Alan Skeoch

Year: 2020

  • EPISODE 72 BUNMAHON IRELAND ALAN SKEOCH’S JOURNAL WED. AGUST 24, 1960

    EPISODE 72   BUNMAHON  IRELAND   ALAN SKEOCH’S  JOURNAL 


    ALAN skeoch
    June 2020

    Well friends this will be the end of my personal experience in Ireland in 1960.  End of
    my journal entries.   But it is not the end of the story.  After this Episode I would like
    to take you back  to 1840 then to 1875.   Mining conditions…miners lives…women’s lives
    Those years are described as wretched for people in Bunmahon.  I hope you have
    enough Imagination to put yourselves in their shoes.


    This  cottage could just as well be in 1870 rather than 1960.  Typical working class cottage.
    Those living here had to look for work wherever it could be found.  And then begin walking
    to get there.   The house was heated  with peat…cooking with peat that had to be cut into
    blocks and  dried.   The air inside the homes was  mixed with smoke.  ‘


    Roads  were used by sheep, cattle, people





    alan skeoch
    June 2020

    WEDNESDAY AUGUST 24, 1960

    Rained  all morning so heavy that work was  pointless.
    Andy Kiely’s father died at 9 a.m. He was 91 years old.  The lads
    will need a half day off tomorrow for the funeral.  Why didn’t someone
    tell  me Andy was trying to work for me and look after his dying
    father at the same time.  God, I wish I had not fired him.

    We  covered 6,900 feet of line in the afternoon.

    John Hogan and Paddy (who has a serious  hunchback) went
    down to the pub at 5 for a game of darts.

    Barney and  I went exploring at 8 pm … up a glen and into adits  that
    no one had entered for 40 years according to Barney. Ocean entry point. Water past our
    waists for 400 feet then I was stunned with the beauty of the place…walls 
    of reds,  greens, whites.  We found  numerous skulls at base of 
    an  old shaft that had been closed in at the top after these animals 
    had been dumped.   Waterfall inside gave a mourning kind of  sound…
    sort of  frightening.






    We passed by Andy Kiely’s house on way home  where the wake will
    be going on all night.  I was a little nervous entering the house…unsure
    I would be welcome for I  never knew the man.  My lads were all there…lots
    of noise and stories.   And old Mr. Kiely was there as well…coffin vertical as 
    I remember but unsure.  The house was tiny. Packed with people who
    were happy to see me.  Some music on a violin. Glad I dropped in.
    Pangs of guilt.

    THURSDAY AUGUST 25

    Pushed the lads so that we finished base line #3 and checked set up for Base  Line
    #4….Locatikon looks good, fairly flat.  No doubt the cattle are hiding.

    Let the whole crew  off at noon to attend mr. Kiely’s funeral.  We joined the procession
    to Ballaneen.  Coffin beng carried by a hearse (9ld truck?)  while the whole village of  Bunmahon and
    others followed behind blocking the road.   Seemed dangerous and proved to be so
    when a car with a load  of barley tilted aroound a corner and suddenly
    tried to brake .  Managed to stop just a  few feet from the hearse.

    Andy Kiely spent the night in Ballyaneen.  Not in the church where his father was
    to be buried but in the pub.   Today , his dad was buried…vertically.  The graveyard
    was full I assumed as this was the same graveyard used by the miners families back in the
    1840’s,  1850’s, 1860’s and  1870’s.  Not much room left.  Or that is  the way I interpreted
    things.  Could be wrong.


    Final passage: Mourners join mother-of-five Mrs Graham on the last part of the journey before her burial
    This is NOT The Kiely funeral…but it is similar…not as fancy but the roadway
    full of  people following the hearse.  Hearse was aged as  opposed to new.


    John Hogan  and I went for a walk along the seashore in the evening
    as the waves lapped at our feet.  A seal  came in very close.  Then we 
    climbed  to walk along the cliffs above the beach.  Quite a number of females
    followed us  to get a good look at the “miners”.   Never in my whole career
    as a mine instrument man  did I ever get such attention.  Rather embarrassing
    but cute at same time.

    FRIDAY AUGUST 26, 1960

    Rained  all day but I took the lads out in the afternoon to do  two lines.
    We worked over time just to get them done.  A normally small creek
    became a raging torrent which we had to carefully cross…water above 
    our knees…surging.  Sounds small but was  not so   
    Earlier we waded  easily.


    Farmer Welsh  approached me hysterically screaming that I had killed
    one of his bullocks.   The animal was down unconscious.  His legs
    were twitching and his mouth frothing.  After a while he came around
    and seemed normal.  Farmer Welsh not satisfied.  Who is paying these
    farmers?   I get the flak but have no idea about compensation.

    SATURDAY  AUGUST 27, 1960

    Another weather commpromised day but we went out anyway.
    Managed to cover 6,000 feet after a few tense moments evading
    Farmer Welsh’s bull.

    John Stam sent letter from Amsterdam asking how job was going.
    So I spent the afternoon drawing profiles and making  a quick reprort.

    In the evening John Hogan, Barney Dwan and I explored  some old
    stopes that Barney located.  Very exciting.  John Hogan seems to
    enjoy penetrating these old mines as much as we do.  And the results
    make sense when tied into the anomalies detected on the geophysical
    instruments.




