connemara

Lovely photo ..... Letterfrack ?

OSI 25" map: maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V2,470976,757615,11,9

Streetview: goo.gl/maps/ZvTwgoGkVFM2

One of the most notorious and feared places in the country ...

Ger Cos Remote, inaccessible and with a fearsome reputation! Even going there was an expedition and for boys snatched from their families it was a living nightmare! A very fine shot but the history makes it terribly sad viewing! Wikipedia traces the origins of the place: Origins A wealthy Quaker couple, James and Mary Ellis, moved to Letterfrack in 1849 from the north of England, bought a large tract of land, developed it, built a residence and also a school for local children.[ After the Ellises left, the school was run by Protestant Irish Church Missions to Roman Catholics. The ICM's proselytising efforts continued up until 1882. The Catholic Archbishop of Tuam, Dr. John McEvilly bought the property in 1884. Opening The Archbishop wrote to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Earl Spencer suggesting that the property was 'admirably suited for a boys’ industrial school so sadly needed in that district'. However, the Lord Lieutenants' advisors were against the establishment of the school on the grounds that there was unlikely to be enough children requiring such an institution in the area and the existing schools were adequate for the educational needs of the area. Despite support from the Inspector of Industrial Schools, Sir Arthur Lentaigne the application was refused. The Archbishop continued to lobby the Lord Lieutenant and the school received support from the Lord Lieutenant in August 1885. The school was initially certified for 75 boys and the Archbishop entered into negotiations with the Christian Brothers. The Christian Brothers agreed and after building work added to the property, the schools opened on 12 October 1887.

Background history, including this image - www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2021/0617/1228495-photography-irela...

Streetview (??), by the church on the right, and the house on the left - maps.app.goo.gl/oQwBP1goonNEQWvb7

The church was replaced in 1920, but on the same spot, so beachcomber australia's streetview is still good.

Via Trove -

THE SUFFERING POOR AT CARRAROE. The Rev. John Healy, P.P., Carraroe, Connemarra, County Galway, appeals to readers of the 'Catholic Times' for assistance for the suffering poor of his parish. He writes : — ' Unless I am to see my people die of hunger before my eyes, I cannot do otherwise than appeal to tho public on their behalf. Furthermore, unless help is speedily forthcoming many of my poor flock will be beyond the reach of it. All the world knows Indian meal gruel, even if there be plenty of it, is not food on which a working man or woman will thrive, but not many of the people here can afford more than one meal per day of this food, while if a potato or other food, no matter how scanty, was to be found in the possession of any family there was no hope of any Government relief for them. When all resources were exhausted the Government relieved about two hundred families to the extent of Is. per family per day. Nothing has been done for the remaining seven hundred families whose condition is exactly similar to those who obtain this pittance. On behalf of those seven hundred families I have no alternative but to appeal to the charity and humanity of readers of the 'Catholic Times.' I am confident they will not see my poor people die of hunger while they can spare a trifle to relieve them.

See - trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/104495620?searchTerm=c... April 1898

In the 1901 census, here is Patrick Munnelly, Overseer Works Congested Districts Board.

Gaynors pub is still there, I do remember that the old bridge was washed away a number of years ago in a big storm.

Comments 3. An island, 'sea' mountains. Possibly a wall box, between mid half doors. En peat air, Gaynors.

"Following torrential rain on 18 July 2007, the only river bridge in the village was swept away, cutting the town in half. It was part of the N59 national secondary road and had stood there for 182 years. A permanent replacement bridge was constructed with increased traffic capacity." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leenaun

Streetview 2009 goo.gl/maps/xXQ8BVnncwR2

Droneview 2016 !! - youtu.be/qMxaex6_yL4 (made me giddy)