Cleggan Bay Disaster Explained

Cleggan Bay Disaster
Reported Deaths:	45
Coordinates:	53.5912°N -10.1712°W
Place:	Atlantic Ocean
Image Upright:	yes

The Cleggan Bay Disaster, which occurred on 27 October 1927, was a strong gale that resulted in the deaths of 45 fishermen off the coast of County Galway.^{[1] [2]}

Disaster

On 27 October 1927 a number of local fishermen died when a strong gale rose without warning. The fishermen were fishing for mackerel in the Atlantic Ocean, near Cleggan, County Galway. Sixteen of the men came from the nearby village of Rossadilisk, which resulted in the fishing village becoming abandoned. Nine of the men came from the island of Inishbofin and twenty from County Mayo. Due to fishing being the main industry in the area, the disaster was devastating to local families.^{[3] [4] [5]}

Legacy

Following the disaster, funds were raised in the United Kingdom, United States and Australia, to help support local families. TG4 produced a documentary on the disaster, and various songs and poems have been written by people such as Saoirse Mhór and Richard Murphy.^[6]

Notes and References

1. Book: Feeney, Marie. The Cleggan Bay disaster : an account of the savage storm in October 1927 that devastated the Connemara communities of Rossadilisk and Inishbofin. 2001. Penumbra Press. 978-0-9541265-0-6.
2. Web site: More than a Fishing Village. 2020-07-20. Connemara Life Explore Ireland's Adventurous West Coast. en-IE.
3. Web site: Siggins. Lorna. Cleggan Bay disaster of 1927 to be marked this weekend. 2020-07-20. The Irish Times. en.
4. Book: Feeney, Marie. The Cleggan Bay Disaster: An Account of the Savage Storm in October 1927 that Devastated the Connemara Communities of Rossadilisk and Inishbofin. 2001. Penumbra Press. 978-0-9541265-0-6. en.
5. Book: Ferriter, Diarmaid. On the Edge: Ireland's off-shore islands: a modern history. 2018-10-04. Profile Books. 978-1-78283-252-2. en.
6. Web site: Siggins. Lorna. New book tells of tragic night when 45 men died. 2020-07-20. The Irish Times. en.