What is it about this time of the year and dangerously hight winds which have become something of a norm in Ireland since the late 1990s?
Parts of Castleisland have just had its power and internet connections restored this afternoon after a complete 12 hour blackout.
There were two consecutive Christmas Eve storms in 1998 and 1999 that were as bad as anything we saw last night and early this morning.
I remember seeing a substantial woman with two full bags of messages with her arms, bags and all, wrapped around one of the old ESB poles near the poorhouse archway and a ripping south-westerly gale blowing up along the street doing its best to knock her.
Millions in Damages to Infrastructure
Those gales at that time wreaked havoc and caused millions of pounds worth of damage to power and telecommunication networks and with the Christmas celebrations of many families.
There were stories of some remarkable acts of neighbour to neighbour humanity and kindness.
There were people who manned community centre kitchens to provide Christmas dinners to those whose facilities were knocked out by the elements.
There were also stories and photographs of ESB and Kerry County Council crews out in the most inhospitable weather as they struggled to reconnect power, clear and open roads and restore normality to their neighbourhoods.
No Nice Names for Storms Then
Those storms weren’t given nice names like they are today and, in spite of the fact that a pattern was emerging, there wasn’t a mention of climate change.
Just like the stories that are emerging from the recent January 5th snowfall – and there will be more to come when all the clearing and reconnecting is done after Storm Éowyn.
Bad and all as these most recent spells of weather have been we got off ‘light’ when compared to a similar event on Small Christmas night in 1839.
During the decade long run of the hugely popular Divane’s Calendar, from the early 1990s, they researched and chronicled an event in local folklore which became known as The Night of The Big Wind.
The Elements and the Landlords
It was a time in which people had little or no means of weather warnings or forecasts – other than the odd behaviour of animals – to prepare them for impending danger. Whatever few possessions they had were at the mercy of the elements and their landlords.
The article in Divane’s Calendar outlined the events of that Small Christmas Night as follows.
The Night of the Big Wind January 6th 1839
“It was Small Christmas night, Sunday, the 6th of January, 1839, and the twelfth night of Christmas was drawing to a close. All around the district of Castleisland, animals and stock were checked and people settled down to pass the evening. In every window of the valley of Castleisland each home was pinpointed by the flicker of the Christmas candles – giving a warm glow to a winter’s evening.
It is not hard to imagine groups of people huddled around the open turf fire, swapping stories and having the perennial discussion on the state of the weather. Little did anyone realise the night that lay in store.
Earlier that evening, the wind had freshened and continued to increase in ferocity.
At about 10.30pm it became a high gale and began to cause damage. By 1am on Monday morning, 7th January the storm had increased to a hurricane and began its punishing journey.
French Fleet Destroyed in 1799
It even exceeded the violent storm of 1814 and the storm of 1799 when the French fleet was destroyed off Bantry Bay.
In what was to become known throughout folklore as ‘The Night of the Big Wind’ the powerful force tore through Ireland wreaking havoc and destruction where ever it went. It is important to remember the context of the time: Weather forecasting was rudimentary and very inexact; communication throughout the country was slow and unreliable and towns and villages relied on gaslight.
The sudden storm would have been a complete and utter surprise to unprepared people.
Damage in Castleisland Estimated at £10,000
In Castleisland the roofs and chimneys of a number of houses were damaged and windows were broken with impunity. As in most natural disasters, the poor suffered most. The loss in agricultural produce was immense with well in excess of £10,000 estimated in damages.
Hay that was carefully husbanded throughout the year was destroyed in minutes. Trees were uprooted in the blink of an eye. Cattle were drowned and swept away while harvested crops were destroyed in an instant.
In Laccabawn, James Fitzgerald’s house was completely wrecked. Ricks of hay were blown by the gales and haysheds were completely demolished. Another farmer, called O’Riordan from Dulague also suffered. The walls of his cow-house were made of mud and it had a thatched roof. This was completely destroyed by the storm.
Lost Four Teeth
The wind and flood then proceeded to carry his five cattle four fields away. Luckily, his neighbour, a man called O’Connell, who was trying to save his own hay, saw what was happening and managed to rescue the cattle. In all the excitement he managed to knock four of his teeth out and didn’t notice until the following morning!
Ten hours later, the big wind had blown itself out and bewildered people were left to count the cost. People were shocked to see the destruction, with trees blocking roads and making travel impossible. Many a comfortable man became a poor one after the night.
From Generation to Generation
Miraculously, there were no recorded deaths in Castleisland following The Night of the Big Wind. Appeals for aid for those who suffered were made on behalf of the poor.
Local clergy and charitable organisations were quick to begin their work. In The Tralee Mercury the following editorial spoke for all:
“We do trust that God who tempers his wind to the shorn lamb, will inspire the hearts of the wealthy among us to play the good Samaritan to the poor.”
The night of the Big Wind, almost 170 years later, is still retold from the folklore and history of Castleisland having been passed down from generation to generation.”
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