Skibbereen & District Historical Society

One of the best known personalities in the history of Skibbereen is Frederick Peel Eldon (Fred) Potter. For many years he was owner and editor of the Skibbereen Eagle newspaper, which was founded by the Potter family in 1857. An entrepreneur, he opened the Eldon Hotel in Skibbereen in 1885, ran his own auctioneering business and, apart from the Eagle, he was associated with a number of newspapers in Cork. In public life, on a number of occasions he was elected as an Independent to the Skibbereen Town Commission. Throughout his career he not only reported the news, but as a master self-publicist he often courted being in the news, and is best remembered for stating that as editor of the Eagle he was ‘keeping his eye on the Czar of Russia’.
But who was the real Fred Potter and are the stories about him true? An article in this year Skibbereen Historical Journal entitled ‘Fred Potter and the Skibbereen Eagle’ by the late Tim Cadogan answers these questions. As you would expect from the pen of Tim Cadogan, this is a detailed account of Potter’s life, examining both his public and private life, including his two marriages and the birth of his children.
The core of the article is about Potter’s stewardship of the Skibbereen Eagle newspaper. Some of the facts may surprise you. For example the newspaper went through numerous name changes and was never officially known as the Skibbereen Eagle – the closest it came to that name was the Skibbereen and West Carbery Eagle: or South-Western Advertiser, and for much of its life its official title was the Cork County Eagle and Munster Advertiser. The newspaper operated from a number of different premises in Skibbereen. At one stage its offices were in New Street, now Townshend Street. While there it printed its address as Eagle Street, Skibbereen. The Eagle is often remembered for having Loyalist sympathies. While its editorial line was always against physical force republicanism, for the most part it favoured constitutional nationalism and in the years before World War I it supported William O’Brien and his All for Ireland League – which was then the dominant force in Cork politics. Potter’s own political views were also complex and he saw himself as a champion of the urban labouring class.

Of interest to many will be the story of how Potter became associated with the phrase that he was ‘keeping his eye on the Czar of Russia’. An online search will tell you that he used this term in an editorial in 1898 and that this event went on to symbolise hubris in the newspaper industry. However, as with most of the facts associated with Fred Potter, this is far from the full story. The origins of the phrase date back before the Skibbereen Eagle and Potter initially became associated with it in the 1870s – by the 1890s he was using it as a way to draw attention to himself and thus sell newspapers. To discover the full facts you will need to get your hands on our 2024 Journal and read this interesting article.
Before we leave this subject, a quick few words about the author and how publishing this article came about. Tim Cadogan was a native of Aughadown parish and for many years he worked for the Cork County Library service, where his encyclopaedic knowledge and his willingness to help others benefitted many. Aways a good friend of our Society, he launched our first Journal in 2005 and we were saddened by his all too early death in 2014. Two years ago I was fortunate enough to receive some of Tim’s papers and among them I found the article on Fred Potter. He had originally written this for the Southern Star Centenary Edition in 1989, and an abridged version of it appeared in that publication. We are grateful to Tim’s family for their permission to print the article in full in our 2024 journal, a year that marks the tenth anniversary of his death.
Copies of the new Journal are on sale in Skibbereen and outlets throughout West Cork. See the video below for an overview of the articles in this year’s Journal. This volume, and a selection of back issues, can also be purchased online at https://biblio.ie/bookstore/coolim-books-skibbereen/shj/39607814
William Casey

This weekend everyone around Skibbereen is justifiably proud of the achievement of Paul O’Donovan, Fintan McCarthy and their coach Dominic Casey in winning another Olympic Gold. That is not to forget the other two rowers from Skibbereen, Aoife Casey and Emily Hegarty, who represented their country with such distinction at the Paris games.
Of course, this group of athletes are not the first from Skibbereen to represent Ireland at the Olympic Games and we look forward with confidence that they will not be the last to do so. However, as a historical society our job is not to ponder the future, but to recall the past. The origin of the current success of local rowing lies with the Skibbereen Rowing Club, which was founded in 1970. But that date is by no means the beginning of the story of rowing on the Ilen River. Its history goes back much further as can be seen in an article, reprinted below, from the Skibbereen Eagle newspaper of 19 July 1872. It shows us that the love of rowing in Skibbereen runs deep.