    SUNDAY AUGUST 28, 1960

    After Mass, John Hogan and I climbed the Cameragh Mountains…2500 feet high 
    and found the so called Bottomless Lake.   Found a Ram’s Skull.  Beautiful
    day in the heather.
    Coumshingaun Lake, Waterford


    Hit some chickens on way home…couldn’t be helped.  Then went to a
    Civil Defence  demonstration in Bonmahon.   Drove to Tramore for
    golf  (miniature with lots of  kids) , supper was fish and chips like 
    everyone else.  Back to Bonmahon for a dance but found it was
    a  closed dance for Civil Defence people only.  Town people got
    angry and started breaking down the door  and fighting. One man
    was totally out of control.  John and  I tried to calm things down.

    MONDAY  AUGUST 29, 1960

    Delayed  most of the morning with cable breaks.    Cattle.  Wonder 
    how many are on the ground frothing for Farmer Welsh.  No joke…must
    see  what is  done  to compensate.  At lunch I had
    Willy drive me to Dungarvin to pick up expense check then wired
    for more.

    Afternoon was spent repairing  cable breaks but still managed
    to do  12,000  feet off line.

    I will try to finish the project this week and then pack  up and
    head  for home…with a few side ventures.   Got a wire from
    Amsterdam saying John Stam would arrive back in Ireland
    at 4.25.  Glad to hear that for there will be some loose  ends
    that only John can  clear up with Dennison Mines.

    Spent rest of evening testing the Ronka.

    TUESDAY AUGSUT 30, 1960

    Holy Smoke…today we managed to complete
    Base Line #4…20,900 feet.  One of our best days ever in
    Ireland.  Cattle herds must be taking a holiday.
    Base Line  #4 now done.


    NOTE FOR THOSE CONFUSED ABOUT CABLE AND CATTLE

    Below is a picture of our cable back pack with Barney laying a base line cable.  Usually the
    Base Line was three miles or around 15, 000 feet with grounding rods at each  end and 
    a motor generator at one of the terminal points.   The generator produced enough electricity
    to create an strange loop…strange to  readers because the loop was completed  in the  ground’ 

    The sensitive machine I carried could pick up electrical impulses in the ground.  If there was a
    good conductor at some point….like a seam  of chalcopyrite…then the readings would differ
    from the background readings which would  be flat.   To pick up these readings we used two
    vertical  copper coiled  receivers that were kept 100 feet apart and joined by a rubber sheathed
    electrical  cable.  Very complicated for me to describe since it was 60 years ago that I did
    Turam work.

    Look at Barney below.  The base line cable is  only a single strand of plastic sheathed
    copper wire.    That cable breaks easily.   It is even easier to break if you are a cow chomping
    on what looks like a long strand of unusual  hay.   

    We did get breaks in the cable when doing a wilderness survey back in Canada or Alaska…i.e. from rodents chewing or
    larger animals  getting their feet caught.  But those breaks occurred seldom.  In  Ireland
    the breaks occurred regularly…often…and sometimes many breaks at a time.  The breaks
    were repaired with electrical tape very simply.  Finding the breaks was a  different matter
    when the cable was three miles long.



    The roll of base line wire starts off heavy but gets lighter the more the wire is unwound.
    My worst experience with this back  pack of wire was on the Alaska  job where we had
    Sikorsky helicopters to reach distant tundra base lines.   I tried to jump from the pontoon
    to the helicopter cabin without making allowance for the extra 70 to 80 pounds of wire
    on my back.  I failed  to complete the jump and fell to the earth about 6 feet below as
    the helicopter took off.   No harm done except to my ego.  Tundra in summer time is like
    one immense sponge bed.


    I set the staking crew  working on  Base Line #5.  Crew 
    chief is John Fleming who takes the work seriously. 
    I admire his grace and  natural  leadership of men.
    Wonder why he is so poor.  I guess the only chance
    of going up in the world is to leave Ireland which is
    something he refuses to do.

    Usual beer and darts then drove to Waterford to
    pick  up John Stam.

    WEDNESDAY  AUGUST 31, 1960

    We set downBase  Line  #5 and managed 6,000 feet of line
    although it rained a good part of the day. I put the staking crew
    on overtime with Andy in charge this time.  

    John Stam  told us about the Geological Congress
    in Copenhagen.

    John Hogan and I ent  to Waterford to see “Around the
    World in  80 days” which I found quite boring.  Movies cost 25 cents. Waterford
    was really beautiful on this last evening in  August.

    THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 1960

    Worked  like the devil  (What an odd expression when I think of it?)
    Finished  Base Line #5 (18,800 feet).  Had  a few tense moments with
    killer bull and  a half baked farmer who seemed ready to run me through
    with his pitch fork.  He is supposed to be a  dangerous man. Farmers
    are a kind of gentry class here…contrast with the day labourers
    who have 1 acre plots and small cottages.  Tension between the two
    groups was very evident.

    I was a little startled when doing a reading because a horse
    lay his head on my shoulder.  Friendly.  




    I took the lads out for overtime work at night and  we worked
    until darkness fell.  My staking crew were working in the Gardenmorris  
    bog where all four of them dropped into shallow sink holes often…wading
    often as  well.   I had to go and find them at 10 oclock at night. They
    were trying set straight lines in the dark using matches.  Impossible
    work of course.  But they thought I needed them to finish.  What great
    men.  What a poor labour boss I turned out to be.

    FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 2, 1960

    A Long hard day…8 a.m. to 8 p.m. then office work to 10 p.m.
    Laying out the loo[p in the morning , then drove to Tramore to get
    my hundred dollars from home.  Would need that once job is
    done and I try to visit Eywood Estate in Herefordshire.   Came
    back and did part of  a line before  driving to Dungarvin to pick
    up 300 dollars from our Company to cover estimated wages.
    In Dungarvin a town drunk wanted an argument and fight for
    reason I could not figure.   Returned to Bunmahon and took the
    lads out for evening work doing Turam in pitch darkness using
    flashlight to guide us through the Gardenmorris Bog.

    I should send this note back to Toronto.  Hard to 
    believe we did it all.

    SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 3, 1960

    Up with the sun and recovered Base Line #6 then laid
    out Base Line #4 again so we could do ‘in between lines’

    Returned  home where the lads were waiting to be paid
    off as  the job was  ending.  Very sad moment as we had
    all shared an adventure.  We will never meet again.  This
    feeling of break up  is common for anyone in the mining
    exploration industry.  We arrive,  form friendships, pack
    up and leave.  It takes  a toll psychologically.  Makes me
    more sensitive I think.  Makes me value he present and a 
    little wary of the future.

    John Hogan and  I recovered the motor generator and then
    drove on  to Ballycrasteen to visit a tiny church.  Unsure why.

    Back home I asked the lads  to lay out our wire and cut
    out the bad spots.

    Then in the evening I did a really stupid thing.  We had
    a few gallons of gasoline which we had mixed with 
    oil.   What was  I do with it?  I should have offered it to
    one of the lads but instead  I decided to set the sea on fire
    at Bonmahon beach.   With quite a following i carried the
    drum of perhaps 5 to 10 gallons of gas…and poured the
    contents into the water.  Tommy handed me a lighter and
    then Whoosh…the sea was on fire.   That gesture was rather
    stupid.  No  second thought given.




    My collection  of slides were good but we had no projector.
    The lads  and Mrs. Kennedy scoured the village for a projector
    but failed.  That was too bad. It would have been a nice ending
    to have everybody down a Kirwin’s pub looking at our adventures.
    A better ending would have been an announcement that the 
    mines at Knockmahon and Tankardstown were to be reopened.

    (P.S.  The long term results of mining exploration are rarely, if ever,
    known by crews like ours.   Opening or reopening a mine takes
    a lot of capital.  Raising capital takes time.  Unfortunately the
    reopening was rejected because there were too many faults.,
     I was told much  later, .)



    My fondest picture from the Bonmahon job was taken early in the job when the lads and our Canadian crew were 
    enjoying each others  company assessed by a few brown bottles of Guinness.


    In 1965 Marjorie, Eric and I went back to Bunmahon.   Things had changed.  Even less work available.   Other friends visited
    the site in subsequent years.   One visitor reported  Kirwin’s  pub was closed  and up For Sale.”   Sad…

    Now readers…you must arrange to see THE QUIET MAN with john Wayne, maureen Ohara and Barrie Fitzgerald.
    It is romantic.  Maybe I should add a bit of  romance.  Give me some leeway.  


    EMD  EPISODE  72

    Next  Episode is  coming …














  • EPISODE 59 BUNMAHON IRELAND ALAN SKEOCH’S JOURNAL SIDEBAR STORY OFGERALD AND HIS DOG

    EPISODE 59   BONMAHON IRELAND    ALAN SKEOCH’S JOURNAL   


    SIDEBAR STORY OF GERALD AND HIS DOG

    alan skeoch
    June 2020



    GERALD AND  HIS DOG

    Time passes. Sometimes  moments in time are captured and cherished.  This is one
    of mine.   The story o fGerlad Kennedy and his dog.

    This was  Gerald’s companion who I have named Fergus because I cannot remember his
    proper name.   He was taken for granted.  He was also magnificent.  A dog I cannot forget



    The little boy was named  Gerald Kennedy.   He loved having three Canadian miners at his home.  He would have loved  to be part
    of  our mining exploration.  I realize now, 60 years  later, that Gerald was part of our job.  


    That might be Gerald with his kiddy car heading for the ocean.  He would  not be alone for long.



    There are so many stories  to tell about that Irish  job in Bunmahon, County  
    Waterford.   One sidebar story touched us all  but was soon taken for granted
    as a routine event.  Hard  ti  forget,  Better to be remembered.

    So I would like to tell the story of Gerald Kennedy and his companion separately.   Gerald was
    afflicted with Down’s Syndrome.   People sometimes try to pretend children so  afflicted
    are not part of the give and take of daily living. That they Are present as an embarrassment.

    Gerald  could not be treated that way.  He asserted himself wherever he could.  The sudden 
    presence of three mining men from Canada was a great thing for Gerald.  So, when Mrs.
    Kennedy got our meals ready, Gerald hung around.  But never alone.  Wherever Gerald
    went his Companion, ‘Fergus’ wes rogjt beside him.  Fergus was a big rather aged black
    Labrador dog.  To Gerald, his companion Fergus was an extension of himself.  

    Sometimes he rode on Fregus’s back as if the dog was  a pony.  Fergus never
    flinched.  Sometimes Gerald would even Bite Fergus on the ears.  Fergus did not
    growl or indicate displeasure.  Fergus  did not try to avoid Gerald.  Where Gera;d
    went. Fergus went. Simple as that.   

