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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Wexford => Topic started by: tony h on Tuesday 29 May 07 00:23 BST (UK)
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About Walsh, Thomas (Lannigan), Captain
Capt Thomas Walsh known as "Lannigan" by everyone. Born in 3 William Street, Wexford. Often described as "the father of Wexford`s sailors". Son of Captain James Walsh (who died of fever onboard the Barque "Kate" of which he was skipper). Lannigan 1st went to see at the age of thirteen and a half and finished at sea at the age of 68 years. Attained Master Mariners Certificate at the age of 21. His 1st command was he "Rambler". Sailed as Master on fifty three vessels some were: Ellen Kerr, Jane McCall, Yarra Yarra, Agnes Carty, Wave, Clare, Elizabeth Worthington, Mary Agnes. The last vessel he sailed on was the "A. Hastings" a two masted schooner. He never lost a ship. A genial companion he took a keen interest in current affairs and enjoyed excellent health until an accident when he was hit by a vehicle and fractured his leg. He appeared on the front cover of a book called "Songs of the Wexford Coast" in which he contributed a number of shanties. He was the oldest member of the Holy Family Confraternity being a Gold Jubilarian. He had 48 grandchildren and 53 Great Grandchildren. He was the father of 10 sons and three daughters. At one time he was a commander in the Wexford fleet of sailing ships known as the "Galatzmen" whose epic races home from the Black Sea with grain and cargoes were as famous in those days as those of the China clippers. Blackbeared Captain Walsh was the holder of the coveted Square rigged Masters certificate. A hard driving fearless navigator of the days of wooden ships and "iron men"
Does anyone have a copy or access to this book which has a photo of my grt grandfather?
Your help would be appreciated
Tony
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Here is the picture.
I am always interested in items, pictures, stories on Wexford town so please forward any you may have.
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Absolutely outstanding Nick :o
I'm ever so pleased and can see my Grandad, Mum, myself and my son there. Can't thank you enough. I hope i can repay the favour as i still have family in and around Wexford Town. Lanigan's son Joseph was my grandfather and also a sailing man on sail ships but ended up in the Irish Lights. As well as serving on Tuscar Rock he also had something to do with the Guillemote Lightship that was moored at Wexford for many years but is now landlocked at Kilmore Quay.
I'll speak to my mum and get her to record her Wexford Memories and ask about for photos etc.
Thanks very much again
Tony
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Hi Nick,
Thought you might enjoy a picture of aul Lanigan Walsh with a suntan :) :) courtesy of a friend of mine.
Best wishes
Tony
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Looks great - what sofware used?
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Handsome man - looks very like Christopher!
Did he ever make port in Co. Down?
RonnieG
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;D
Hi RonnieG, i must admit the likeness struck me as well, but was to shy to ask ;D
Also an extraordinary likeness to my "primary target" over on this link
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,235884.0.html
Do all Irishman of a certain age look like that :)and is that my destiny in a few or two years ;)
Hi Nick,
Haven't forgot your request for software used. I asked my friend, who achieved this miracle what he did, but after 20 secs my eyes glazed over and a minute later I lost the will to live :) He's going to e-mail the 4 programmes used and the techniques involved and i will forward it to you - IF your'e interested enough. My brother loved the suntan and colouring but thought blue skies over Wexford was a bit over the top - no soul in some people ;)
Best wishes to all
Tony
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Hi Tony
By chance, I came across your story re Capt Lannigan Walsh of Wexford. He was also my great grandfather. My grandfather was James (Bressie) Walsh who came to South Africa around 1899/1902. James Walsh was, obviously, Joe Walsh Snr's brother whom I met together with his wife Lizzie in Wexford in the seventies. I also met Joe Jnr and his wife Jenny.
My name is Kevin Whyte (my mother was Helen Whyte nee Walsh) and I live in Cape Town, South Africa. James Walsh had several children not all of whom survived childhood but my mother was one of 6 who did. So there are many Walsh descendants scattered around this country.
Hope you spot this and I look forward to hearing from you.
Regards
Kevin
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Kevin
Thanks for message.
Did James live opposite Pierces - Columba's Villas?
Nicky
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Thanks for reply.
James lived at 1 William St Wexford and his family lived there until at least 1980 and possibly later. He left Ireland when he was 18/19.
Kevin
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Here is an excerpt from my article on John Herron in the Wexford Historical Society Journal. Could Bren and Bressie be the same person?
"“Splendid weather, a change from first of week – sea like oil – some sharks hovering around.”
The 26th brought – “ the sunset this evening was splendid, the whole ocean was turned golden.” The following day they sighted land for the first time in 39 days.
When they eventually docked at Mossel Bay he spent the day “fishing mackerel”.
