EPISODE467 IRISH STORIES…THE COW IN THE ADIT…AND MEMORIES OF JOHN FLEMING AND ANDY DWAN
alan skeoch
oct. 2021
RUMOUURS…FOLK TALES….WERE OFTEN BASED ON FACT AS WE PROVED
JUST found a picture I took of the Mystery Adit we excavated in Bunmahon in 1960,
I have told the story earlier but must tell it again if only for Aden Coffey. The location of this excavation was
north of the main mine shaft, near the home of Rina Casey I believe.
While doing the surface geophysical survey with the Turam we picked up a strong
anomaly some distance inland from Knockmahon. By pure chance a story was told by
one of our employees about a local farmer who, around 1900, had lost a cow in an adit that he closed with
landfill surmounted that was now covered by a patch of Gorse.
“The old adit is right under your anomaly.” said Barney Dwan as he told the story of the lost cow.
“Maybe we could open the adit and see if what we found with the Turam.” I retold the story to Dr. Stam.
“Good idea. Let’s hire a man to see if the adit even exists. Won’t cost much…just give
him a pick, shovel, axe and wheelbarrow.”
“Barney, can we pin point the exact location of the adit?”
“The story had been told over and over…I think the adit is under that patch of
gorse in the little valley below us. (I think the Irish term was ‘boreen’ meaning “little valley’/
So we set the man at work. All alone. After a couple of days digging
his pick or shovel penetrated the old adit which had been filled with
water over the decades. Water under pressure. Once opened, the water blasted
out in a gush. That happened So suddenly that the excavator had to run or be engulfed. Some said
he was terrified. We had discounted the story…did not expect to succeed. But the story was true, an
adit was there. What about the cow?
So much water escaped that we had to wait a day or so before entering
the place.
Guess what we found?
Right…there was the skeleton of the cow about a hundred feet from the entrance. Maybe her
hips got stuck in the narrow passage. A terrible death. Or maybe her body had been hauled into
the adit already dead. A grave.
What really attracted geologist John Hogan and geophysicist Dr. John Stam were the
stains on the walls.
Ireland made such a deep and lasting impression on me that my 3 months there seem like
only yesterday…but the adventure happened in 1960…61 years ago. And there seems
to be no end to the memories which I believe have universal appeal. Hope so anyway.
You have met Barney Dwan before. He was my main man. Always had a grin on his face and told
me stories that were sometimes true and sometimes outlandish. we had a great time together.
I wish I could have paid him more money…a pound a day was cheap…but I tried to spread
the money over as many men as I could. All had roles that were necessary.
Bones and bodies of dead animals were often found…especially at bottom of cliff faces.
In places the adit walls were shored with old timbers … crooked timbers.
And there she is..the cow…
These stains had meaning to John Hogan. I had no idea what they were except proof of mineralization.
This patch is proof of the presence of copper.
SHORT NOTE ABOUT ONE MAN IN PARTICULAR
I Think his name was John Fleming. His name came to me last night. Seems my brain was going in to overdrive to find the name.
He is the older man with hands on his hips while posing on a very narrow bridge
across the Mahon River. John was much older than others and regarded as a leader. A very dignified and friendly
man who kept out staking crew going even when the weather was terrible. As a matter of fact he even tried to continue
staking after nightfall in a storm. Working by compass and flashlight was impossible but somehow John kept the line
straight.
His home was on a small plot of land where he grew a big garden and was able to keep a few animals…one of which
was a horse as I remember. Every square inch of his 1 acre (!) lot was in use. I think he had both children and grand children
…seem to remember that but it was a long time ago. I do know that all the men respected John and asked advice of him.
Barney is carrying John Fleming on his back as we criss crossed the Mahon River.
This was our trenching crew who dug down to bed rock once I detected a conductor with
the Turam. We called these high readings ‘anomalies’ because we had no firm idea why
the readings blipped.
Pigs were very curious. They could also be dangerous…especially the boars.
The job of trenching was dangerous the deeper the trench got as seen here. If the soil loosened and collapsed how would this
man escape? Thankfully, WE had no accidents. Today there would be safety rules such as shoring of the walls.
Our job attracted widespread interest. The Waterford newspaper even sent a reporter and photographer to do an interview
which appeared on the front page. I have tried to get a copy…seems to be available but have hand no response.
(Note to Aden Coffey: perhaps you can get a reprint from the Waterford newspaper. It is available)
“Do you need help?” asked this sow
“Sure…keep digging.”
“Grunt…grunt…grunt.”
“Is there any truth to the story I was told by Barney about your friends?”
“What story?”
“Barney says a nun disappeared while taking a short cut through your field. All
that was found of her was a shoe with her foot in it. Could that be true?”
“Just watch your step, Alan, truth is sometimes stretched a bit but you never
can tell.”
“Grunt…grunt…grunt.”