    Loyalty of dogs to their masters is not unusual.  Common. Expected. Taken for granted.

    But Fergus  took loyalty a good distance further as I witnessed one stormy evening on
    Bunmahon beach.

    Gerald came down the road with Fergus.  They walked right by Kirwin’s pub after crossing
    the main road.  Was I wrong or did  Fergus look both ways before he let Gerald  cross.
    Hard to say. They were pressed close together.  Was Fergus pressing Gerald?

    Then they continued down to the beach where some good sized waves were
    beating up the sand into swirls.


    Ocean’s are dangerous places for little boys like Gerald.  His dog Fergus knew that and  kept Gerald safe.


    Straight down to the water.  I began to get concerned lest Gerald drown.

    Then a wonderful thing happened.  Fergus went into the water right away.
    He was a  Labrador after all.. A water dog.   But that was not the  reason 
    he preceded Gerald.  Fergus stopped when the water waves were lapping 
    his legs.   He turned.  And Gerald  waded in immediately but Fergus would 
    not let him get in much deeper than his ankles.  If Gerald  moved  along…Fergus 
    moved along. 

    And eventually they both came back and went home.

    A minor incident that has stayed in my mind’s eye for 60 years.

    We went back to Bonmahon, Marjorie  Eric  and I…but both Gerald
    and Fergus were no longer there.

    I met Gerald and Fergus in 1960.  My  wife Marjorie and I went back to Ireland on a  visit in 1965.  Neither Gerald nor Fergus
    were still around.  

    alan skeoch
    june 2020



  • EPISODE 71 BUNMAHON , IRELAND, ALAN SKEOCH’S JOURNAL MONDAY AGUST 15, 1960 TO

    EPISODE 71  BUNMAHON IRELAND  ALAN SKEOCH’S JOURNAL   MONDAY AUGUST 15, `960 TO AUGUST 23, 1960

    alan skeoch
    June 2020

    IRELAND  THE BEAUTIFUL

    This I think is Mr. Casey proudly posing in front of his cottage (home).  Most of our men had houses like this…centre door, rooms
    on right an left.  Very few were as well manicured as this was.  The income for workers was  $1.40 per day in 1960.

    MONDAY AUGUST 15, 1960

    This is a big holiday in Ireland…the day that the virgin Mary was automatically
    assumed to have entered Heaven.   John and I drove to Tramore and then
    on to Waterford to clean up our repair business.  Got a haircut and then went 
    to the Tramore races in afternoon.  Lost on all my bets that were modest anyway.
    Races…2 shillings entry fee
    Betting…4 shillings
    Golf…4 shillings for two of us
    Meal…2 shillings, sixpence
    Dodge’em cars…1 shilling
    Darts….sixpence
    Beer…3 shillings
    Total cost of  $2 Canadian

    The Tramore races…not my picture but accurate pic  of Irish wagerers…wit kids in arms.  Count the cloth caps.

    People  back in Toronto must be shocked at our lifestyle here in Ireland…if
    they even hear about it.  Normally our work in mining  exploration is seven days
    a week no matter what the weather. A holiday  is the chance to stay asleep in
    a tent where the bugs can’t get us.   So Ireland  must seem like a dream.
    Best not mention the trip to the racetrack on a Sunday.  If you need a  laugh
    just think of  two men playing Dodge’em against 10 year old kids.

    The funniest thing today  was when a drunken woman went into the Men’s
    washroom and stayed there.  The men carried on as if she was  not there.

    TUESDAY  AUGUST 16, 1960

    I had to fire my first man today when Andy Kiely did  not show up for work.
    No explanation.  Sent day setting up  the base line (#3) Managed  to 
    complete 12,000line feet after setting up the motor generator and the rounding
    rods. (* FIRING Andy was a  mistake on my part.  I did not know his
    91 year old father was dying and that Andy was the principal caregiver.
    I  should  have asked.  Makes me feel bad.)

    I put John Fleming in charge of the staking crew. He is our oldest 
    employee and the most highly respected.   All of the men live on
    one  acre lots with small houses.  John Fleming manages to keep
    two or three cattle and other farm animals on his tiny plot.  Gathers
    hay along road  allowance.  i do  not talk to him often but I’ve given him
    the same respect that the men all do  A nice man scraping out an 
    existence in difficult circumstances.  Grows  potatoes  as  well of 
    course.  All the men seem to have gardens. 

    Jo
    John Fleming (left), Barney Dwan (centre)…forgot name of man on right.  I had feeling he disliked me on the job.  It is very
    difficult for gown men to take order from a 21 year old like me.  The bridge is permanent…and inexpensive.


    Willy arrived today with an awful hangover from yesterday’s celebration.
    So hung over he could not keep up with us.

    John Hogan made the front page of the Dublin newspapers…subject
    of our Bonmahon mineral explorations.

    WEDBESDAT AUGUST 17, 1960

    The damn  cattle destroyed about 1,000  feet of our baseline cable
    last night.  We are operating with a skeleton crew since Barney is
    sick.  He does the work of two men.  i depend on him to get me safely
    over the stone field walls tat are topped with gorse (brier). Sound  stupid
    to say this but getting over these small fields with their high brier fences 
    is a tough job.  And Barney has to check in case there is a bull loose
    in next field.  