On Saturday October 9th he arrived in East London and “had a ramble around the town on Saturday night – this place is very quiet.”
Next day – “ A splendid day, had a stroll along the beach in the morning, went upriver afternoon. The town is a deserted place on Sunday night.”
From East London they sailed to Durban where he, “had a royal night ashore.”
When they left Durban they “sailed along the Coast of Zululand only half a mile off shore. Saw a lot of natives on beach, saw two whales.”
Back at Durban after a trip to Delago Bay they were taking on cargo again but on Wednesday 17th – “Still raining, not taking any cargo on account of the rain.”
They coasted around the area taking on cargo at East London, Port Elizabeth and Mossel Bay before proceeding toward Cape Town again where they anchored in Table Bay before docking.
The entry for November 17th reads, “Had a letter from Lar Murphy to meet him at 7.30 pm. Met him – first time for 13 years, had a good night.”
The following day he met Bren(?) Walsh – first time in 15 years, “had day off with him and Lar.”
The ship sailed for New York on Saturday November 20th."
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Hi Nick
You've really given me goose bumps this morning! Lawrence (Laurence)? possibly Lar Murphy was my grandfather's friend who, we believe, came to Cape Town from Wexford at the same time. He was killed some years later when he was knocked down by a train at Kalk Bay a small harbour about 20 miles from Cape Town. Family legend has it that the two of them were on their way to Australia but left the ship in Cape Town. However, your story does not seem to point in this direction. We have never been able to establish the facts about Bressie's leaving Ireland and never returning home so any information we get is like gold. His brother, Joe Snr, whom I met in Wexford in 1977 or '78 was a small baby when Bressie left and I also met Willie Walsh, another brother, who lived in Fisher's Row but they had no information.
Keep well.
Kevin
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Handsome man - looks very like Christopher!
Did he ever make port in Co. Down?
RonnieG
Hi RonnieG,
Thanks for the compliment 8)
Whilst there are an assortment of seafarers in my tree they don't include a family by the name of Walsh as far as I'm aware.
Christopher
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Hi Kevin,
Great to hear from you ;D But I also have goosebumps now. I was in Wexford a few months after your visit so knew of SA connections. Mum had in the distant past corresponded with Helen and I tried to find out more just ove 3 years ago but unfortunately Mum had misspelt Whyte with a I. The reason for looking for you was that I was going to South Africa for the best part of a month. 3 years ago in August I made the same jorney but in reverse order :o Cape Town, Mossel Bay, Port Elizabeth, East London, Durban. That gives me a strange feeling.
I received your post on Tuesday but was hurrying off to stay with Mum for a few days so didn't have time to reply. Mum was pleased to read the post, she thought that sometimes Bressie was referred to as Bresty, but wasn't sure. Whilst we were chattiing the Olympics was on quietly in the background. Mum pointed at the screen and said thats one of 'ours'. A Walsh was being interviewed in Beijing. he is Mum's second cousin so presumably yours. I will post you are link to some video of him.
So Walshs popping up all over the place. From Joe Snrs side there about 40 descendants in England and a few in Holland and Italy. Lannigan has at least 6 Grt grt grt grandchildren here and I loose track of the Walshs in Wexford. I've attended a retirement party and golden wedding in Wexford in the last few years and it is like walking into a hall of mirrors. The family resemblance through the generations is startling.
I will send my e-mail address to bring you up to speed with living relatives.
Very best wishes
Tony
Thanks for your help Nick, you certaintly are an authority on all things Wexford.
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Hi Tony
Very pleased to hear from you. My e-mail address is kwhyteATkingsley.co.za. I take it that your mother is Joe Snr's daughter. Presume she also lives in Manchester.
Nick if you read this can you please let me know what year you referred to you in your article re John Herron?
Look forward to hearing from you again Tony.
Kevin
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Kevin
It was 1915.
The Walsh referred to at the olympics was Billy - coach of the Irish boxing team.
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Thanks Nick
Kevin
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Kevin
Thanks for message.
Did James live opposite Pierces - Columba's Villas?
Nicky
Hi nickr90,
Just happened on the post when myself and my mam were looking for family history. My mam is Eileen Meehan (nee Walsh). Her dad was James Walsh from Columba's Villas (he was a fisherman and a net maker, sailor etc). Do you know if there is a connection there with Lannigan Walsh? My mam said James Walsh was born in William's Street (she thinks it was number 1). It's weird that there is a south African connection, I am moving to South Africa in Jan (to a small town near Port Elizabeth!). Any info or direction around where to find info on the Walsh family. Thanks, Trudy
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My dad is William Walsh, son of Jim/James Walsh (and brother of Eileen Meehan- how's it going Trudy, its Aidan) of Columba Villas.