Boat-Race on the Ilen
A race having been arranged to take place on Monday evening between Mr H. E. Nicholls’ boat “The Mocking Bird” and Mr R. Evans’ “Queen’s Visitor”, several wagers were laid, as well as the main one, on the result. There was considerable discussion on the merits of the boats and their respective crews for some days previous. The tide was a spring one, and the body of water in the Long Reach, viewed from the Steam Mill Bridge, presented a truly pleasing aspect to the vast crowd of spectators assembled thereon, and along the banks of the river, to witness the start from below the bridge. The course went from there around the island, situate between Weston and the Abbey Cottage, and back to the bridge, a distance of 3½miles. A stiff head breeze blew as the boats started. “Queen’s Visitor” led at the start, the helmsman, however hugged the shore too closely, the oars coming in contact with the bank, when the crew of “The Mocking Bird” put on a spurt and took the lead, keeping about a boat’s length in advance during the whole course, to within about 200 yards of the bridge, when they again put on a beautiful spurt and won by about three lengths. Both crews acquitted themselves admirably, as seldom has so well contested a rowing match being witnessed. Many came from a distance to witness the race, during which great excitement prevailed – bets at odds being offered on the losing boat. The local band re-organised under the care of the Rev. D. McCartie, R.C.C., (ever anxious to promote a helpful and intellectual recreation for the rising generation), were afloat, and played some choice airs, with excellent taste in harmony, under the efficient leadership are Mr William Casey. After the race was over numbers remained on the Bridge-street Quay to enjoy the sweets strains as they floated harmoniously along the rippled surface of the Ilen. It is said that another contest between these crews will shortly take place. The race on Monday proved a great treat to all classes who love aquatic sports – of which Skibbereen folk are passionately fond. The Ilen at high water is well suited for a rowing match – its scenery being beautiful and attractive.

On Friday night, 5th July, the Skibbereen Historical Journal, Vol. 20 2024 was formally launched. The event was presided over by the chairperson of the society, John O’Neill, and the guest speaker was the society’s first chairperson, Jim Byrne. Given that Jim was a key figure in first publishing the Journal, back in 2005, and was also the first chairperson of the Journal’s Editorial Committee, he was the ideal choice to launch Volume 20. In his talk Jim spoke about the importance of the Journal and recalled some of the key event in its history. He also spoke about the fourteen articles in this year’s Journal, illuminating his speech with his knowledge and wit throughout.

The chairperson of the editorial committee, William Casey, also spoke. He thanked all those involved, particularly the contributors – without whom there would be no journal. He paid tribute to three former contributors who had died in the past year, Alfie O’Mahony, Jasper Ungoed-Thomas and Robert Harris and pointed to the fact they was a tribute to them in the Journal. The also spoke about the late Tim Cadogan of the Cork Library Service, who lunched the first Journal and was extra-ordinarily helpful to many local historians. An article by Tim on Fred Potter and thee Skibbereen Eagle is included in this year’s Journal.

As with other years, the articles in this year’s Journal cover a variety of topics including:
The Story of Saoirse: Making History Again, One Hundred Years On – Flor MacCarthy
The Development of Skibbereen – Tracey Wood Wolfe
Collins & Lavery: The Final Encounter – Sandra Downey
A Rock Art Concentration in Castlehaven – Finola Finlay
The kingdom of Corcu Loígde and the ringfort in Baltimore – Dr Paul MacCotter
West Cork Disconnect: The West Cork by-election, October-November 1916 – John O’Donovan
1924: The Irish Free State – peace and stability – Donal Corcoran
Blacksmith – Mary McCarthy
The Jewel in the Estuary: The story of Ballydehob’s railway viaduct – Eugene McSweeney
The Lords Audley or Earls of Castlehaven and Copper Mining in West Cork – Michael Christopher Keane
The Lilac Ballroom, Enniskeane – Ted Cadogan
Patrick ‘Rocky Mountain’ O’Brien – John O’Neill
Dr Browne’s Report on Skibbereen, 1901 – Introduced by Philip O’Regan
Fred Potter and the Skibbereen Eagle – Tim Cadogan

This year’s Journal is selling for €12 and is available in local shops in Skibbereen and throughout West Cork. The Journal, and a selection of back issues, can also be purchased online at https://biblio.ie/bookstore/coolim-books-skibbereen/shj/39607814

March 5th is the feast day of Naomh Ciarán of Cape Clear. Legend has it that Ciarán converted much of the southwest coast of Ireland and the region of Saigir in County Offaly, where his father came from, before St Patrick arrived in Ireland. He is often referred to by sources as the first native born Irish saint.
There is a long history of devotion to him on Cape Clear Island and the tradition was that on the eve of his feast day that ‘rounds’ were said at a pillar stone known as Gallaunkeiran, located at the north harbour. Close by are a holy well and a church also dedicated to the saint, who was said to have been born on the hillside overlooking the harbour. Ciarán is also the patron of the Diocese of Ossory and patron of Cornwall where he is known as St Piran. He was also revered in Brittany where he is known as St Sezin.
Among the many legends associated with Ciarán is that he had a special affinity with the natural world, especially animals and birds. Two stories about him were translated from Latin by the Belfast based author Helen Waddell and were published in her 1934 book, Beasts and Saints. That work was beautifully illustrated by the Kinsale born artist and writer Robert Gibbings. To remember the saint on his feast day the first of these stories is reprinted below.

