The Guinness Boats

THE FIRST RECORD OF AN EXPORT OF PORTER WAS IN MAY 1796 OF 6 1/2 BARRELS TO ENGLAND. UP UNTIL 1913 THEY USED THE REGULAR SHIPS THAT SAILED FROM IRELAND. IN DECEMBER 1913 THEY PURCHASED THE FORMER COLLIER THE S.S. W. M. BARKLEY FROM JOHN KELLY & SONS OF BELFAST.

(THE S.S.W.M.BARKLEY WAS SANK BY A GERMAN U-BOAT AT 7PM ON THE NIGHT OF OCTOBER 12 1917 WITH THE LOSS OF 5 LIVES.) FOR MORE ON THIS SEE END OF PAGE.

THIS OPERATION OF THEIR OWN SHIPPING PROVED SO SUCCESSFUL THAT THEY DECIDED TO PURCHASE 3 MORE, THE CARROWDORE, THE CLAREISLAND, AND THE CLARECASTLE ALL EX. COLLIERS.

THESE SHIPS WORKED THE LONDON, LIVERPOOL, AND MANCHESTER ROUTES. IN 1931 A NEW SHIP WAS ORDERED FROM THE TROON YARD OF AILSA SHIP BUILDING IN SCOTLAND AND DELIVERED AS THE S.S.GUINNESS.
THE CLAREISLAND WAS THEN SOLD.

AS WELL AS THEIR OWN SHIPS TRANSPORTING STOUT THEY WERE ALSO USING THE MAIN SHIPPING COMPANY'S BETWEEN IRELAND AND ENGLAND. THE B+I CARRIED PORTER TO LIVERPOOL, MANCHESTER, PLYMOUTH AND SOUTHAMPTON, BRITISH RAIL TO HOLYHEAD, BURNS AND LAIRD TO GLASGOW, AND PALGRAVE MURPHY TO THE CONTINENT.

FROM 1868 GUINNESS ALSO USED BARGES TO TRANSPORT CASKS AND BARRELS TO AND FROM THE PORT. THEY USED THE GRAND CANAL FROM JAMES ST. HARBOUR TO RINGSEND BASIN. IN THE 1900s THE ROUTE TO AND FROM THE PORT WAS BY WAY OF THE LIFFEY, WHERE BECAUSE OF THE LOW BRIDGES THEY COULD ONLY SAIL 1 HOUR BEFORE AND 1 HOUR AFTER HIGH TIDE.

THESE FAMOUS BARGES WHICH WERE A FAMILIAR SIGHT ON THE CANALS AND QUAYS OF DUBLIN MADE THEIR LAST APPEARANCE IN JUNE 1961, WHEN ALL THE WOODEN CASKS HAD BEEN REPLACED BY STEEL TRANSPORTABLE TANKS.

NEW SHIPS HAD BEEN PURCHASED IN 1953 AND '54' TO CARRY THE NEW TANKS, WITH THE CARROWDORE AND THE CLARECASTLE SOLD TO A.S.DAVIDSON OF BELFAST.

THE M.V.LADY GRANIA 1962.(TONY BRENNAN)

M.V. THE LADY GWENDOLEN 1962.(TONY BRENNAN)

IN 1962 THE LADY PATRICIA FROM THE YARD OF CHARLES HILL & SONS OF BRISTOL WAS DELIVERED, WHICH EVENTFULLY ALLOWED THE S.S.GUINNESS TO GO TO THE FASLANE BREAKERS YARDS ON THE 11 JUNE 1963.

IN 1964 THE FIRST TRANSATLANTIC CROSSING OF AN ATOMIC POWERED MERCHANT VESSEL FROM IRELAND TO THE UNITED STATES WAS MADE BY THE N.S.SAVANNAH WITH A CARGO OF 6,000 CARTONS OF BOTTLED GUINNESS STOUT. (THIS OCCURRED 145 YEARS AFTER THE FIRST STEAMSHIP NAMED 'SAVANNAH' SAILED FROM SAVANNAH GA. TO EUROPE.)

N.S.SAVANNAH

THE LADY PATRICIA

TONY BRENNAN

M.V.MIRANDA GUINNESS

IN 1973 THE LADY PATRICIA WAS CONVERTED INTO THE WORLDS FIRST BEER TANKER. THIS INCREASED HER CAPACITY TO 205,000 GALLONS OR 1.87 MILLION PINTS.
1976 SAW THE ARRIVAL OF THE WORLDS FIRST PURPOSE BUILT BEER TANKER , THE M.V.MIRANDA GUINNESS, LAUNCHED BY THE COUNTESS OF IVEAGH, AFTER WHOM SHE WAS NAMED.

