Disasters- Donegal Trawlers

Programme 6
Tuesday 28 August 2007 8.30pm
For many communities dotted along the Donegal coastline, fishing was their life's blood. With limited employment, the young men who grew up in this tiny corner of Ireland were destined for a life at sea. But it wasn't just about the money. Fishing was the common bond between communities. In places like Killybegs and Burtonport little else was talked about.
RTÉ's Television Archive Unit looks at the lives of those affected by a litany of trawler disasters that hit the community hard in the mid-seventies and early eighties. It focuses on three trawler disasters in particular: the Evelyn Mari in 1975, the Carraig Una in 1976 and the Skifjord in 1981. Altogether sixteen lives lost at sea while trying to provide for their families.
Narrated by Doireann Ni Bhriain, Disasters also features the Doolin Drownings (1983) and Loreto Convent Fire, St. Stephen's Green (1986).

[@lenhowl]

So sad. My ancestors came from Wexford over 200 years ago to Newfoundland and were all fishermen. RIP brave fishermen.

[@guitarlover302]

RIP brave fisherman - we take for granted the catch on our plate ! Thanks to your skill and bravery

[@semperparatus678]

I forgot who said this, but it rings true. "It's not just fish your buying, it's men's lives" I was a commercial Fisherman for 9 years. It was the toughest job I ever loved.

[@colinpollard4060]

just a vivid reminder that the sea gives and the sea takes away, poignant and well-done by RTÉ

[@EveMele]

My blessings go out to the families of these fishermen... This story has always intrigued me being that "Evelyn Marie" is my grandmothers first and middle name and my aunts and mine.

[@RicTic66]

And a massive thank you to the men and women of 'The Royal National Lifeboat Institute' who bravely volunteer to save the lives of those in peril on the seas around the coasts of the British Isles, including the Republic of Ireland, giving their lives free and gratis to save others. There is no other service like it in the world.

[@choughed3072]

I just watched a documentary on the Penlee disaster and I cannot agree more with what you say. Brave isn't a good enough word for them, absolute legends everyone of them.

[@paulmahy]

This is about the loss of the fishermen and you forgot to mention all the independent lifeboat stations who get no funding from the RNLI.

[@josoapification]

I was only ever in a bad swell once in a 60 foot tug crossing clew bay from Clare island to achill island it was the most frightening thing I ever experienced the middle of the channel being the worst I got thrown about that badly in the wheel house I went back cracked a small pane of glass with my elbow then forward that badly about 3 or 4 buttons popped off my shirt those fishermen had nerves of steel I will never go out on rough seas in a small vessel again but it was an experience to see a 6 meter wall of water coming at you then cresting the waves and you can see land again GOD REST THEIR SOULS

[@MUFC1933]

I got seasick on Torpoint ferry in rough weather that was enough for me

[@maxschmidt9461]

This reminds me so much of my angel, the love of my life... She wasn't too much of a fisherman, but still liked it while I'm a fisherman by heart. She was a young Widow when we met and she died tragically on a normal sickness, due to what the abuse of her ex fiance had done to her, she seemed to make a good recovery but then she got sick and her body didn't have the strength to fight it. Now the only comfort I have ist the "tough love" to a rough, rocky coast and to fishin'. My deep condolences for all the Wifes, friends and family members of these fishermen!

[@odarrien]

Those diary entries are painfully beautiful. Tragedies like these i don't belive they ever leave you. Thank you for sharing this story and helping to keep the memory of these men alive.

[@phillipjones3439]

When I saw this I just cried. I'm a 53 year-old man but I cried.

[@John-jd3nr]

Very interesting but sad program. Brave men indeed.

[@chokinonashes61]

Respect, love and understanding, from Cornwall. We understand the perils of our beloved sea.

[@MegaBoilermaker]

Indeed we do.

[@Jack-oz4bf]

My best friends grandpa was a fisherman in norway and he disappeared like 30 years ago and her grandma still sits on the porch with the light on every night waiting for him to return, she lives on the beach I should add. its very sad.

[@andyandcallie]

I totally admire fishermen. Brave people.

[@robertallen2081]

Very touching and sad, as long as men go to the sea to earn a living boats and lives will be lost, it has always been that way, the communities that make their from the sea are the heart and soul of our country, they are a special breed and I for one am proud to be from a fishing family

[@stevannahughes9260]

I love the Commentators voice.. wish my mother sounded like the lady :)

[@maryjosephine1]

I HAVE TO SAY THIS IS A VERY SAD THING THAT I HAVE WATCHED AS I KNEW MOST OF THE 16 MEN THAT WERE LOST AT SEA BOTH MY UNCLES WERE AMONG THESE MEN PADDY BONNER & MICHAEL BONNER MAY GOD IF THERE IS A GOD KEEP THEM ALL IN HIS CARE TILL WE MEET AGAIN XXX

[@firewaterbydesign]

My condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. I live in a small fishing town on the Oregon coast and this hits close to home, as we ourselves have lost so many in this area. It's an extremely dangerous profession to be in. Sending much love and an abundance of beautiful blessings to all of you, from the spectacular Oregon coast. 🌊🐳🐚

[@lauriebrazier5306]

Angel prayers 2 u and ur family..