St Ciarán and the Nesting Bird

The most blessed Ciarán, bishop, and first begotten of the Saints of Ireland, belonged to the west border of Leinster, which is called Ossory. At the time he was born, all the folk of Ireland were heathen. His father was called Luaigne, of the nobler of the Ossory clan: his mother Liadain, born in the south of Munster … And Ciarán was born and brought up in Corca Laighde, on Cape Clear Island. And verily God chose him from his mother’s womb: for when the name of Christ was not heard in Ireland, the austerity of the Christian faith began to spring in him. For his parents wondered, and all who saw him, at the soberness of his mind, the gentleness of his nature, the sweetness of his words, his timely fasting, his wise counsels, and other qualities that belonged to holy men.
One day on the same Cape Clear Island the first of St Ciarán’s miracles came by God’s will to pass. For when he was still a lad, a hawk swept down from the sky upon a small bird brooding on its nest and caught it, before St Ciarán’s eyes, and carried it off in its talons into the air. The lad saw it, and was in sore grief over it, and prayed for the poor captive: and straightway the ravisher came down with the prey, and laid the small bird, mangled and halfdead, before him. But under the pitying gaze of the lad, the hapless creature by God’s grace was made whole, to his heart desire: and before his eyes sat brooding on her nest, happy and unhurt.

(Beasts and Saints, trans. Helen Waddell (London, 1934), pp. 99–100.)

It was with great sadness that members of Skibbereen & District Historical Society learned of the death on 5 January 2024 of Jasper Ungoed-Thomas.

Jasper died peacefully at his home in Condicote, Gloucestershire, UK, with his family around him.

Jasper will be remembered in Skibbereen for the outstanding biography of his grandfather, Jasper Wolfe of Skibbereen, which was published by The Collins Press in 2008. Jasper Wolfe was born in Skibbereen in 1872, the son of a Methodist shopkeeper. Jasper had a remarkable life; he became a highly successful solicitor and founded Wolfe & Co Solicitors in Skibbereen in 1894.

A strong supporter of Home Rule, after the 1916 Rising Jasper Wolfe was appointed Crown Solicitor for the City and West Riding of Cork. Having been a target of the IRA for some years, he subsequently became a defence lawyer for dissident Republicans after the Civil War. Jasper was elected to Dáil Éireann on three occasions as an independent TD, the two elections in 1927, and again in the general election of 1932.

Jasper Wolfe of Skibbereen is the story of a remarkable man and his family and is one of the most important books written concerning the history of Skibbereen. The book was launched at Skibbereen Heritage Centre on 20 September 2008 on what was a very enjoyable and memorable occasion.

Though Jasper Ungoed-Thomas was raised in Wales and London, he was a regular visitor to Skibbereen throughout his life. Jasper’s mother, Dorothy Travers Wolfe, Barrister-at-Law, married Mr Arwyn Lynn Ungoed-Thomas, Barrister-at-Law, at a ceremony in the Methodist Church in Skibbereen on 19 April 1933.

Jasper’s father, Arwyn Lynn Ungoed-Thomas, had a distinguished legal career. He was Labour MP for the Llandaff and Barry constituency from 1945–50 and sat for Leicester North-West from a by-election in 1950 until 1962. He served as Solicitor General in 1949–51 and was appointed a judge of the High Court in April 1962.

Jasper Ungoed-Thomas was a history graduate of Oxford and worked as a teacher, education researcher and schools’ inspector. He also published widely on education and was an education consultant. Jasper’s Vision of a School: The Good School in the Good Society, published in 1997, is a thought-provoking work that offers a convincing argument for what a good school should be.

It was in 2001 when he was researching for the book on his grandfather that we first met Jasper. He visited West Cork for a few weeks every August or September. He loved his annual visit to Skibbereen and enjoyed meeting people here. He was a brilliant intellectual, he was the best and the easiest of company and he was a great conversationalist. Jasper and Gerald O’Brien, president of Skibbereen & District Historical Society, struck up a particularly good friendship and it was a great privilege to be in their company on many occasions when the topics of conversation ranged far and wide.

Jasper was an avid supporter of the historical society and read the annual journal each year from cover to cover. He contributed to a number of the journals, including the first one published in 2005. With the kind permission of Daisy Swanton, Jasper edited a detailed diary of Willie Kingston, a solicitor who was born in Skibbereen and who worked for Jasper’s grandfather, Jasper Wolfe. In volume 6, 2010, Jasper wrote a particularly significant article ‘IRA Sectarianism in Skibbereen?’. In volume 10, 2014, Jasper and Terri Kearney collaborated on a beautiful piece titled ‘Lick Hill Cave and its inscriptions’. In volume 12, 2016, he collaborated with Richard Vickery and Gerald O’Brien in a brilliant piece on the Skibbereen Skellig List.

For some 20 years we greatly enjoyed Jasper’s company for a few weeks in early autumn. We know he enjoyed his time in Skibbereen, he felt very much at home here. We will remember Jasper fondly and the biography of his grandfather Jasper Wolfe ensures that the Wolfe name will have a long and honourable place in the history of these parts.

P. O’R.