    A photographer came here from Waterford to take pictures of our
    crew in operation and get an interview.  The lads are quite excited
    about their sudden fame.

    Got a letter from the Scottish Forestry Commission today saying
    that the Skeoch Wood is located on the isle of Bute…not too far
    from Prestwick where my return flight to Canada is booked.  If I
    can swing it I will try to find the Skeoch Wood.

    THURSDAY AUGUST 18, 1960

    Photographers were here again today.  Had a very successful 
    day….due in part to the two new employees I hired to try and
    protect the base line from cattle.  The young boys are really excited
    about the job.  Joyful.  

    Still no money sent from Toronto.  Must meet my payroll somehow.
    John Hotan  phoned ,  He is stuck in Carlow as the Fiat broke down.

    Barney and I worked our way into the old stopes (i.e. places
    where the high grade ore was  found).   West of  Bonmahon

    This was a hair raising experience.  The ladder  we used
    just barely spanned a chasm at one spot.  And  a little 
    further we were separated when a  rock slide pinned Barney
    to the support wall on the edge of a shaft that went straight 
    down to who knows where   Very tense.  But the air was good
    as our candle lit without difficulty.  There must be other adits
    nearby.  Somewhere in these adits, shafts and  passageways
    the IRA hid from the British  Black and  Tans in the 1920’s.
    Hard to imagine living in here.

    Found nest of boby rabbits when we crawled out…missed them
    on the way in.

    FRIDAY  AUGUST 19,1960

    The day looked foreboding but we got to work anyway  and  managed
    to get 11,600 feet doe before the deluge struck.  Finally received a telegram
    from Toronto that money was on the way.

    We had a  nice warm fire in the fireplace.

    The Waterford News and  Star gave us a front page spread with pictures.
    The article quoted  me but that was not what I said that I remember.  The
    whole village is excited as  a result of the story…especially the families  of
    the lads.   I borrowed sixty pounds  from John  in order to make the payroll
    tomorrow.  

    Tommy told me that the caves  we explored yesterday were once the
    hideouts of the IRA back in the 1920’s.  Confirmed what Barney said.

    SATURDAY AUGUST 20, 1960

    Only achieved 4400 feet today but did  manage to tie in the base line.
    While working across the cliffs we encountered two young foxes.
    Then Barney and I visited an  island where the Danes  lived in past
    ages.   The Danish sailors  are reputed to have seen the mineral stains
    on the cliffs at Knockmahon and may have  done some mining.

    Returned to Mrs.  Kennedy’s shed where the men had gathered as
    this  is payday.  Thankfully John Hogan had the cash I could borrow.
    Then John and I drove to Waterford to get the Avometer fixed.
    In the evening we amused ourselves  with a game of twenty questions.
    i.e.  “I spy something that is orange.”  “Is it near me?” “Is it on me?”
    “Is it on the table?” YES.  “Is it the left over package of Wild  Woodbine
    Cigarettes?” YES.  “Now it’s my turn.”  “I spy something that is red.”
    “Is  it the scar left by the tick that we had to cut out?”  YES.

    SUNDAY AUGUST 21,1960

    Typical  Irish soft day.  In other words it rained  all  day. Of course that
    is why the countryside is so  green…lots of water.  Wrote letters
    in morning then did  topographical in afternoon. Then we 
    drove to Waterford  to see ‘A touch of Evil’ which featured  Orson
    Welles.  All in all a  very dark,  dull and depressing day.

    MONDAY AUGUST 22, 1960

    Started  early in morning and worked in spite of heavy rain.
    Managed to only cover 3,000 feet. 
    Called  off the job…pointless as we were all  soaked.



    In the afternoon John Hogan drove me to Tipperary in
    a rented car
    where we saw the famous Cashel Rock.   

    The Rock of Cashel (Irish: Carraig Phádraig), also known as Cashel of the Kings and St. Patrick’s Rock, is a historic site in Ireland’s province of Munster, located at Cashel, County Tipperary. The Rock of Cashel served as the traditional seat of the kings of Munster for several hundred years prior to the Norman invasion. Few remnants if any of the early structures survive; the majority of buildings on the current site date from the 12th and 13th centuries. Cashel is reputed to be the site of the conversion of the King of Munster by St. Patrick in the 5th century AD. The buildings which crown the Rock of Cashel present a mass and outline of great complexity, rivalling for picturesque qualities other sites in western Europe. The complex has a character of its own, unique and native, and is one of the most remarkable collections of Celtic art and medieval architecture to be found anywhere in Europe. 

    According to local lore, the Rock of Cashel originated from Devil’s Bit, a mountain 30 km north of Cashel when St. Patrick banished Satan from a cave, resulting in the Rock’s landing in Cashel. 





    Buildings on the Rock

    The earliest and tallest of the Cashel edifices is the very well preserved round tower (28 metres, or 90 feet), which dates from c.1100. Its entrance is 12 feet from the ground, necessitated by a shallow foundation (about 3 feet) typical of round towers. The tower was built using the dry stone method. Modern conservationists have filled in some of the tower with mortar for safety reasons. 


    Then we toured through central and southeastern 
    counties  to Carlow where John’s Fiat was being repaired.
    Glad  to get back home…long day.  Spent evening planning
    how to wind up and recover Base Line #3 and  begin
    layout of Base  Line #4.