[@hoffieldj]

god bless men women of the sea

[@banjodeano2202]

Sorry for your loss Mary, i hope you found peace in remembering happier times

[@mid.life.crisis2955]

God bless your fam and friends. Hope you're doing good nowadays.

[@brendanfoley7339]

These are the men that makes Donegal what it is.

[@bdigidsheilsmakowski]

Brendan foley

[@bdigidsheilsmakowski]

Brendan foley brigid

[@jamesstewart553]

The sea is a cruel mistress. RIP lost the fishermen.

[@jonriley8342]

Such a sad story, this video will live on for the memories of these men x

[@bendover9411]

R.I.P. to all of those poor souls! So terribly sad!

[@buailebawns2162]

May the brave fishermen of Donegal always be remembered including Patrick McShea of Creevy who drowned in Donegal Bay in 1850 & his son James McShea, also of Creevy, who drowned 31 years later on 11 March 1881 at The Ridge Donegal Waters. They were my GGF & GGF. Not having graves to visit was very hard on their families .

[@safedba]

That Patrick McShea was my great-great-grandfather too.

[@buailebawns2162]

@@safedba Patrick's granddaughter & James' daughter, Mary McShea married John Reynolds of Creevy and they were my grandparents. Are you from the same branch of the family or another? Google the song "Donegal Danny" sung by Ronnie Drew of the Dubliners, a sad song about the sole surviver of a Donegal fishing tragedy neat Killibegs. Stay safe from the corona virus.

[@safedba]

@@buailebawns2162 James McShea was my Great-grandfather's younger brother by a year or so. Patrick, his brother moved to the US first to Rhode Island and was going to be a priest, but ended up marrying a Margaret Kennedy, and ended up in Connecticut where he did a bunch of things, cigar manufacturing, rifle making, farming - that ended up what the family did. I have a ton of Reynolds on the tree, so we're distant cousins. You can reach me at safedba@gmail

[@LadyOaksNZ]

GREAT RESPECT FOR ALL OF THESE VERY BRAVE MEN. RIP ALL CREWS.

[@zackjones800]

Rest in calm seas boys you are fishing in paradise now

[@Redgolf2]

Soo sad 😞 Many lost down here in Kilmore too, brave man who go down to the sea

[@clarkewi]

Most dangerous profession. One of my best friends was a fisherman. A real waterman and very capable. He disappeared off the Santa Barbara Channel Islands in 1994.

[@Edvard.Munchkin]

Sorry to hear

[@astaraoneill9166]

So sorry for your loss, from a native Californian.

[@user-pv4hx8hs3f]

Song at the end is shoals of herring by Liam Clancy.

[@gerrydoyle9369]

The list is a long one and goes a long way back. They are at peace now, but it is still tough on those left behind. I was in a house in Whitehaven where four empty coffins were waked. 44 miners bodies had been sealed in the William pit because they were killed and buried by an explosion. Man proposes but GOD disposes. May they rest at the right hand of GOD.

[@carmelitacarlos3515]

My grandfather's family were apparently the last people to leave Rutland Island - he was Barney O'Boyle. After that there were many cousins - Denis Boyle, Manus Boyle, to mention but a few...........

[@peterbyrne9208]

Very sad programme to watch. I too lost family to the sea. May they all Rest in Peace. Its sad that even today there is still no large lifeboat to go to the aid of fishermen in Donegal bay especially around Rathlin O Byrne island. Nearest lifeboat is up in Arranmore and it would take them a fair time to get down the length of the coast in rough seas.

[@buailebawns2162]

Google the song "Donegal Danny" sung by the late Ronnie Drew of The Dubliners. It is about the sole survivor of a fishing boat tragedy near Killibegs Donegal. I have always wondered whether my GG grandfather or G grandfather were on that boat as they died in that area and bodies never found.

[@buailebawns2162]

"Shoals of Herring" sung by the great Liam Clancy of "The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem" . Search KZbin for their music.

[@davidparsons510]

We in NFLD and Labrador know how you feal, the sea take allot of people here too,

[@Pussilicca]

Remember this,next time you're arguing about the price in your local "Chippie"!

[@gaycha6589]

its still the merchants who take the least risk and make the most money than do the fisherman

[@Sumo-san]

Gay cha this is true, but if everyone agreed to pay more, it’ll allow the fishermen to sell for a bit more as well.

[@Bulletguy07]

@John Norton.....I was just about to post the exact same!

[@joeking7707]

never have i heard anybody arguing about price in a chip shop lol

[@thomasageesh3354]

This is cruel that the mother nature hits the hard working men. In 2017 December month we have lost nearly 24 trawlers and 126 members in India because of a storm named as okhi . It's really cruel the Indian government has not done any search operations on time . We have 20 fisherman villege in Kanyakumari district in India

[@MegaBoilermaker]

I was in Bombay High oilfield many years ago when a storm killed many Indian fishermen .

[@colfer222]

Very sad and much respect for these brave men....thank you for post,....would it be in order to ask the song please....thank you..

