In praise of the beauty and charm of Westport Quay

by Auld Stock

ROBERT Monseed lived at The Quay, Westport, over one hundred years ago.

He was a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary, often called ‘Peelers’ after the founder of the force, Robert Peel.

Robert was also a telegraphist, an important job in those days when a lot of boats were arriving at Westport harbour.

It was Robert’s job to keep in touch with the crews of those boats at a time when communications were of a limited nature.

The boats arriving at Westport Quay in those days carried cargoes of flour, coal and timber.

The Quay was a busy spot with lines of horse carts waiting to distribute the contents of cargoes to businesses in Westport, Castlebar and Newport.

A man named Austin Grady was stevedore at Westport Quay in the early 1900s. One of the best known boatmen in Westport in those days was John Gavin, described as a man who knew every inch of the sea surrounding Westport harbour.

John Cameron, Westport Quay, was stevedore in the 1950s and 1960s.

The area surrounding Westport Quay has changed a lot since those days, still a place of great beauty and charm.

I am sure my old friend Séamus Grady, who lives near Westport Quay, will agree with those sentiments.