FOR A REPORT ON A TYPICAL SAILING FROM DUBLIN TO MANCHESTER CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW:

SHE WAS ALSO THE LAST SHIP BUILT BY THE ALBION YARD, BRISTOL
AFTER 156 YEARS OF SHIPBUILDING ON THE SITE. THE LADY GRANIA AND THE
LADY GWENDOLEN WERE THEN SOLD.
IN 1987 IRISH MARINE SERVICES LTD A COMPANY MADE UP OF EX. IRISH SHIPPING MANAGEMENT
AND CREW TOOK OVER THE RUNNING OF THE GUINNESS SHIPS. UNFORTUNATELY THIS ONLY LASTED TILL 1993 WHEN GUINNESS DISCONTINUED ITS TANKER OPERATION.
AND SO THESE FAMOUS AND FAMILIAR SHIPS TO GENERATIONS OF DUBLINERS WERE GONE.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND THANKS TO TONY BRENNAN OF AROUND DUBLIN PORT, EIBHLIN ROCHE AND CLAIRE HACKETT OF THE GUINNESS ARCHIVES, GUINNESS STOREHOUSE.

ON THE NIGHT OF OCTOBER 12th 1917 AT 7PM, THE S.S.W.M.BARKLEY WITH A FULL CARGO OF GUINNESS, AND A CREW OF 13 MEN, WAS TORPEDOED JUST OFF THE KISH LIGHTSHIP BY A GERMAN U-BOAT.

CAPTAIN E.GREGORY, 2 MEADOWS LANE ARKLOW
1st ENGINEER A.CORRY 3 VICTORIA VILLAS MALAHIDE ROAD DUBLIN
2nd ENGINEER O.F.MURPHY,105 SOUTH MAIN ST.WEXFORD
A.B. A.KENDALL, 3 MEANY PLACE, DALKEY
FIREMAN T. MURPHY, 36 SHERIFF STREET, DUBLIN

THE BARKLEY HAD JUST BEEN RELEASED BY THE BRITISH ADMIRALTY WHO HAD REQUISITIONED HER IN 1916. SHE WAS USED TO CARRY A CARGO OF BROKEN STONES TO
FRANCE FOR ROAD BUILDING, EDGING HER WAY THROUGH MINEFIELDS ON THE WAY.

SHE THEN CARRIED TIMBER FROM DUBLIN TO MARYPORT, CUMBERLAND AND PIG IRON FROM GLASGOW TO DUNKIRK. BUT BECAUSE SHE NEEDED A LOT OF BUNKERING THEY DECIDED TO RELEASE HER.

ONE OF THE CREWMEN WHO SURVIVED WAS COOK/STEWARD THOMAS McGLUE AND IN 1964 AT THE AGE OF 82 HE WAS INTERVIEWED ABOUT THAT NIGHT:

"I WAS IN THE GALLEY 'BAFT OF THE BRIDGE', JUST REACHING OUT MY HAND TO TAKE A KETTLE OFF THE FIRE TO MAKE A CUP OF TEA FOR THE OFFICERS. WHEN WE GOT THE POKE, THE KETTLE CAPSIZED AND SHOT BOILING WATER UP MY ARM TO THE ELBOW. THE GALLEY WAS FILLED WITH STEAM AND I SAID A FEW HARD WORDS, BUT APART FROM THAT THERE WASN'T MUCH NOISE-NOT A MURMUR IN FACT.

"THE PORT SIDE OF THE SHIP WAS LOCKED TO KEEP IT DARK, SO I WENT THROUGH THE ENGINE ROOM AND OUT ON THE STARBOARD DECK. THERE WAS A LIFEBOAT HANGING THERE, HANGING BY ONE END TO THE FORWARD FALL. THE BARKLEY WAS DOING HER BEST TO GO DOWN BUT THE BARRELS WERE FIGHTING THEIR WAY UP THROUGH THE HATCHES, AND THAT KEPT US AFLOAT A BIT LONGER, IN FACT, IT'S THE REASON ANY OF US GOT OUT OF HER.

"THE MASTER GAVE THREE BLASTS ON THE SIREN AND THEN I DIDN'T SEE HIM ANY MORE. I CLIMBED INTO THE BOAT AND A MATE GAVE ME A KNIFE TO CUT THE FALL AND THE PAINTER. THE BOAT DROPPED CLEAR AND DIPPED UNDER A BIT AND WE HAD TO DO SOME FAST BAILING. THE OTHER FELLOW WAS ALL FOR US GETTING AWAY WHILE WE COULD BUT I SAID 'NO, THERE'S MORE THAN TWO OF US HERE AND THEY WILL WANT TO COME ALONG'.

THEN THE GUNNER CAME UP-WE HAD ONE GUN ON THE AFTER DECK BUT HE WASN'T AT IT WHEN WE GOT THE POKE, AS A MATTER OF FACT HE WAS WITH ME IN THE GALLEY, WAITING FOR SOME HOT WATER TO DO HIS WASHING WITH. I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE HAD GOT TO IN BETWEEN.

