A New Pier for Cromane

(Kerry Sentinel, Wednesday May 31, 1895)

Agitation for proper facilities for Cromane fishermen is nothing new! The following report appeared in The Kerry Sentinel on Wednesday, May 31, 1895 

"An interesting and well-attended meeting was held in Cromane on Sunday last for the purpose of petitioning the Congested Districts Board for such help in the way of a pier, boats and boat gear as would enable the fishermen of the place to make a start in the deep-sea fishing trade. The meeting was held in the vicinity of the chapel grounds.

There were present – Rev.T.Lawlor, P.P.; The McGillycuddy, J.P.; J.D.Foley, C.E.; M.W.O’Brien, M.J.O’Sullivan, W.O’Brien, P.McCarthy, M.Foley, M.Casey, J.McEnery, J.Rielly, E.Rielly, etc.

Father Lawlor, on being called to the chair, said he was glad to inform them that a number of gentlemen from the town who had kindly taken an interest in the project they had before them had kindly come out that day to co-operate with them in their work. As their parish priest it was a very great pleasure to him to preside at their meeting and at any and every time to do what he could to help the people in a project so useful and practical as that they were taking part in. To help the poor was at all times a noble work but such help was followed by greater merit and better effect when it was given, as it was in their case, not only to those who were poor but to those who were also honest and deserving (hear, hear). The object of their meeting that day was to publicly express the need which they so sorely felt of that help which could be given to them by the Congested Districts Board and which would enable them to avail of those resources which lay at their door as a means of materially improving the condition of themselves and their families. The shape which help would be expected to take would be expressed in their resolutions which would be supported by those among them who could speak on behalf of the fishermen of the district. The substance of those resolutions was that the poor people of that locality, living within easy access of the places where this deep-sea fishing was carried on and having the ability and desire to engage in it but without the means of making a start, they requested the Congested Districts Board to come to their assistance by lending them money for boats and gear and also by building a pier which would be an anchorage and a shelter to those engaged in the fishing industry. He saw no reason why they would not be able to engage in this deep-sea fishing with as much success as the people of any other part of the coast or Manxmen, Scotchmen and Frenchmen (hear, hear). They had as much skill and courage as those people and along with that he could say, as their parish priest, that they were temperate and honest, not quarrelling amongst themselves but law-abiding and industrious. The fishing industry under the late Father Davis, emphasising the fact that the great progress made in a comparatively short period by the people of that locality, was founded on their industrious and temperate habits allied to the honesty and punctuality with which they had contracted with those who gave them assistance. For his part he knew that the people of that district were worthy of the best recommendation that he could give them and that, if their project was confirmed by the Board, they would prove themselves worthy of every assistance given them and would in a short time show that they were second to none in availing opportunities given them for their improvement (cheers).

The following resoutions were proposed in globo by Mr.J.O’Rielly, seconded by Mr.P.F.McCarthy:-

'That we hereby establish branches of the National Fisheries Protection Association and Irish Industries Association and affiliate forthwith to the central branches of these societies:'

'That we direct the attention of the Congested Districts Board to the necessity of making a grant of money for the building of a pier at Cromane which will afford a safe anchorage and shelter to those engaged in deep-sea fishing in this portion of Dingle Bay and also for the erection of slips which will be useful to the people of a considerable area for collecting seaweed and transporting turf and sand:'

'That we apply to the Congested Districts Board for the loan of such a sum of money as will provide boats and gear for the crews which will be formed in connection with our local fishermen’s association and we earnestly expect that the Board, in dealing with applications made on our behalf, will generously consider the pressing needs of the locality which is by far the most congested in Kerry and ranks fourth among the most congested districts in Ireland.'

