The Quays in Sligo

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Where: Sligo, Ireland

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When: Unknown

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A lovely Lawrence image of the Quays (pronounced in those parts as the "kays") in Sligo town. Taken around the time of the transition from sail to steam, we have a nice mix of sailing vessels and steamers. Even the steamships have the alternative - with masts for sails as back up to the engines. The town looks all a bustle but how much has that skyline changed in the meantime?

Apart from the spires of the cathedral and town hall, the waterfront has changed quite a bit since this image was taken. Which, based on the two vessels visible (the screw steamer Heathmore, and the brig Argestes ), was likely in the 1890s. And certainly before 1897, when the Heathmore was sunk....


Photographer: Robert French

Collection: Lawrence Photograph Collection

Date: Catalogue range c.1865-1914. Possibly c.1890s (ships)

NLI Ref: L_CAB_05616

You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie

Info:

Owner: National Library of Ireland on The Commons
Source: Flickr Commons
Views: 27373
robertfrench williamlawrence lawrencecollection lawrencephotographicstudio glassnegative nationallibraryofireland sligotown cosligo ships thequays steam sail tugs steamers masts spire warehouses quays ballastquay deepwaterquay rivergaravogue sligoharbour sligobay heathmore argestes screwsteamer lawrencephotographcollection

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  • profile

    blushing toothbrush

    • 11/Dec/2017 09:07:56

    marvellous

  • profile

    B-59

    • 11/Dec/2017 09:15:54

    The Heathmore, Liverpool was launched in 1883 and sank in 1897 www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?a1PageSize=50&ship_list...

  • profile

    domenico milella

    • 11/Dec/2017 09:26:34

    Congratulation for your beautiful Album.

  • profile

    Niall McAuley

    • 11/Dec/2017 09:27:23

    The Cathedral is from 1875 per the NIAH

  • profile

    ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq

    • 11/Dec/2017 10:29:40

    Fascinated by this photo; I just discovered that my maternal grandfather was born in a house in the middle distance in 1892, about the time of this photo.

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    John A. Coffey

    • 11/Dec/2017 11:46:51

    No human or animal life can be seen ?

  • profile

    National Library of Ireland on The Commons

    • 11/Dec/2017 11:48:12

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/beachcomberaustralia It really is a very small world! So you have ancestors from Sligo and Clare?

  • profile

    Salty Windows

    • 11/Dec/2017 12:42:50

    You're right NLI. I lived on The Quay in my home town. Always pronounced 'Deh Kay'.

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    John Spooner

    • 11/Dec/2017 12:50:22

    Among the various shipping news columns in the newspapers between 1883 and 1897 I can find no mention Heathmore in Sligo, but the Argestes, captained by Kendall, left Glasgow for Sligo on 28th June 1883 (and probably on many other occasions).

  • profile

    John Spooner

    • 11/Dec/2017 13:27:37

    Recollections of an old Manxman tells of a man who sailed on the brig Argestes.

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    sam2cents

    • 11/Dec/2017 13:31:35

    A very romantic image. Irresistible. Only this summer I was down at the beach when I saw a huge luxury liner with, incredibly, seven masts on it. I thought I was hallucinating at first, but using marine traffic website I found out what the vessel was, and that they were genuine sails, not solar panels or anything else. I got a photo and I'll upload and post it here later on, if that's okay.

  • profile

    John Spooner

    • 11/Dec/2017 13:50:07

    The last mention of Argestes in shipping news was in June 1891, arriving in Belfast from Ardrossan. There were 18 mentions in the previous year, and then they stop completely. It would appear the trip from Ardrossan was her final voyage.

  • profile

    Niall McAuley

    • 11/Dec/2017 15:57:19

    I think the Argestes ended her life at Sligo. Per Sea Breezes: The Ship Lovers' Digest - Volume 54 - Page 511: Brig 1839; blt Williamson Douglas .... 1892: W. and G.T. Pollexfen and Co., Sligo. 1909: hulked at Sligo

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    Niall McAuley

    • 11/Dec/2017 16:12:05

    To the right of the 1875 Cathedral, I think we would see Gillooly Hall, 1895 if built. The building we do see right of the Cathedral is the 1879 Presbytery.

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    Niall McAuley

    • 11/Dec/2017 16:22:48

    Surely it can't be a coincidence that the Argestes was bought by the Pollexfens in 1892 and appears here? I am leaning to 1892-97 (Argestes bought - Heathmore sinks). I am less sure of Gillooly Hall, the NIAH above says 1895, but the DIA says 1903. If this is Rev. Gillooly Bishop of Elphin, he only died in 1895...

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    ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq

    • 11/Dec/2017 20:49:12

    [https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland] (sorry, I was asleep!) Same family - my great-grandfather was Resident Magistrate (RM) in Sligo around 1900. (And my great-uncle Tom Henn was a W. B. Yeats scholar and Cambridge don, involved with the Yeats Society summer school in Sligo from 1960) Watching all the dating info with great interest - please let it be 1892 !

  • profile

    National Library of Ireland on The Commons

    • 12/Dec/2017 01:30:38

    Not a problem https://www.flickr.com/photos/beachcomberaustralia - I should be in bed myself :) Before I go however, I've updated the map, date and description to reflect the "shipping news" :)

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    Dr. Ilia

    • 18/Dec/2017 09:00:09

    great capture