"THE GUNWALE OF THE LIFEBOAT HAD BEEN RIPPED WHEN WE WERE HIT AND THE GUNNER GASHED HIS LEG ON IT, GETTING IN. THEN ANOTHER A.B. JUMPED IN AND THAT WAS FOUR OF US. WE ROWED AWAY FROM THE BARKLEY SO AS NOT TO GET DRAGGED UNDER, AND THEN WE SAW THE U-BOAT LYING ASTERN. I THOUGHT SHE WAS A COLLIER, SHE LOOKED SO BIG. THERE WERE 7 GERMANS IN THE CONNING TOWER, ALL LOOKING DOWN AT US THROUGH BINOCULARS.
"WE HAILED THE CAPTAIN AND ASKED HIM TO PICK US UP.

HE CALLED US ALONGSIDE AND THEN HE ASKED US THE NAME OF OUR BOAT, THE CARGO SHE WAS CARRYING, WHO THE OWNERS WERE, WHERE SHE WAS REGISTERED, AND WERE SHE WAS BOUND TO. HE SPOKE BETTER ENGLISH THAN WE DID. WE ANSWERED HIS QUESTIONS AND THEN ASKED IF WE COULD GO. HE TOLD US TO WAIT A MINUTE WHILE HE WENT BELOW AND CHECKED THE NAME ON THE REGISTER. THEN HE CAME UP AGAIN AND SAID:" I CAN'T FIND HER. HE WENT BACK THREE TIMES ALTOGETHER.

THEN HE CAME BACK AND SAID : 'ALL RIGHT ,WE'VE FOUND HER AND TICKED HER OFF'. WE SAID COULD WE GO, BUT THERE WERE TWO COLLIERS GOING INTO DUBLIN AND HE TOLD US TO WAIT UNTIL THEY WERE TO WINDWARD AND COULDN'T HEAR OUR SHOUTS. THEN HE POINTED OUT THE SHORE LIGHTS AND TOLD US TO STEER FOR THEM.

"THE SUBMARINE SAILED AWAY AND WE WERE LEFT ALONE, WITH HOGSHEADS OF STOUT BOBBING ALL AROUND US. THE BARKLEY HAD BROKEN AND GONE DOWN VERY QUIETLY. WE TRIED TO ROW FOR THE KISH, BUT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN AMERICA FOR ALL THE WAY WE MADE. WE GOT TIRED AND MY HAND WAS HURTING. WE PUT OUT THE SEA ANCHOR AND SAT THERE SHOUTING ALL NIGHT.

"AT LAST, WE SAW A BLACK SHAPE COMING UP. SHE WAS THE "DONNET HEAD", A COLLIER BOUND FOR DUBLIN. SHE TOOK US ABOARD AND TIED THE LIFEBOAT ALONGSIDE. WE GOT INTO DUBLIN AT 5AM. AND AN OFFICIAL PUT US IN THE CUSTOM HOUSE AT THE POINT OF THE WALL, WHERE THERE WAS A BIG FIRE. THAT WAS WELCOME, BECAUSE WE WERE WET THROUGH AND I'D SPENT THE NIGHT IN MY SHIRTSLEEVES. BUT WE WEREN'T VERY PLEASED TO BE KEPT THERE THREE HOURS. THEN A MEN CAME IN AND ASKED 'ARE YOU ALIENS ?' I SAID, 'YES WE'RE ALIENS FROM DUBLIN'.

HE SEEM TO LOSE INTEREST THEN, SO WE WALKED OUT AND GOT BACK IN THE LIFEBOAT AND ROWED IT UP TO CUSTOM HOUSE QUAY. THE GUINNESS SUPERINTENDENT PRODUCED A BOTTLE OF BRANDY AND SOME DRY CLOTHES AND SENT THE GUNNER OFF TO HOSPITAL TO HAVE HIS LEG SEEN TO. THE REST OF US WENT OVER TO THE NORTH STAR FOR BREAKFAST. AND LATER, AFTER I'D HAD MY ARM DRESSED-THE DOCTOR SAID THE SALT WATER HAD DONE IT GOOD-THE SUPERINTENDENT GAVE ME A DRAYMAN'S COAT TO WEAR AND PUT ME IN A CAB.

"I WAS GLAD TO GET BACK TO BALDOYLE, BECAUSE I'D LEFT MY WIFE SICK AND WAS AFRAID SHE 'D HEAR ABOUT THE TORPEDOING BEFORE I COULD GET HOME"

THE OTHER SURVIVORS HAD FIRST GOT OFF ON A RAFT AND HAD THEN FOUND A LIFEBOAT. THE CHIEF ENGINEER DIED DURING THE NIGHT AND THE SHIP WHICH PICKED THEM UP REFUSED TO TAKE HIS BODY. THEY WERE LANDED AT NEWPORT, MONMOUTHSHIRE.

THOMAS Mc CLUE RETURNED TO SEA WHEN HIS ARM HAD HEALED, THIS TIME ABOARD THE GUINNESS VESSEL CLARECASTLE, IN WHICH HE SERVED UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT IN 1947.
AFTER HE HAD RETIRED AT AGE 65, ON A PENSION FROM GUINNESS, HE VISITED A DUBLIN SHIPPING OFFICE IN SEARCH OF YET ANOTHER BERTH, HE WAS ADVISED NOT TO TAKE ANY MORE CHANCES WITH THE SEA!!.