[@buailebawns2162]

The singer is the late & great Liam Clancy of the Clancy Brothers singing "Shoals of Herring" Most of Liam's songs are on KZbin. Liam also sings the very moving "Home from the Sea" about the brave men who go out in the lifeboats in terrible weather to rescue sailors.

[@Dissent-Rising1]

My best to their families and the kids they leave behind I hope you all have managed through the years. What most people do not understand Fishing is much more than a job its a way of life. The early morning sun rises used to fill me with life oh once did I love the sea but let me tell you severe trauma changes a man or women ask those who survived.

[@eamondunne8325]

God Bless them all, good Men just trying to provide for their families in probably the most naturally dangerous occupation on earth..they are surely with God....

[@johnrusselman1364]

I think the names of those lost should be listed seeing how many are still out at sea and most people had never heard of this story outside of Donegal.

[@drgw1982]

dees men are mighty brave

[@dianebonner8827]

What a strange world my son is called Patrick Alan Bonner from UK he is 25 know

[@Londonsburningfan]

Don't suppose You have the whiddy island episode?

[@mrpirate3470]

RIP you brave men

[@paulgorman8097]

May all lost rest in peace.

[@helenahusky2787]

Very sad!

[@YanoshRagauld]

Yea ay,, hats off forevermore . Being from Grimsby,. We understand. Xx. We know.

[@tonymurray814]

Three score and ten!!👍

[@pwareham61]

Extremely Moving

[@rainmayhem4255]

The sea always takes her dues

[@joe18425]

Is the best fishing in this treacherous area ??

[@dwetick1]

It ain't no fish you're buyin'...its mens' lives...SJ

[@ronanmacruaidhri2509]

my father is a fisherman

[@BAZZAROU812]

Tell him thanks for his service

[@angeltransportpjects]

Two words: Occupational Hazard. Sad that this is to watch and learn about the truth is that nature has the final say-so at sea. In many respects the same applies to the sky: Should this fact go unappreciated / unrespected then danger is sure not far away.

[@phillipjones3439]

Surely there was a lighthouse with a red sector over the rocks to warn of this danger.

[@davincrawford912]

Fanad lighthouse

[@marymcgonagle8659]

Phillip Jones this was 8 years ago I live in moville the place where it happened

[@raccoonchronicles5134]

Captions! Where are the captions! I cannot understand these people!!

[@peteranddorothybowles5428]

16 yr old boys in the days in them jobs were MEN

[@seth1987]

How come nowadays we understand US people better than english people ?... Even the translator is having a seriously hard time translating the words ! 21:04 He tries to mean "how she done it" and the poor translator finds "Tyshee Donut" !!

[@buailebawns2162]

The man is Irish, not English. Nobody in this video talks with an accent.

[@lucyterrier7905]

@@buailebawns2162 speaks with an accent.

[@artycharr]

02:48 a valiant attempt but you're balding.

[@freemindthinkerezrapound5071]

The sea killed these fine men the European Union killed there fellow fisherman's livelyhoods, lovely song of the Evelyn Marie sang by conal gallon

[@edorlando1323]

I’m sorry I thought these guys did this for a living or were they drafted into this,every trade has its dangers deal with it they CHOSE to be out there that’s life

[@lucyterrier7905]

That's pretty simplistic .That's like saying you chose to drive your car to work and the fact you were killed in a car accident is just your decision to drive your car that day, so, oh well. Really? Not a critical thinker much.

[@michaelf4506]

Ed Orlando ur a clown ull get a slap of the real world some day mate

[@RicTic66]

Trouble is Europe gave huge subsidies to Irish fishermen to buy new boats, gear and gave them bigger quotas than their fellow fishermen in England, Scotland and Wales. All these new fishermen (skippers) were driving around in top of the range cars. BMW'S Mercedes ect. This makes captain and crew greedy and more willing to take risks. He should never have been casting his nets so close to the rocks in that weather. Their last big haul was a devil in disguise, had they hauled a empty net they'd have likely cut their losses and headed for shelter, but the thought of a few extra thousands of Euros pushed them to take risks. I don't blame anyone as there are quite a few skippers who will take risks especial if they know their crew are up for it. Sadly the sea came back and bit them on the arse. RIP all lives lost at sea and a massive thank you to the Royal National Lifeboat Institute who protect and rescue folk all around the British Isles, including Ireland free and gratis. There is no other service like it in the world. Ps I worked an inshore long liner of f the coast of Devon for several years catching Bass and Bream and know how quickly a light breeze an become GF 8 with wind against tide and the sea becomes a boiling devil. I am an Atheist,.but these are the times I prayed like a Nun for deliverance.

[@OmmerSyssel]

@@RicTic66my experience as well, too many in this tough trade are plain greedy and outright careless about basic maintenance and security. As experienced technician I've maintained their vessels, trained and worked with them in the North Sea. Near miss accidents is almost a daily routine, most equipment is run until breakdown. Accident reports all too often tells lack of maintenance is the cause of tragedies ... Criticism is laughed at, ridiculed and all to often plain ignored. Each to his own 🙄🤦🏼

[@edelodonnell8461]

What you sorry for ED?