    TUESDAY  AUGUST 23, 1960

    What a great day.  We worked hard and managed to cover 
    15,000 feet of line…i.e. 3 miles.

    Tommy brought over a skin book…i.e. book with sexy  pictures.  Censors
    do not allow such books in Ireland so they are highly valued.

    John Hogan is very easy to  get along with…in other words  he does not
    seem  like he is scrutinizing everything I do.   He is Irish and  tries to
    get as much  touring in  as possible.  Often he wants company such as our
    visit to Cashel Rock which was  wonderful.  Built of stone.  Towers had
    entrances that were very high off the ground so that Monks and people
    could barricade themselves  in event of attack.  Inside the towers must 
    have been claustrophobic … extremely so.  The towers must have
    been built overtop a source of water otherwise the protection provided by
    the tower would  be pointless.

    We had  the usual beer and dart game before supper then
    spent evening planning  tomoorow’s work day.  Mrs. Kennedy
    came up to say  I had  been quoted in the London Daily Mirror
    about the Postman mystery.  Then she told us the full story
    of the Postman.

    Larry Griffin was a popular postman who just disappeared into thin air on December 25, 1929.   He was last seen
    at the local pub in Stradbally…not farm from Bunmahon.  He was thought to have been murdered…then again
    he may have died from a fight…or from falling down stairs at the local  police station.   His  disappearance is still
    a  matter of heated controversy to this (2020).   There are people in Stradbally who know what happened but
    they do not want to talk about Larry Griffin.

    WhenI was in Bunmahon the postman mystery was guaranteed  to trigger arguments.  That is still the case.
    A reporter visited the Stradbally pub in1986  intending to make a movie about the case of Larry Griffin.
    To start a conversation he said to a  local Stradbally citizen.

      ‘Was it upstairs or downstairs that it happened?”

    The response was quick

    “I think it might be a good idea if you fuck  off out of here.”

    So the mystery remains.   The mystery is not too difficult to solve think most people.  Larry Griffin was drinking in the Sradbally pub on Christmas Day.  He got into a
    fight with someone and got knocked down.  The local  police hauled him over to the police station where for one reason  or
    another he died.  The problem was that Larry Griffin was drinking on Christmas Day  If the publican was caught serving beer on that day he would lose his 
    licence and Stradablly would lose its pub. Worse still, the local police were part of the cover up and they would be charged.  Someone or some group
    in Stradbally thought it best that Larry Griffin disappear otherwise they would lose both their pub and their police station.  Larry’s body has
    never been found.   Sadly, Larry’s wife became instantly poverty stricken.  No body, no pension.

    That is my interpretation of the evidence.  I would advise you say nothing if having a pint of Guinness in Stradbally. 
    Ignore my advice and you will be told to ‘Get the fuck out of here’

    When Mrs.  Kennedy told me the story she left out the word  ‘fuck’ but that was in 1960 when 
    the word was not used quite as much.  Mrs. Kennedy  was  taking a big chance just telling
    me her interpretation of the mysterious disappearance of Larry Griffin.  

    Below is the Stradbaly pub as you will find it today.


     

    End episode 71


  • A ride down the fifth line in June 2020…NO BIG DEAL…JUST RELAXING


    NO BIG DEAL…JUST RELAXING SERIES AS  MARJORIE DROVE…CLOUDS (THINK OF THE SONG )

    BY JONI MITCHEL

    alan skeoch
    June 2020

    Take a  load off … sit down … dream … It is  possible even in
    the terror of Covid 19 to see that life is  good.


    Joni Mitchell – Both Sides, Now Lyrics

    from album: Clouds (1969) 
    www.lyricsfreak.com/static/images/txtstripes_large.gif); font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: 30px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; min-height: 598px; position: relative;”>Bows and flows of angel hair
    And ice cream castles in the air
    And feather canyons everywhere
    I’ve looked at clouds that way

    But now they only block the sun
    They rain and snow on everyone
    So many things I would have done
    But clouds got in my way

    I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now
    From up and down, and still somehow
    It’s cloud illusions I recall
    I really don’t know clouds at all

    Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
    The dizzy dancing way you feel
    As every fairy tale comes real
    I’ve looked at love that way

    But now it’s just another show
    You leave ’em laughing when you go
    And if you care, don’t let them know
    Don’t give yourself away

    I’ve looked at love from both sides now
    From give and take, and still somehow
    It’s love’s illusions I recall
    I really don’t know love at all

    Tears and fears and feeling proud
    To say “I love you” right out loud
    Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
    I’ve looked at life that way

    Oh but now old friends are acting strange
    They shake their heads, they say I’ve changed
    Well something’s lost but something’s gained
    In living every day

    I’ve looked at life from both sides now
    From WIN and LOSE and still somehow
    It’s life’s illusions I recall
    I really don’t know life at all

    I’ve looked at life from both sides now
    From up and down and still somehow
    It’s life’s illusions I recall
    I really don’t know life at all 




  • EPISODE 70 BUNMAHON IRELAND ALAN SKEOCH’S JOURNAL AUgust 8,1960 to sunday august 14, 1960



    EPISODE 70   BUNMAHON  IRELAND    ALAN SKEOCH’S JOURNAL  AUGUST 8 TO AUGUST 

    alan skeoch
    June 2020

    “A GERMAN BOMBER CRASHED HERE, THE PILOT CAME BACK FOR A HOLIDAY  THIS SUMMER.”

