41M - GCC Canal Boat - Dublin 1927 |
17 November 2008 | ||||||||
41M was taken to Killaloe for weighing by her first skipper Jim Moore from Kildare in May 1927. From then on to the closure of the
In 1957, 41M with Jack Nolan and Jim Farrell were returning to
The 41M was the last barge into Carrick-on-Shannon in May 1959 carrying 20 tons of flour from Ranks in After that 41M went into decline again. Tim Kennedy purchased her, added a Leyland E170 6 cylinder Matilda tank engine, installed hand rails all round and repaired her bottom. Tim used her for a number of years, but left the inside very open. In 1984, Les Saunders while cruising through Tullamore noticed the 41M looking sad and neglected in the inner harbour. A few months later he did a deal and bought her. Since then the engine and front cuddy have been replaced, the bottom has been replated and a large wheelhouse and double glazed windows fitted. She still boasts the original decks and propeller, and of course is proud to wear that special dent planted on her by the 53M in 1957.
Crew included:
During the 1930s the Skipper was George Duggan from Allenwood, and the crew were Joe Connolly from Shannon Harbour, Martin ‘Hatpin’ Doolin, and Christy Brien from Daingean. Tom Lyons was the engine man in 1938 when Thomas Farrell was drowned. In April 1941 Joe Connolly was back temporarily as deckman as Jim Connolly from Killina was out sick. At that time “Hatpin” was in charge, George Duggan was engineman and Nicky Conlon was greaser. Joe left a few months later when Jim came back.
In the 1940s, Paddy Tierney took charge and was joined by Jack ‘B&I’ Dunne, Tony Hutchinson and Mick Clarke from Mayo. Mick eventually went in charge and stayed in charge until 1950, when he married B&I’s daughter and emigrated to America.
At the end of the 1940s, Pat McGrath was on 41M when she sank in the Ardnacrusha tailrace. They had a load of cement on board, but firtunately she was retrieved prior to the cement setting. [Described here Raising 41M from the Deep] In 1950 Jack Brazil from Ballycommon went in charge with B&I as engine man, but later Jack swapped with Patsy Kennedy and Tom ‘Nanny’ Lyons who crewed the 41M until the breach in 1953. After the breach was repaired, Jack Nolan went in charge until Christmas 1959 when the 41M was decommissioned. The last crew to handle the 41M were Jim Farrell, Jimmy Nolan (Jacks brother), Paddy Ruane and from 1958 John Coyne. Other men connected with 41M were, Tom Connolly who worked on her in 1940, Tommy Nutt, Jim Leeson, Tom Doyle, Paddy Nolan and Tim Lenihan.
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Last Updated ( 26 May 2010 ) |