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If there is a Lanigan connection I dont know.
But James - last sail maker - was a brother of my grandmother Elizabeth (Lily) Rossiter nee Walsh so I guess we are cousins however far removed but then again so it seems is everyone in Wexford.
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Nicikr90- Funnily enough I was in Columba Villas last week as I was over in Wexford (I live in Long Ditton in Surrey) and I picked up a copy of your book Streets of Wexford, I was trying to get your previous book as my Dad had got it and showed me the part you did about my Grandad/ your uncle would it be? However a quick trawl through Amazon last night and I've managed to order a copy.
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Hope you enjoy thee read.
Here's a bit from Wexford Port on his brother John who lived in William Street as did Peter.
"JohnWalsh
One of those interviewed for this book was John Walsh of William Street. I spoke to him as he sowed potatoes in his garden at the sprightly age of 89 years and he recalled a trip on board the 'Maria Reid' about 70 years ago.
He related how he had sailed on that old schooner under Captain Carroll of the Faythe. The crew called him "Captain Kittle" for some reason now long forgotten. Also on board was the captain’s son as Boy and Phil Gaul, Able seaman. The Mates name is gone from his memory. The trip in question was to Saundersfoot in South Wales to collect a cargo of coal for the Wexford malt houses. In those days of declining trade every effort was made to ensure a profitable trip and the maximum possible cargo was stowed. This left the vessel low in the water as she struck for home. Then a storm blew up causing water to lap onto the deck, so the captain brought her into shelter at Milford for a few days before heading into open sea. Eventually they got underway again but were caught in tidal eddies and the crew had to push bags of sawdust into the scuppers to keep out the water.
Soon the old schooner was taking water so badly that not only had the scuppers to be cleared, but John had to take a mawl and knock some of the timbers out of her to help the water to drain. Meanwhile all hands were on the pumps, clearing the hold as Captain Carrol steered looking for the Tuskar Light. Later that night, the crew noticed coal dust in the pumped water, showing that the water level was dangerous in the hold. With that it was decided to 'run for Fishguard.' The only consideration then was to save themselves and the craft as well as possible. With that in mind they ran the 'Maria Reid' onto the beach at Fishguard. The crew and cargo were safe and with the assistance of men sent from Wexford the ship was 'corked' and refloated within a short time and returned to Wexford.
Apart from his time at sea and working in 'The Star' and for a ships carpenter, John Walsh had another watery passion - sailing his boat the 'Fair Do' in regattas.
'The Fair Do' was the favourite of many of the Wexford people who followed the regattas, an integral part of the life of any sea port. Indeed, John remembers the rivalry when sailing her at Rosslare in about 1940. The stewards classed her as being longer than the allowed 21 feet, but he insists that she measured only 20 feet 10 inches. Well he remembers sewing and making her sails at the top of the New Lane. The boat is recalled in the song The Fair do which ends,
"When they brought her ashore and stepped out on the strand
The lads down from Wexford shook them all by the hand,
It was a great race boys, but between me and you,
I doubt they had steam in the clipper Fair Do. "
The word doubt meant 'believe' in the common usage of the area. Her crew on that day was John Walsh, his brother Jim and Eddie Daly. The name Fair Do has since been taken by a bar on Paul Quay.
John's brother Jim or James referred to above, was one of the last people in Wexford to carry on the trade of sailmaker. He worked for a time for the Wexford firm of Lamberts, coachsmiths and boatbuilders and in 1922 with his brothers provided a ferry service for funerals to Crosstown.
As I spoke to John, we sat in the "Crow's Nest, " a hut like structure on the banks overlooking the cot safe at Batt Street. From this shelter built by local men as a pleasant meeting place, we looked out over the entrance to Wexford Harbour and he spoke of the people before his time who had built the 'safe' and of two men building the old breakwater. He pointed out the 3 white posts visible over near the pump house at Ardcavan which are still used as navigation aids along with two perches near Maudlintown which, when seen as one, indicate that one is in the proper position to negotiate the channel. He also recalled the names of some of the buoys such as 'Molly's Buoy' and the 'buoy of the lumps.' During his lifetime he remembers the trees being planted at Raven Point, John Redmond planning to cut a new harbour entrance across the burrow at Rosslare and of course the destruction of Rosslare Fort."
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First time logging in, and I discover this thread.
Thomas Lanigan Walsh is my Gt Gt Grandfather. He married Mary Codd on 12th Feb 1874(coincidentially my birthday..) One of their 11 children was Pat Walsh (married Nellie Hagan). They had 8 kids, including a set of twins (Billy and Elizabeth (Betty)). Betty is my maternal grandmother. Billy was lost at sea at the age of 21 of the coast of Argentina.