact be one and the same place so if someone could also clear this point up for me that would be most helpful. From a little bit of investigation I have done on-line the countryside at Mizen Head and on the Beara Peninsular is clearly spectacular and if there is the possibility of adding to that the sighting of some tangible remains or artifacts associated with the old CG Stations that would increase my pleasure enormously. Many thanks Fred Barton |
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| Kevin Langley |
Posted on 24/02/2014 19:59
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New Member Posts: 2 Joined: 24/02/2014 |
I think you may be confusing Castletownsend, where there was a coastguard station and Castletownbere where there was a naval base. Both are in Co Cork. My grandfather, Richard Rice, was one of six coast guards at Castletownsend in the 1901 census. The former coastguard house is now a private residence, called The Rocket House because it used to have equipment to fire lines unto wrecked ships using rockets. The Rocket House sold recently and if you google it you can see more details. Castletownsend is more usually spelled Castletownshend. |
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| Fred Barton |
Posted on 25/02/2014 00:21
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New Member Posts: 9 Joined: 15/06/2009 |
Hello Kevin, thanks for your response. Yes, you're right - I hadn't realised that Castletownbere was only a naval base, so thanks for setting me straight. In fact, this now makes more sense as John Dawson was really a naval man rather than a coastguard (although on a number of occasions he served on Coastguard Cruisers). It's just that for his final 15 years at Castletownbere I had taken his rating of "Inspecting Chief Officer/Divisional Officer" as a CG rank rather than a RN one. In fact, I think I even have a note of the ship he was on, the "Shannon," during this time! Now, you say there WAS a naval base at Castletownbere so does this mean there is no longer a naval presence there? If not, are there any current signs of the old base as, even though not a CG site, I still have a strong family interest in the place as my grandmother developed an enduring love for Bantry Bay as a teenager during her father's posting. |
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| Kevin Langley |
Posted on 25/02/2014 16:58
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New Member Posts: 2 Joined: 24/02/2014 |
After the creation of the Irish Free State (now Republic of Ireland) in 1922, the Royal Navy kept 3 naval bases, known as the Treaty Ports - Cobh (Haulbowline Island), Lough Swilly and Castletownbere (Berehaven). They gave these up in 1937, and much to Churchill's chagrin DeValera would let them back during world war II. The Irish Naval Service uses Haulbowline as its main base but I don't think there is much at the other two except RNLI lifeboat stations and a few fishing boats. |
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| Fred Barton |
Posted on 26/02/2014 22:55
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New Member Posts: 9 Joined: 15/06/2009 |
Thanks for this Kevin. I'll certainly be including Castletownbere on my itinerary and have a good look round to see what, if anything, I can find. |
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