In 1964 William Lysaght published a book "The Abbey Fishermen - A Short History" The author tells the history of the snap net fishermen of the Abbey area of Limerick who found themselves deprived of a livelihood with the installation of the hydro-electric scheme at Ardnacrusha in the late 1920's. The book first published in 1964 by the Treaty Press 6/9 Georges Quay, Limerick. Second Printing 1999 by Shamrock Stamps, Gerald Griffin St., Limerick.
Embedded Files
In a bungalow at the end of the Mill Road, Corbally, directly across from St. Thomas's Island, there William (Nay) Lysaght (1918-1992) lived the greater part of his life. Being familiar with many of the old Abbey fishermen, who liked to visit the scenes of their former labours, he often went boating with them in the brocaun. Besides, his uncle, Arthur Lysaght who used to have a hut nearby was a veritable encyclopedia on the Abbey fishermen, and Nay listened attentitively to him, thus he became an expert on these fishermen, and what is more, all this information which he gathered over the years, he wrote down.
He also made a very realistic and accurate model of the fishermen as they fished with their net "down". In its glass surround it is worth seeing as it illustrates in a way no description can, their method of catching the elusive salmon. It is on display in a Museum room attached to St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Athlunkard Street.
A Nostalgic Look Back
It is 10 a.m. on a cold morning in March in the 1840's. The crews of two brocauns have just finished fishing at Tarnacreeba near the Metal Bridge. The men are cold and hungry, but what matter, it's only a short run home to the Abbey and 7 or 8 beamy salmon lie on the bottom of one of the brocauns. Home now for a few hours sleep and net repairs.
It's evening, they must face once more the long journey back to Doonass the topmost inure. The river is in spate, so it's poles out at Amor for the hard push through the Queen's Gap at Corbally and on to Braur and Smithaun up by Poulahera to Cragrack by paddle, then the poles are out again for the long haul through Drominbeg, Tannyvour, the Dam, Bunabha, Lurriga, Geentass, Barnaluinge and now they must start to work downstream again.
Abbey Fishermen in their brocauns. Photo taken at Doonalaun near St. Thomas's Island.
This photograph according to William Lysaght's knowledge is the only extant photograph of a pair of brocauns with the net spread in the act of fishing. Notice that the two paddlemen are facing and paddling downstream, thus dragging the net after the brocauns which are proceeding downstream, stern first. The netmen in the bows of the brocauns have their backs to the paddlemen, these were the positions for fishing. When going upstream with the nets in the brocauns the men faced around.
THE SNAP NET
The Abbey fishermen used several different types of snap nets varying in length and depth. A typical net would be 39 feet in length and 56 meshes deep, meshes measuring 4 to 6 inches. The net was mounted on 2 ropes, the top rope was called the SUNA and the bottom one the CLOSHUINE.
VIEW OF NET FROM BACK
This drawing is a rough idea of how the net would have looked under water as it is being dragged behind the brocauns.
On the bottom corners of the net there was a short length of rope called the BUNA, the netstones were attached to this. The stones had grooves in them to save undue wear on the ropes, as they were dragged over the bottom of the river.
THE BROCAUN
The brocaun, a flat bottom boat, a type of cot peculiar to the Abbey fishermen. It was a slimmer, shorter and lighter version of the angling cot.
This miniature model of an angling cot was made in 1951 by Patrick (Randy) Hayes, an ex Abbey fisherman and boat builder. The angling cot was modelled on the lines of the brocaun.
NET STONE
The Net Stones were made of limestone and had grooves cut in them to save the ropes from undue wear as they were dragged over the bottom of the river. The net stones varied in weight for use in different river conditions, but an average weight was 2 pounds.
THE ASH POLE was 10 to 11 feet long and about 2.5 inches in diameter, it had an iron furrule at the end.
THE PADDLE had an Oak blade and Ash handle.
THE SOPS were hay ropes or sugans. The fishermen wrapped them around their legs to keep out water.
THE CRIOSTOIR was used for killing fish. It could be any piece of heavy wood with a thong attached.
VETERANS POLING RACE - Abbey Regatta 1977. In front boat: Thomas (Tawdy) Clancy for whom Maureen Sparling respectfully dedicated her poem the Old Abbey Regatta to his memory. Tawdy collapsed and passed away in 1979 while doing what he loved best, competing in a poling race in a regatta. In the yellow boat is Tawdys brother Jackie Clancy, author of My Life on the River - An Abbey Fisherman's Stories. In the green boat is William Lysaght author of The Abbey Fishermen - A Short History.
In 2006 Sharon Clancy published an excellent book "The Abbey Fishermen" History and Culture of a Fishing Community. Sharon dedicated her book to the Abbey men who for centuries made their living from fishing on the Shannon river.
http://www.limerickslife.com/
A wonderful book My Life on the River - An Abbey Fisherman's Stories by Jackie Clancy, edited and published in 2010 by Delia Cowles.
The Clancy family at the launch of their fathers book "My Life on the River" at St. Mary's Cathedral, Limerick. From left: Teresa Cierans, Marie O'Flaherty, Jimmy Clancy, Margaret Downey and Delia
Clancy sisters nostalgic trip on the river Shannon at Corbally. Daughters of Jackie Clancy, Abbey Fisherman and author of "My Life on the River". Front: Margaret Downey, Delia Cowles and Marie O'Flaherty. Back: Ann Matson (first cousin)
AUTHOR AND POET MAUREEN SPARLING
Maureens published works include: Echoes of Old Limerick (Poetry), Happy Moments (Poetry), Reflections of Life (Poetry), Tales from King's Island Cottage (3 Novellas), Ripples in the Sand (Poetry), The Gold Nugget (Short Stories), A Gem in the Wasteland (Poetry and CD), Revenge of the Innocent (Novel), A Dubious Destiny (Novel).
THE OLD ABBEY REGATTA - By Maureen Sparling
Ah! The old Abbey Regatta is well nigh gone,
Where oft poled many a father and son,
The greasy pole where several slipped,
And the gandlow race where more were pipped.
Where sported the Duhigs, Clancys, Hayes and Macks,
For a variety of characters it never lacks,
Our Seamus was there in the midst of things,
And what a wealth of knowledge his presence brings!
The tug-o'-war over in Healy's field,
Where virile men strong muscles yield.
Then 'Hada' from the Abbey was deemed the 'King',
And 'Ireland, Mother Ireland' he'd oft sing,
The 'Groody Gondoliers' once ripped a plank,
But, with swift aid from Bobby Duhig (Snr,) they never sank,
There were bashful maidens and high-dive competition,
All were happy with not a hint of sedition,
Then, as eve drew in the 'Alabama Minstrels' sang,
From our clear waters mellow voices rang,
But, past and gone is that treasured time,
We now must step to a less cultured clime,
Where speed and efficiency is the thing,
No time to list' to the sweet bird sing,
What a buzz of activity those Sundays gave,
Tall, slim brown bodies the waters brave,
To bring honour to 'Parish' and family,
As they poled on so craftily,
They dared the elements, regardless of weather,
Their skin as hard as the toughest leather,
Some veterans too did also partake,
Though some years on, they were wide awake,
Where all enjoyed the sport, fun and song,
And many still for those day now long,
But our needs must answer a different beat,
A much swifter drum we now must greet,
An innate culture our lives has left,
And for characters rich we're now bereft.
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