    I have a lot of trouble with Irish  stories.  Are they true?  Are they false?  Are they half true?
    Are they meant to entertain?  Are they meant to test gullibility?  Are they told to mislead?
    Are they told just for something to say?  Are they legends from the deep past that no one
    really knows what they mean?  Are they spliced  together to make a boring story better?

    As you may have noticed if you actually read some of my Irish  stories
    they are often based on fact.  Like the story of the cow that got lost in the
    mine…a story which turned out to be true.

    The lads told me a story about a German bomber that crashed  near Bunmahon and
    the crew survived.  Did it crash in the bog we surveyed?  Maybe.  How could I find
    out?   One way was to check on German planes  that ditched or landed in Ireland
    which was neutral  in World War II.  Well a German bomber was  shot down over Waterford 
    and tried to land but hit a  stone wall near Kilmacthomas killing all the crew. 
    Maybe that was the one the boys  were talking about.

    And not so  far away another German bomber made a solid landing and the
    crew survived.   

    German and Allied planes that landed or crashed in Ireland are numerous and
    all seem to have been recorded.  So many that I am  too tired to continue 
    trying to find  if the story of a German plane landing on Bunmahon beach is
    true or false.  I can find  no record of it.  And the beach  is not very long.

    “Master Skeoch, a  German bomber landed in a farmers field near here and
    the pilot and  his  family  came back this summer on a holiday.”  That may
    have happened.  I did not see any German wreckage.  If you have the time
    please feel free to go through the records of crashes  in World War II…they are all
    documented.

    Date:  10th June 1941

    Location:  Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford

    Aircraft Type:  Fighter

    Crew Members:  (1)

                Pilot Officer Maurice Motte

    Notes: Pilot Officer Motte was part of a Free French Unit operation out of England. He had been involved in an attack on a German Bomber in the sky over Ireland. The German Aircraft a Heinkel Bomber with a crew of five tried to make an emergency landing near Churchtown, Co. Waterford, but burst into flames after hitting a stone wall, killing all crew members.  Officer Mott aircraft was also damaged in the skirmish and had to make an emergency landing not too far from Kilmacthomas Co. Waterford. 

     


    Date:  1st April 1941

    Location:  Dunbratten Head, Co Waterford.

    Aircraft Type:  Heinkel 111 Bomber

    Crew Members:  (5)

                Leutnant Heinz Grau (Pilot)
                Feldwebel Georg Fleischmann 
                Oberfeldwebel  Ernst Lorra
                Unteroffizier Otto Jaegerr      
                Unteroffizier Ernst Gensen  

    Notes:  The Heinkel Bomber had been shot up in an attack on some ships in the Bristol Channel. An engine had been knocked out and there was no question of their being able to return back to their base in Tours, France, so decided to make for Ireland. After landing successfully they quickly se

    Belligerent aircraft would end up on Irish soil for one of two reasons:

    1.    The allied pilots would land, mistaking Eire for Britain. This was quite common considering that aircraft navigation systems then were very basic compared to today’s standards.

    2.    Aircraft would either be damaged during battle or run low on fuel, forcing the pilots to crash or emergency land. In the case of allied pilots they sometimes could not make it to Britain or Northern Ireland. Luftwaffe pilots would land in Eire in preference interment in Britain. 

    When a warplane was forced to land in Eire, the crew would destroy all documents, maps and as much of the aircraft as possible, before they were captured. Allied pilots, on realizing where they had landed would attempt to travel to the North of Ireland, although not usually with much success.

    Escape from K-Lines for German internees would prove undesirable, as France was the nearest axis occupied country to Ireland and travelling there, especially via England would prove very difficult. On the other hand, if British internees succeeded in escaping they would only have to travel little over one hundred miles in order to cross the boarder into Northern Ireland. However, the practice of breaking parole in an attempted to return home was condoned by the respective governments as it was seen as an abuse of privilege. Each internee had a duty to affect his escape but this would have to be done legitimately in the form of a break out from the camp. It was also the duty of the military guard in K-lines, to the escape or rescue of the internees. The guards were armed with rifles but ordered not to fire at internees who attempted escape. Even if an internee successfully effected escape from the compound, the Curragh Camp and surrounding towns were populated with off duty troops stationed in the Curragh. It was not long before Irish authorities had a good intelligence network known as G2, to counter escape attempts. Yet many pro British people were willing to aid the allied internees and an organization known as the “Escape Club” was formed. It was headed by Dr. Hugh Wilson who was a veteran of the First World War and established by M19, British Military Intelligence. The “Escape Club” would organize and aid many British internees to attempt escape during the war. 


    alan skeoch
    June 2020


    Ireland has lots of wild land…places where nothing can grow but heather.


    the mountains  are treeless but not empty…lots of low heather and lots of sheep although this picture shows only one.


    This picture was taken on same mountain five years later when Marjorie (by them my wife), Eric (my brother) joined me
    in a nostalgic Visit to Bonmahon.   Eric is pretending tp push Marjorie into the water.  

    The local pipe band marched through town heading towards  some
    special celebration.  Went to pub of course. Discovered  the newspaper
    has  madde our outdoor crew into celebrities…pictures.   The lads like
    the notoriety as they do  not get much in their regular lives. 

