Oldcourt, County Cork
October 1846
DAN WAS OUT NEAR OLDCOURT, RETURNING FROM A VISIT TO A MAN, weak with hunger, who had fallen and broken his leg, when he stopped his horse. The ships, boats and low barges that plied their trade in the small but busy harbour were loading and unloading their cargo. This was a place where the sea and river met. Ships and boats arriving from Liverpool and Newport and Cardiff sailed as far up the river Ilen as they could before they transferred their goods to smaller row boats that would transport them upriver to the town.
He watched as large sacks of grain destined for McCarthy’s brewery were moved to two waiting barges ready to sail upriver. Grain that could have fed hundreds being used instead to make beer and porter for the busy taverns of Dublin and Cork! It made no sense to him.
Protesting livestock, squealing pigs and a few sheep arrived and were loaded quickly into the hold of a large ship ready for their journey to England. Baskets of cheese and dried fish, and barrels of butter were stacked tightly on to another vessel, destined to feed the factory workers of Liverpool, London and Manchester.
As he stood on the small quay, Dan noticed that one ship, the Mersey Lady, had not been reloaded, but the crew were hoisting the sail and making ready to leave.
‘Are you casting off?’ he called out.
‘Aye, sir, we have to catch the tide or we’ll be landed here till tonight.’
‘But you have no cargo?’
‘We delivered a cargo of corn for Swanton’s and will return from Newport with another delivery next week.’
‘Do you not usually return with a cargo from here?’
‘Rarely,’ replied the man whom he presumed to be the captain.
‘You have an empty hold returning to Liverpool or Wales regularly?’ he pressed.
‘Aye.’ The man nodded. ‘Those are Mr Swanton’s orders.’
An empty ship leaving Ireland was a lost opportunity. Surely such a vessel could provide passage to a new life in Liverpool, or another one of England’s great cities, for those who had lost everything.
‘Would you give consideration to taking a few passengers on your return journey from here next time?’
‘This is not a passenger ship,’ the man retorted gruffly. ‘We transport grain from place to place, not people.’
‘Even a few people desperate to escape from this ravaged place?’
‘I am employed by Mr Swanton,’ the captain replied brusquely. ‘You would need to discuss the matter with him.’
James Swanton was one of the town’s most prosperous businessmen. He owned a large mill and several warehouses, but unlike other local business owners, he had joined the relief committee and might be prepared to assist Dan.
‘We are well acquainted.’ Dan smiled at the captain. ‘Thank you. I will, as you advise, discuss the matter with him and perhaps we can reach some agreement.’