Fishing - Mall Quay, Ballyshannon - 26 May 2019 v1

The pier is robustly-built using local rubble stone masonry, and its survival is testament to the quality of the original construction. Sited at the mouth of the River Erne, where the river flows into the Atlantic Ocean, the port at Ballyshannon was regularly visited by shipping travelling to and from Britain, North America and mainland Europe throughout the late-eighteenth, nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Imports through the port included wine, iron, salt, sugar, coke, slates, clay, timber and building materials (the building materials for Wyatt's Castle Coole house, near Enniskillen, were imported through Ballyshannon in the 1790s); while wool, meat, linen, leather, local iron (from near Pettigoe and Stranorlar), and salted fish were exported from here. However, the majority of goods passing from Ballyshannon were destined for other Irish ports, particularly Dublin.
This jetty was also the site where many thousands of passengers and emigrants who left Ireland during the nineteenth-century (particularly during the years of the Great Famine c. 1845 - 1851 and in the decades afterwards) on their way to North America etc. The port/harbour at Ballyshannon was hindered by the presence of a dangerous sandbar in the estuary, which meant that the larger ships could not come into the port but had to move the goods/passengers to and from smaller boats to reach the shore (goods were also regularly unloaded at Killybegs - then a subsidiary port of Ballyshannon and later transported to Ballyshannon by smaller vessels). This quay was apparently constructed or remodelled for a Dr. Sheil prior to 1836 and was later purchased from the Sheil family by the Ballyshannon Harbour Commissioners (for £137-10-00) in 1888. Works were carried out on the harbour by Robert Stevenson (1772 - 1850), a Scottish engineer, in 1835 - 6. The harbour/quay appears to have declined in importance by the end of the nineteenth-century. It is possible that the present structure contains the fabric of or occupies the site of an earlier pier(s) and/or jetties as Ballyshannon has had a harbour dating back to the early seventeenth-century and probably beforehand.
Also located at the mouth of the River Erne, is the small island of Inis Samer (or Fish Island).
Other sources relate that for 300 years after the deluge, Ireland lay empty of people. Then at that time there arose in central Greece a prince, Parthalon Mac Shera mhic Sru a descendant Of Magog son of Japheth son of Noah. After murdering his parents during a failed dynastic challenge, he with his wife Dalgnat, their sons Ruairi, Slaighne, Laighlinne , their wives, and one thousand warriors, sailed across the Mediterraen sea past Sicily, then along the west coast of Iberia into Ireland.
After being at sea for two and a half months they landed at Inbhir Scéine in west Munster. Parthalon led his people to Inis Samheir on the Erne circa 2676 b.c.where he made his residence. The island was named after Saimer, his wife's hound which he killed during a fit of rage when he discovered Dalgnat was cheating on him with his servant Todhga. Samair or Samer was also an ancient Irish name for the River Erne, meaning 'river of the morning star'"
www.yourirish....

[@billchisholme4133]

I lived out in the Knather the whole place was beautiful

[@BigFly028]

I'm not that familiar with Ballyshannon, however I'm aware of the Knather Road which runs almost paralel to the estuary, certainly a beautiful area👍👌. I spent a bit of time sea trout fishing down at the Creevy Shoreline, I've a couple of videos on RUclips. It's been a while since I've been that direction. Cheers.

[@MrThejong]

Great atmosphere Aiden. I do love weather like this :)) Theo, (Catching up)

[@BigFly028]

Good to hear from you Theo, trust you are keeping well

[@MrThejong]

Nothing to see for me for a while after a fall. Yust aloud to drive again. Glad I am back. Theo,

[@michaeloreilly330]

Imagine what it was like before the cementation

[@BigFly028]

Hi Michael, some of what looks like the original stone still exists. However, your right it has probably been extensively refurbished with modern materials.

[@Rameman33]

Some history Aidan.I've stood in similar places home here and wondered of the folk who had stood there before. In many respects they were busier times and these places would've buzzed with activity and the lives of folk.There is always something poignant about the leaving of people from a place,Ireland has it's fair share of those,sadly.