Mr.J.Rielly (fisherman and cottier) said that nothing in the way of help would be any use to the poor people of the place unless it saved them from the need of depending entirely on their small patches of land and on the small earnings they made from fishing as it was carried on at present. If they once got a fair start there was no-one amongst them afraid of the result. He believed that the deep-sea fishing, if they could get the means of going into it, was the only means of constant help which they could look forward to. They never got any relief by the railway works for they were a good distance out of their way and they should give up the fishing and the tilling to avail of it. Even if they could take part in works of that kind they would be as badly off as ever in a short time but the fishery would be a constant means of earning to them. He knew Fr.Lawlor would do his best for them and that it would be a happy day for the place if he succeeded in getting the pier and boats for them.

Mr.P.F.McCarthy (pilot and fisherman) said that, as an experienced fisherman, he thought that if they got a start at the deep-sea fishing they would not only do as well as Manxmen and others who came to their coasts but that they would do better for that they had more knowledge of the fishing grounds and of the coast (hear, hear). The pier, he thought, was very necessary for the safety of fishermen and their boats. Everybody knew that Cromane was a very congested district and that the small patches of land were not able to support the people decently so that there was no place in Ireland where assistance of the kind was so badly wanted. At the same time there was no place where it would have a better effect as the fishermen of the place were in every way able to take a part in deep-sea fishing if they got the opportunity of doing so.

Mr.J.McEnery (fisherman and pilot) said that if these things were done for them by the Board there was not a family in the place that would not be much improved by them. He agreed with Father Lawlor that they wanted no relief but what would put them in the way of constant work and he said if anything in that way was done for them every man of them would show those who helped them that they were worthy of Father Lawlor’s good opinion (hear, hear).

MR.J.D.Foley, C.E., next spoke, he said – We are assembled here today for a practical purpose; our programme is a wide one and we invite assistance from every quarter. We do not meet to discuss any wild or shadowy theories; our object is to make of Cromane a fishing station, in fact as well as in name. For this purpose we need a pier and a few large boats and gear suited to the deep sea to enable us to make a start. As we have here half an agricultural, as well as half a fishing, community we also ask for a few new ships for the inner bay to replace the old delapidated ones already in use for collecting sea-weed and drawing home turf. All that needs money. To the Congested Districts Board we look for the necessary funds. I am sure they will be forthcoming if we can only show that they will be well and advantageously spent. What is our case going before the Commissioners? We dwell here at the gates of the ocean with a poor soil and a teeming population. You belong to a generation of fishermen; no men are quicker at 'nobbling' a salmon. You have pretty well provided yourselves with small boats and are skilled in herring and mackerel fishing. You have mastered the mysteries of the inner waters and you now believe that with greater facilities you could do more. Outside the Manxmen and Cornishmen come year after year to reap a golden harvest. You can see their sails, and behold them shooting their nets while sitting idly in your homes. Why is this? Is it that you are lazy and idle? Not at all; you are a bold and active and a hardy race but it is the want of proper facilities. It is to help you to procure these things that we are here today and we know you are too poor to find them yourselves. First of all you must be thoroughly in earnest in your demands and show your anxiety for them in every way; secondly, to provide a good committee which alone will have the power of negotiating with the Congested Districts Board on your behalf, and one in which the body can repose confidence. Now, I am glad to say the whole tone of this meeting shows how thoroughly in earnest and unanimous you are. I believe, too, that we have already got in Killorglin such a committee as is required. Father Lawlor is president and, as he was about the first to enter the field, so we mean to keep him on till this is accomplished. Already a good beginning has been made. Mr.Green, the well-known Inspector of Fisheries, will be down early next month. The site of our future pier and slip are well chosen; anyway no better can be found in the locality. The pier will start from the end of the contract road at the coastguard station. Why then we may all be of good cheer. In conclusion I would guard you against the effects of too strong an inauguration that may lead you to hope for too much all at once. You all heard about catching your hare before you cook it; let us now try to catch the hare before being buttered with anything else.

The McGillycuddy, who was warmly received, spoke at great length on the subject of the fishing industry.

A vote of thanks to Fr.Lawlor terminated the meeting."