    John and  I then visited the seventh annual Bonmahon dance and  had a wonderful 
    time.   Met the local belle of the dance, Ren … Nice person
    to talk to but no romance.  Marjorie would  like her.

    MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 1960

    Really tired today as  we did too much on week end.  Took  out the resistivity 
    outfit and spent entire day puzzling out its operation.  Just will not work.  is
    this my fault…i.e. ignorance?  Hate to let our company down but this machine
    just wil not perform. 

    This could be our last day of work.  Fellows spent day kidding me about 
    the day before…

    Got nice letter from Marjorie with a picture. Also letter from Bob and Anita
    Taylor wnich was a  surprise.   They are now married and less inclined
    to socialize…seems marriage puts up a kind of wall.  

    The evening was magnificent with bright sunlight bouncing light off the
    rain covered leaves and verdure…Rainbow over the Atlantic Ocean.

    TUESDAY , AUGUST 9, 1960

    Tested resistivity agan.  Then began reclaiming our base line cable…badly
    beaten up by cattle.   

    Sadly I had to lay the crew off at noon.  We all felt bad about it.  Pile of
    mail and exam results…some good , some not so good…but all on positive
    side of things.  In the afternoon I drove to Waterford  with John Hogan to
    get more 35mm film and  phoned Toronto to see if project was about
    to be extended.  Affirmed extension.  (phone call $47.60)  This means  I will
    be here another month or so.   The lads are happy.  Fantastic  sunset
    …all the clouds were blood red.


    END EPISODE 69   



    WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1960

    Spent the day doing the calculations and then drafting results.  Pleased
    with myself as I was not clear about the job…puzzled it out.
    Huntec may have assumed I  know more that I do know.  Studying
    manuals and previous notes helped  

    Beautiful sunlit day.  Reminded  me so much of John Wayne’s film
    The Quiet Man.   So similar to film here in Bunmahon.  our job would
    make a great sequel as all the elements are present including the 
    humorous rather than hate filled relations between the Anglicans 
    and Catholics.  

    We drove to Tramore in the evening to see ‘ Some Came Running’
    … played golf first though…using word golf sounds more athletic than 
    the truth that we played miniature golf.  Little kids play the game better’
    than we seem to do.  Lots  of little kids. The movie was sensational.





    THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 1960

    I spent most of the day  drafting Turam results then I got the lads organized for
    work tomorrow.  All happy we have got job extension.  We have made the 
    Bonmahon community come to life. 

    Nice to walk along the cliffs in the evening before sunset.  Lads  told me all 
    about Willy O’Meara and his immorality.  No woman, married or single,
    is  safe if alone and Willy is nearby.  Does not change my opinioon of
    him for he has helped me a lot.  Always  willing.   Do notice the lads
    treat him differently though.  Seems more  of the gossip is being shared
    with me.  I suppose that is a sing of acceptance.

    FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 1960



    A  Tinker (Gypsy) caravan invaded town today making locals  a
    little anxious especially  when one wagon broke an axle and
    whole caravan  had to stay a while.  Their horses follow the wagons
    without halters or harness.  Quite a  sight to see.

    The profiles are nearly finished.  Not bad  job. 

    Took a walk along cliffs with John Hogan and Barney Dwan…lots of women 
    and girls walking as well.

    A strange thing happened  later when Mrs. Kenneday wanted to ‘
    talk to me privately.  Concerned  local  scandals.  Rena’s “family is
    renowned  as  thieves.”  In other words be careful.  “Barney is illegitimate
    …his mother was 16 years old”   I take it this was some kind of
    warning.   Revealed nature of the Bonmahon community that I
    did not know.  She was giving me advice.  I am  not sure I wanted
    this kind of advice.  Sort of a warning that things are not what they seem.
    A warning that I should keep things more at arms length. Must think
    about that.  Mrs.  Kennedy  might be well intentioned.

    SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 1960

    Sent lads  out to work on new lines while I began listen the anomalies
    on an overlay.   Got a drive out to where some of the lads were digging a
    trench   22 feet down to bedrock just in case the seam of chalcopyrite 
    reached  he surface.  Walked  home.



    Got telegram from Toronto concerning the project extension.  










    In the afternoon Barney, Billy and I went fishing using a small boat.
    We caught lots of mackerel.  Easy.  Just drop in the line with hooks
    spaced along it and then haul in the Makerel.  A huge basking shark
    swam under our boat…looks like a whale to me.  Baksing sharks  are
    not dangerous Barney assured  me   Not so sure…it was bigger than
    our boat.

    Then we explored two more old mine adits  as deep as we could go.

    A  seal followed  us some distance.  The sea  is  not nearly as  nice
    as our freshwater lakes in  Canada in my opinion but the adventure
    was exciting.  Flattering that Barney included me in the fishing trip.

    At night we went to Buckley’s pub, across the road from Kirwin’s 
    pub…we played table top football again.   My social life is  tending
    to eclipse the business  life.

    SUNDAY AUGUST 14, 1960

    Rain  again…another ‘soft’ day using Irish parlance.  Spent morning trying to
    interpret my results…assured John Hogan this was not professional  opinion.
    Then did more expense accounts … i.e. wages  to the lads.  Late in the afternoon
    John and I drove to see a movie in Waterford.   Sillhy waste of 25 cents..cost of show.